Introducción
When you remote control a Windows device through Level and then launch an RDP session from inside that connection, key combinations like ALT + TAB and special characters can stop working correctly. The fix is a single setting in Remote Desktop Connection.
Fixing Keyboard Input in a Nested RDP Session
The issue happens because Windows intercepts key combinations at the host level before they reach the RDP session. Setting RDP to apply Windows key combinations only in full screen hands that control over to the remote session instead.
Open Remote Desktop Connection on the device you're controlling via Level.
Click Show Options to expand the full settings panel, then navigate to the Local Resources tab.
Under Keyboard, change Apply Windows key combinations to Only when using the full screen.
Connect to your RDP target. Key combos and special characters should now work correctly inside the session.
ℹ️ NOTE: This setting applies per-saved-connection. If you have multiple RDP targets, you'll need to set it on each .rdp profile you use inside Level remote sessions.
Preguntas frecuentes
Why do key combinations stop working when I open RDP through Level? Windows intercepts key combinations at the host OS level by default. When you're in a Level remote session and launch RDP from there, that interception layer sits between your keyboard and the RDP target. The Local Resources keyboard setting redirects those combos into the RDP session.
Does this setting affect RDP sessions I start normally (not through Level)? Yes — it's stored per connection profile. Sessions you open directly without going through Level will also follow this setting. Most users find "Only when using the full screen" is the right choice regardless of context.
What if changing the keyboard setting doesn't fix it? Double-check that your Level remote session is in full-screen mode when you launch RDP. If you're running the Level viewer in a windowed browser tab, the key handling stack gets more complex. Try full-screening the Level session first.
Who can change RDP settings on a remote device? Any user account that has permission to open Remote Desktop Connection on that device. This is an RDP client setting, not a Level permission — Level's role-based access controls what you can do inside a session, not how RDP itself is configured.