Pair TwinPane Client and Server with a pairing code

Before TwinPane on your PC and TwinPane in your remote session can work together, you pair them: you copy a code from your PC into the session. You only do this once. After that, they reconnect by themselves.

The videos show TwinPane 1.0.53. The Windows desktops in them are illustrations.

What you need

• TwinPane Client installed and activated on your PC.
• TwinPane Server installed on the session host (AVD, RDS, RemoteApp or Citrix).
• A remote session opened from that PC.

On a shared session host, each user pairs their own session.

Read the video transcript

1. 0:00 — Click the TwinPane icon to see your pairing code

   On your PC, click the TwinPane icon in the taskbar. The flyout shows a 10-character pairing code.

2. 0:09 — Click Copy

   Click Copy next to the code. It goes on the clipboard, which your remote session shares.

3. 0:17 — Click Paste from clipboard

   In the remote session, the pairing window opens by itself the first time. Click Paste from clipboard, or press Ctrl+V.

4. 0:27 — Paired. The session can now reach your PC

   The session shows Paired with your PC and closes the window. Your PC confirms that the remote session is paired.

5. 0:36 — Open a file in the session. It opens on your PC

   Double-click a document in the remote session. TwinPane sends it to your PC and it opens in the local app.

Step 1: Show the code on your PC

On your PC, click the TwinPane icon in the taskbar, next to the clock. If you don't see it, click the ^ arrow to show hidden icons.

The flyout shows your Pairing code: 10 letters and digits, such as K7QM2 4XPDA.

A code works for 10 minutes. If it has expired, click New code.

Step 2: Copy the code

Click Copy next to the code.

Step 3: Paste the code in the remote session

Go to your remote session. The Pair this session with your PC window is already open.

Click Paste from clipboard. TwinPane pairs straight away, so you don't need to click Pair.

Don't see the window? In the session, double-click the TwinPane icon in the taskbar.

Step 4: Wait for the confirmation

The session shows Paired with and your PC's name, then closes the window. Your PC shows Remote session paired.

Step 5: Check that it works

Open a document in the remote session. It opens in the app on your PC.

Read the video transcript

1. 0:00 — Type the code, then click Pair

   If copy and paste don't reach the session, type the 10 characters from your PC into the boxes and click Pair.

2. 0:10 — Paired already? Click Show code on your PC

   When another session host asks for a code, click Show code in the TwinPane flyout on your PC, then copy and paste it as before.

3. 0:21 — In the session: Pair with another PC…

   To reach a second PC from the same session, right-click the TwinPane icon in the session's taskbar, choose Pair with another PC, and enter that PC's code.

4. 0:32 — What each message means, and what to do

   A wrong code, an expired code, too many attempts, an older TwinPane on the PC, or a PC that didn't answer each have their own message and fix.

If Paste doesn't work, type the code

Some organizations block copy and paste between a PC and a remote session. Then type the code instead:

1. In the session, click the first box in the pairing window.
2. Type the 10 characters shown on your PC. Upper or lower case both work.
3. Click Pair.

Codes never use 0, 1, I, L or O, so those characters can't be mixed up.

Pair another remote session

Each session host needs its own pairing. If your PC is already paired with one session:

1. On your PC, click the TwinPane icon in the taskbar.
2. Click Show code. If you don't see it, open TwinPane and click Pair another session.
3. Copy the code and paste it in the new session, as in steps 2 and 3.

Pair another PC with the same session

1. On the other PC, show the code as in step 1.
2. In the session, right-click the TwinPane icon in the taskbar and choose Pair with another PC….
3. Paste or type the code.

If pairing doesn't work

Find the message TwinPane shows, and do what it says next to it:

• "That code didn't match." Check the code on your PC and enter it again.
• "The code expired." (on your PC) Click New code and use the new code.
• "Too many attempts." Wait 10 minutes, then try again with a new code.
• "That code is from an older TwinPane on your PC." Update TwinPane on your PC, then pair again.
• "Your PC didn't finish pairing." Make sure TwinPane is running on your PC, then enter a new code.
• "TwinPane couldn't get a pairing code." (on your PC) Check that the PC is online, then click New code.

Paired, but still not connecting? See Troubleshooting: TwinPane not connecting.

Is pairing safe?

• The code is made on your PC and is never sent to TwinPane's service. The service only gets a one-way proof of it, which can't be turned back into the code.
• Your PC and the session use the code to check each other's keys, so nobody who doesn't know the code can get in between.
• After pairing, everything between your PC and the session is end-to-end encrypted.
• Repeated wrong codes are blocked for 10 minutes.

Related guides

• Troubleshooting: TwinPane not connecting
• Silent install (Client and Server)
• Antivirus exclusions for TwinPane Server