Save to your PC from a remote app (Mirror Mode and drive X:)

With TwinPane Mirror Mode, Desktop, Documents and Downloads in your remote session are your PC's own folders. Save from any remote app or published browser straight to your PC.

With Mirror Mode, the Desktop, Documents and Downloads folders in your remote session are your PC's own folders. Save a file there from any remote app, and it is on your PC. It works in full remote desktops and in RemoteApp and Citrix published apps, and it doesn't need RDP drive redirection.

The video shows TwinPane 1.0.53. The Windows desktops in it are illustrations.

What you need

  • TwinPane Client on your PC and TwinPane Server in the remote session, paired with each other. See Pair TwinPane Client and Server.
  • Mirror Mode allowed by your organization. It is on unless your IT has turned it off.
48-second illustrated walkthrough. Silent, with on-screen titles and an English captions track. A step-by-step walkthrough: check drive X: in TwinPane Server, see how the PC's folders map into the session, save from a remote app and download from a published browser to the PC, and use the PC's network drives.
Read the video transcript

  1. 0:00 — Check that drive X: is mounted

    Open TwinPane Server in the session and click Virtual drive. Drive X: shows Mounted and Quick Access mirroring shows Active. Both are on by default.

  2. 0:10 — Six PC folders, one drive in the session

    In the session, Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music and Videos point to the same folders on your PC through drive X:, named Client PC.

  3. 0:19 — In Save As, choose Desktop, Documents or Downloads

    In the remote app's Save As dialog, the folders marked YOUR PC are your PC's own folders. Save there, and the file is on your PC.

  4. 0:29 — Downloads land in Downloads on your PC

    A browser in the session saves downloads to Downloads, which is your PC's Downloads folder. Open it on your PC to find the file.

  5. 0:38 — Your PC’s network drives keep their letters

    Network drives mapped on your PC appear in the session under the same letters. Turn this on or off on the Shared drives page of TwinPane on your PC.

Step 1: Check that drive X: is mounted

In the remote session, open TwinPane Server and click Virtual drive.

  • Drive X: shows Mounted.
  • Quick Access mirroring shows Active.

Both are on by default: the drive mounts as soon as your PC connects. When the folders are ready, your PC shows Remote Explorer Mirrored.

If drive X: shows Not mounted, click Start drive.

Step 2: Know what's on drive X:

Drive X: is called Client PC. In the remote session, these folders point to the same folders on your PC:

  • Desktop → Client PC (X:)\Desktop → your PC's Desktop
  • Documents → Client PC (X:)\Documents → your PC's Documents
  • Downloads → Client PC (X:)\Downloads → your PC's Downloads
  • Pictures, Music and Videos work the same way.

If your PC keeps these folders in OneDrive, drive X: uses the OneDrive folders. Drive X: also shows the other drives on your PC, unless your organization only allows your user folders.

When you sign out or disconnect, the session's folders go back to normal. They're set up again when you reconnect.

Step 3: Save from a remote app

  1. In the remote app, choose Save As or Export.
  2. Choose Desktop, Documents or Downloads, or browse to Client PC (X:).
  3. Click Save.

The file is now in the same folder on your PC.

Step 4: Download from a published browser

A browser in the remote session saves downloads to Downloads, which is your PC's Downloads folder. Open Downloads on your PC to find the file.

If the browser asks where to save, choose Downloads or Client PC (X:).

Step 5: Use your PC's network drives

Network drives mapped on your PC appear in the session under the same letters, for example P: (Projects).

To turn this on or off, open TwinPane on your PC and click Shared drives. Switch Share network drives with remote sessions, or switch single drives. In the session, TwinPane Server lists them under Network drives from the client PC on the Virtual drive page.

Turn Mirror Mode off or on

In TwinPane Server, click Virtual drive and switch Quick Access mirroring. When it's off, Desktop, Documents and Downloads are the session's own folders again.

If the switch says Managed by your organization, your IT controls it. See Set an organization policy in the dashboard.

If something doesn't work

  • Folders are missing from Quick Access: on the Virtual drive page, click Repair Quick Access.
  • You can't save to drive X: check that your PC is on and TwinPane is connected. While your PC is disconnected, drive X: stays in the session, but you can't save to it until your PC reconnects.
  • "Location blocked": your organization only allows your user folders (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music and Videos).
  • "File type blocked" or "File too large": your organization limits which files can be saved or opened.

For administrators

  • Default for Mirror Mode: MirrorModeEnabled (DWORD, 1 on or 0 off) under HKLM\SOFTWARE\FileSyncBridge\Server. A user's own choice is saved under the same path in HKCU and wins. See Registry keys.
  • Organization policy: Mirror Mode, Network drive sharing and Folder access in the dashboard override local settings on every device. See Set an organization policy in the dashboard.

Related guides

Related guides

Antivirus exclusions for TwinPane Server (false positive)

How to configure antivirus exclusions for TwinPane Server in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Defender Antivirus, and third-party AV products when shell redirection triggers a behavioral detection.

Azure Virtual Desktop local drives not showing: a troubleshooting checklist

Check AVD client support, host-pool drive selection, effective policy, and the saved-file destination before changing your file workflow.

Citrix client drive mapping not working: a troubleshooting checklist

Local drives missing in a Citrix session? Check the Workspace app's file access, the File Redirection policies that apply, browser access, and a test file.