TightProjector

TightProjector is a small Windows tool from GlavSoft, long known as the developer of TightVNC for Windows, that broadcasts one computer’s screen to many PCs on the same local network. It is meant for classrooms, training rooms and meeting rooms where a teacher or presenter wants everyone to see the same screen on their own monitor. If you are looking for a TightProjector download, note its status first: the current builds date from June 2018 and the product has not been updated since.

The design is simple. TightProjector runs on the presenter’s PC and sends screen updates as UDP multicast packets; TightReceiver runs on each viewer’s PC and shows them. Because there is one stream for all receivers, adding more viewers does not slow the presenter down. A companion program, TightInformer, sends scrolling text messages to the same receivers.

TightProjector at a glance

What it does

• Broadcasts the presenter’s screen to any number of PCs running TightReceiver on the same LAN.
• Uses UDP multicast, so receivers do not open connections and bandwidth stays the same as the audience grows.
• Supports multi-monitor setups and an optimised screen encoder.
• Lets the presenter start, pause and stop transmission from a tray icon or hotkeys (Alt+F12 by default).
• TightProjectorPro adds audio broadcast, recording a session to a file for later playback, bandwidth control for slow Wi-Fi and a tool that silently deploys TightReceiverPro across the network.
• TightInformer shows short text messages as a news ticker on receivers, for example announcements on PCs or public screens.
• Viewers can watch the same broadcast in several Remote Desktop sessions on one computer (Pro).

How IT teams use it

Show a teacher’s screen to a classroom

1. Install TightProjector on the teacher’s PC and TightReceiver on every student PC.
2. Start TightReceiver on the student PCs; it sits in the system tray.
3. On the teacher’s PC double-click the TightProjector tray icon (it starts rotating) or press Alt+F12.
4. Students see the teacher’s screen in a window; double-clicking the receiver tray icon toggles full screen, and Esc leaves it.

Start everything automatically at login

1. Create shortcuts with command-line options so no one has to click anything:

   tightprj.exe -start -port 5000
   tightrcv.exe -port 5000 -fullscr

2. Projector and receivers must use the same base UDP port. The port number above is an example; pick one that is free on your network.
3. On PCs with several network adapters add -interface a.b.c.d with the address of the classroom adapter.
4. Deploy the shortcuts through Group Policy or your usual software distribution tool.

Run two rooms on one network

1. Give each room its own base UDP port, for example one value for room A and another for room B.
2. Set the same port on the projector and receivers of each room. Two projectors on the same port will conflict.

Install and first run

Windows. Run the TightProjector setup (or TightProjectorPro setup for the Pro edition) and follow the wizard; it creates Start menu shortcuts for TightProjector, TightInformer and TightReceiver. Each program is roughly 300 KB, needs 32 MB of RAM (64 MB recommended), 2 MB of disk space and a 16, 24 or 32-bit colour display. The download page also offers each .exe separately, which is handy for receivers.

Network. Everything runs on one LAN segment. Allow the chosen UDP ports through Windows Defender Firewall on both sides, and check that your switches and Wi-Fi access points pass multicast traffic; some Wi-Fi networks and managed switches with IGMP snooping block or throttle it.

Activation. The unregistered version runs with a time limit per session and offers registration at startup; enter a purchased activation code to unlock it.

Limitations

• Not updated since June 2018. Windows 11 is not listed in the official requirements, so test before rolling out.
• Windows only; no macOS, Linux, Chromebook or mobile receivers.
• One-way only: viewers cannot control the presenter’s PC, and the presenter cannot see or control students’ screens.
• LAN multicast only; it does not work across the Internet or most VPNs.
• Audio and recording are limited to the Pro edition.
• Closed source and not free for regular use.

TightProjector vs alternatives

If you need two-way control rather than broadcasting, a VNC setup such as TightVNC or UltraVNC lets you view and control student PCs one at a time, and both are free. For a current, supported classroom tool, a dedicated classroom-management product is the more future-proof choice than TightProjector.

FAQ

Where do I get a TightProjector download?

The official website lists the 2018 builds of TightProjector, TightReceiver, TightInformer and their Pro versions, together with the documentation. All of them are Windows programs.

Is TightProjector free?

No. It is shareware (conditionally free): you can download and evaluate it, but regular use requires buying an activation code.

Is TightProjector still developed?

No new versions have appeared since June 30, 2018. The site still offers downloads and support contact, but expect no fixes for newer Windows versions.

How do I use TightProjector?

Run TightProjector on the presenter’s PC and TightReceiver on the viewers’ PCs, make sure both use the same UDP port, then double-click the projector tray icon to start transmission.

What is the difference between TightProjector and TightVNC?

TightVNC gives one technician full remote control of one computer. TightProjector shows one screen to many computers at once, view-only, over LAN multicast.

Does TightProjector work over the Internet?

No. It relies on UDP multicast inside a local network, which is not routed across the Internet.

Last checked against official sources: 1 October 2026 (developer website: tightprojector.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in production.