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Mar 20, 2019 On your Windows, Android, or iOS device: Open the Remote Desktop app (available for free from Microsoft Store, Google Play, and the Mac App Store), and add the name of the PC that you want to connect to (from Step 1). Select the remote PC name that you added, and then wait for the connection to complete. Get the Remote Desktop client. Download the Microsoft Remote Desktop client from the Mac App Store. Set up your PC to accept remote connections. (If you skip this step, you can't connect to your PC.) Add a Remote Desktop connection or a remote resource. You use a connection to connect directly to.
Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, and Windows 7
You can use the Remote Desktop client for Windows Desktop to access Windows apps and desktops remotely from a different Windows device.
Note
- This documentation is not for the Remote Desktop Connection (MSTSC) client that ships with Windows. It's for the new Remote Desktop (MSRDC) client.
- This client currently only supports accessing remote apps and desktops from Windows Virtual Desktop.
- Curious about the new releases for the Windows Desktop client? Check out What's new in the Windows Desktop client
Install the client
Choose the client that matches the version of Windows. The new Remote Desktop client (MSRDC) supports Windows 10, Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, and Windows 7 client devices.
You can install the client for the current user, which doesn't require admin rights, or your admin can install and configure the client so that all users on the device can access it.
Once you've installed the client, you can launch it from the Start menu by searching for Remote Desktop.
Update the client
You'll be notified whenever a new version of the client is available as long as your admin hasn't disabled notifications. The notification will appear in either the Connection Center or the Windows Action Center. To update your client, just select the notification.
You can also manually search for new updates for the client:
- From the Connection Center, tap the overflow menu (...) on the command bar at the top of the client.
- Select About from the drop-down menu.
- Tap Check for updates.
- If there's an update available, tap Install update to update the client.
Feeds
Get the list of managed resources you can access, such as apps and desktops, by subscribing to the feed your admin provided you. When you subscribe, the resources become available on your local PC. The Windows Desktop client currently supports resources published from Windows Virtual Desktop.
Subscribe to a feed
- From the main page of the client, also known as the Connection Center, tap Subscribe.
- Sign in with your user account when prompted.
- The resources will appear in the Connection Center grouped by Workspace.
You can launch resources with one of the following methods:
- Go to the Connection Center and double-click a resource to launch it.
- You can also go to the Start menu and look for a folder with the Workspace name or enter the resource name in the search bar.
Workspace details
After subscribing, you can view additional information about a Workspace on the Details panel:
- The name of the Workspace
- The URL and username used to subscribe
- The number of apps and desktops
- The date/time of the last update
- The status of the last update
Accessing the Details panel:
- From the Connection Center, tap the overflow menu (...) next to the Workspace.
- Select Details from the drop-down menu.
- The Details panel appears on the right side of the client.
After you've subscribed, the Workspace will update automatically on a regular basis. Resources may be added, changed, or removed based on changes made by your admin.
You can also manually look for updates to the resources when needed by selecting Update now from the Details panel.
Unsubscribe from a feed
This section will teach you how to unsubscribe from a feed. You can unsubscribe to either subscribe again with a different account or remove your resources from the system.
- From the Connection Center, tap the overflow menu (...) next to the Workspace.
- Select Unsubscribe from the drop-down menu.
- Review the dialog box and select Continue.
Managed desktops
Workspaces can contain multiple managed resources, including desktops. When accessing a managed desktop, you have access to all the apps installed by your admin.
Desktop settings
You can configure some of the settings for desktop resources to ensure the experience meets your needs. To access the list of available settings right-click on the desktop resource and select Settings.
The client will use the settings configured by your admin unless you turn off the Use default settings option. Doing so allows you to configure the following options:
- Use multiple displays switches the desktop session between using a single or multiple displays.
- Select the displays to use for the session specifies which local displays to use for the session. All selected displays must be adjacent to each other. This setting is automatically disabled when you use a single display.
- Start in full screen determines whether the session will launch in full-screen or windowed mode. This setting is automatically enabled when you use multiple displays.
- Update the resolution on resize makes the Remote Desktop resolution automatically update when you resize the session in windowed mode. When disabled, the session always remains at whichever resolution you specify in Resolution. This setting is automatically enabled when you use multiple displays.
- Resolution lets you specify the resolution of the remote desktop. The session will retain this resolution for its entire duration. This setting is automatically disabled if the resolution is set to update on resize.
- Change the size of the text and apps specifies the size of the content of the session. This setting only applies when connecting to Windows 8.1 and later or Windows Server 2012 R2 and later. This setting is automatically disabled if the resolution is set to update on resize.
- Fit session to window determines how the session is displayed when the resolution of the remote desktop differs from the size of the local window. When enabled, the session content will be resized to fit inside the window while preserving the aspect ratio of the session. When disabled, scrollbars or black areas will be shown when the resolution and window size don't match.
Provide feedback
Have a feature suggestion or want to report a problem? Tell us using the Feedback Hub. You can also access the Feedback Hub through the client:
- From the Connection Center, tap the Send feedback option on the command bar at the top of the client to open the Feedback Hub app.
- Enter the required information in the Summary and Details fields. When you're done, tap Next.
- Select whether it's a Problem or Suggestion.
- Check to see if the category is in Apps > Remote Desktop. If it is, tap Next.
- Review the existing feedback topics to see if someone else has reported the same problem. If not, select Make a new bug, then tap Next.
- On the next page, you can give us more information so we can help you solve the problem. You can write more detailed information, submit screenshots, and even create a recording of the problem to show us what happened. To make a recording, select Start recording, then do what you did up to the point where the problem happened. When you're done, return to the Feedback Hub and select Stop recording.
- When you're satisfied with the information, tap Submit.
- On the 'Thank you for your feedback!' page, tap Share my feedback to generate a link to your feedback that you can share with others as needed.
Access client logs
You might need the client logs when investigating a problem.
To retrieve the client logs:
- Open File Explorer.
- Navigate to the %temp%DiagOutputDirRdClientAutoTrace folder.
Applies To: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016
You can use the Remote Desktop client for Mac to work with Windows apps, resources, and desktops from your Mac computer. Use the following information to get started - and check out the FAQ if you have questions.
Note
- Curious about the new releases for the macOS client? Check out What's new for Remote Desktop on Mac?
- The Mac client runs on computers running macOS 10.10 and newer.
- The information in this article applies primarily to the full version of the Mac client - the version available in the Mac AppStore. Test-drive new features by downloading our preview app here: beta client release notes.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client For Mac
Get the Remote Desktop client
Follow these steps to get started with Remote Desktop on your Mac:
- Download the Microsoft Remote Desktop client from the Mac App Store.
- Set up your PC to accept remote connections. (If you skip this step, you can't connect to your PC.)
- Add a Remote Desktop connection or a remote resource. You use a connection to connect directly to a Windows PC and a remote resource to use a RemoteApp program, session-based desktop, or a virtual desktop published on-premises using RemoteApp and Desktop Connections. This feature is typically available in corporate environments.
What about the Mac beta client?
We're testing new features on our preview channel on AppCenter. Want to check it out? Go to Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac and click Download. You don't need to create an account or sign into AppCenter to download the beta client.
If you already have the client, you can check for updates to ensure you have the latest version. In the beta client, click Microsoft Remote Desktop Beta at the top, and then click Check for updates.
Add a Remote Desktop connection
To create a remote desktop connection:
In the Connection Center, click +, and then click Desktop.
Enter the following information:
- PC name - the name of the computer.
- This can be a Windows computer name (found in the System settings), a domain name, or an IP address.
- You can also add port information to the end of this name, like MyDesktop:3389.
- User Account - Add the user account you use to access the remote PC.
- For Active Directory (AD) joined computers or local accounts, use one of these formats: user_name, domainuser_name, or user_name@domain.com.
- For Azure Active Directory (AAD) joined computers, use one of these formats: AzureADuser_name or AzureADuser_name@domain.com.
- You can also choose whether to require a password.
- When managing multiple user accounts with the same user name, set a friendly name to differentiate the accounts.
- Manage your saved user accounts in the preferences of the app.
- PC name - the name of the computer.
You can also set these optional settings for the connection:
- Set a friendly name
- Add a Gateway
- Set the sound output
- Swap mouse buttons
- Enable Admin Mode
- Redirect local folders into a remote session
- Forward local printers
- Forward Smart Cards
Click Save.
To start the connection, just double-click it. The same is true for remote resources.
Export and import connections
You can export a remote desktop connection definition and use it on a different device. Remote desktops are saved in separate .RDP files.
- In the Connection Center, right-click the remote desktop.
- Click Export.
- Browse to the location where you want to save the remote desktop .RDP file.
- Click OK.
Use the following steps to import a remote desktop .RDP file.
- In the menu bar, click File > Import.
- Browse to the .RDP file.
- Click Open.
Add a remote resource
Remote resources are RemoteApp programs, session-based desktops, and virtual desktops published using RemoteApp and Desktop Connections.
- The URL displays the link to the RD Web Access server that gives you access to RemoteApp and Desktop Connections.
- The configured RemoteApp and Desktop Connections are listed.
To add a remote resource:
- In the Connection Center click +, and then click Add Remote Resources.
- Enter information for the remote resource:
- Feed URL - The URL of the RD Web Access server. You can also enter your corporate email account in this field – this tells the client to search for the RD Web Access Server associated with your email address.
- User name - The user name to use for the RD Web Access server you are connecting to.
- Password - The password to use for the RD Web Access server you are connecting to.
- Click Save.
The remote resources will be displayed in the Connection Center.
Connect to an RD Gateway to access internal assets
A Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway) lets you connect to a remote computer on a corporate network from anywhere on the Internet. You can create and manage your gateways in the preferences of the app or while setting up a new desktop connection.
To set up a new gateway in preferences:
- In the Connection Center, click Preferences > Gateways.
- Click the + button at the bottom of the table Enter the following information:
- Server name – The name of the computer you want to use as a gateway. This can be a Windows computer name, an Internet domain name, or an IP address. You can also add port information to the server name (for example: RDGateway:443 or 10.0.0.1:443).
- User name - The user name and password to be used for the Remote Desktop gateway you are connecting to. You can also select Use connection credentials to use the same user name and password as those used for the remote desktop connection.
Manage your user accounts
When you connect to a desktop or remote resources, you can save the user accounts to select from again. You can manage your user accounts by using the Remote Desktop client.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Client Mac Dmg Download
To create a new user account:
- In the Connection Center, click Settings > Accounts.
- Click Add User Account.
- Enter the following information:
- User Name - The name of the user to save for use with a remote connection. You can enter the user name in any of the following formats: user_name, domainuser_name, or user_name@domain.com.
- Password - The password for the user you specified. Every user account that you want to save to use for remote connections needs to have a password associated with it.
- Friendly Name - If you are using the same user account with different passwords, set a friendly name to distinguish those user accounts.
- Tap Save, and then tap Settings.
Customize your display resolution
You can specify the display resolution for the remote desktop session.
- In the Connection Center, click Preferences.
- Click Resolution.
- Click +.
- Enter a resolution height and width, and then click OK.
To delete the resolution, select it, and then click -.
Displays have separate spacesIf you are running Mac OS X 10.9 and disabled Displays have separate spaces in Mavericks (System Preferences > Mission Control), you need to configure this setting in the remote desktop client using the same option.
Drive redirection for remote resources
Drive redirection is supported for remote resources, so that you can save files created with a remote application locally to your Mac. The redirected folder is always your home directory displayed as a network drive in the remote session.
Note
In order to use this feature, the administrator needs to set the appropriate settings on the server.
Use a keyboard in a remote session
Mac keyboard layouts differ from the Windows keyboard layouts.
- The Command key on the Mac keyboard equals the Windows key.
- To perform actions that use the Command button on the Mac, you will need to use the control button in Windows (e.g.: Copy = Ctrl + C).
- The function keys can be activated in the session by pressing additionally the FN key (e.g.: FN + F1).
- The Alt key to the right of the space bar on the Mac keyboard equals the Alt Gr/right Alt key in Windows.
By default, the remote session will use the same keyboard locale as the OS you're running the client on. (If your Mac is running an en-us OS, that will be used for the remote sessions as well.) If the OS keyboard locale is not used, check the keyboard setting on the remote PC and change it manually. See the Remote Desktop Client FAQ for more information about keyboards and locales.
Support for Remote Desktop gateway pluggable authentication and authorization
Windows Server 2012 R2 introduced support for a new authentication method, Remote Desktop Gateway pluggable authentication and authorization, which provides more flexibility for custom authentication routines. You can now this authentication model with the Mac client.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Client Mac Dmg Free
Important
Custom authentication and authorization models before Windows 8.1 are not supported, although the article above discusses them.
To learn more about this feature, check out https://aka.ms/paa-sample.
Tip
Questions and comments are always welcome. However, please do NOT post a request for troubleshooting help by using the comment feature at the end of this article. Instead, go to the Remote Desktop client forum and start a new thread. Have a feature suggestion? Tell us in the client user voice forum.