Microsoft Remote Desktop Tool For Mac

• Microsoft Remote Desktop Client For Mac Download

Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2

You can use the Remote Desktop client for iOS to work with Windows apps, resources, and desktops from your iOS device (iPhones and iPads).

Use the following information to get started. Be sure to check out the FAQ if you have any questions.

Note

• Curious about the new releases for the iOS client? Check out What's new for Remote Desktop on iOS?
• The iOS client supports devices running iOS 6.x and newer.

Get the Remote Desktop Beta client and start using it

The iOS Beta client available today through Apple TestFlight supports connections to Windows Virtual Desktop resources.

1. With Microsoft Remote Desktop, you can connect to a remote PC and your work resources from almost anywhere. Experience the power of Windows with RemoteFX in a Remote Desktop client designed to help you get your work done wherever you are.
2. RDM+ Remote Desktop for Mac and Windows $6.99 Easy-to-setup and reliable application providing fast and secure remote access to your Mac or Windows computers.

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.

Download the Remote Desktop iOS Beta client from Apple TestFlight

Here's how to set up the Remote Desktop Beta client on your iOS device:

1. Install the Apple TestFlight app on your iOS device.
2. On your iOS device, open a browser and navigate to aka.ms/rdiosbeta.
3. Under the label Step 2 Join the Beta select Start Testing.
4. When you are redirected to the TestFlight app, select Accept and then Install the client.

Add a connection to a PC

To create a remote connection to a PC:

1. In the Connection Center, tap +, and then tap Add PC.
2. Enter the name of the remote PC into PC Name. This can be a Windows computer name, an Internet domain name, or an IP address. You can also append port information to the PC name (for example, MyDesktop:3389 or 10.0.0.1:3389).
3. Select the User Account you'll use to access the remote PC.
   • Select Ask Every Time for the client to ask for your credentials every time you connect to the remote PC.
   • Select Add User Account to save an account that you use frequently so you don't have to enter credentials every time you sign in. Follow these instructions to manage your user accounts.
4. You can also set the following optional parameters:
   • In Friendly Name, you can enter an easier-to-remember name for the PC you're connecting to.
   • Admin Mode lets you connect to an admin session on the remote PC.
   • Swap Mouse Buttons switches the commands sent by right and left mouse gestures. Ideal for left-handed users.
   • The Gateway is the Remote Desktop gateway you'll use to connect to a computer from an external network. Contact your system administrator for more information.
   • Sound selects the device your remote session uses for audio. You can choose to play sound on your local device, the remote device, or not at all.
   • Microphone enables microphone redirection. This setting is disabled by default.
   • Camera enables camera redirection. This setting is disabled by default.
   • Clipboard enables clipboard redirection. This setting is enabled by default.
   • Storage enables local storage redirection. This setting is disabled by default.
5. Select Save to add the remote PC connection.

Add remote resources

Remote resources are RemoteApp programs, session-based desktops, and virtual desktops published by your admin. The iOS client supports resources published from Remote Desktop Services and Windows Virtual Desktop deployments. To add remote resources:

1. In the Connection Center tap +, and then tap Add Workspace.
2. Enter the Feed URL. This can be a URL or email address:
   • The URL is the RD Web Access server's URL, provided to you by your admin. If accessing resources from Windows Virtual Desktop, you can use https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com.
   • If you plan to use Email, enter your email address in this field. This tells the client to search for an RD Web Access server associated with your email address if it was configured by your admin.
3. Tap Next.
4. Provide your sign in information when prompted. This can vary based on the deployment and can include:
   • User name, the user name that has permission to access the resources.
   • Password, the password associated with the user name.
   • Additional factor, which you may be prompted for if authentication was configured that way by your admin.
5. Tap Save.

The remote resources will be displayed in the Connection Center.

Get the Remote Desktop client and start using it

Download the Remote Desktop client from the iOS store

Follow these steps to get started with Remote Desktop on your iOS device:

1. Download the Microsoft Remote Desktop client from iTunes.
2. Set up your PC to accept remote connections.
3. Add a Remote Desktop connection or a remote resource. You use a connection to connect to a 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.

Add a Remote Desktop connection

To create a remote desktop connection:

1. In the Connection Center tap +, and then tap Add PC or Server.
2. Enter the following information for the remote desktop connection:
   • PC name – the name of the computer. This can be a Windows computer name, an Internet domain name, or an IP address. You can also append port information to the PC name (for example, MyDesktop:3389 or 10.0.0.1:3389).
   • User name – The user name to use to access the remote PC. You can use the following formats: user_name, domainuser_name, or user_name@domain.com. You can also specify whether to prompt for a user name and password.
3. You can also set the following additional options:
   • Friendly name (optional) – An easy-to-remember name for the PC you are connecting to. You can use any string, but if you do not specify a friendly name, the PC name is displayed.
   • Gateway (optional) – The Remote Desktop gateway that you want to use to connect to virtual desktops, RemoteApp programs, and session-based desktops on an internal corporate network. Get the information about the gateway from your system administrator.
   • Sound – Select the device to use for audio during your remote session. You can choose to play sound on the local devices, the remote device, or not at all.
   • Swap mouse buttons – Whenever a mouse gesture would send a command with the left mouse button, it sends the same command with the right mouse button instead. This is necessary if the remote PC is configured for left-handed mouse mode.
   • Admin Mode - Connect to an administration session on a server running Windows Server 2003 or later.
4. Tap Save.

Need to edit these settings? Press and hold the desktop you want to edit, and then tap the settings icon.

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:

1. On the Connection Center screen, tap +, and then tap Add Remote Resources.
2. 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.
3. Tap Save.

The remote resources will be displayed in the Connection Center.

Manage your user accounts

When you connect to a desktop or remote resources, you can save the user accounts to select from again.

To create a new user account:

1. In the Connection Center, tap Settings, and then tap User Accounts.
2. Tap Add User Account.
3. 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 an associated password.
4. Tap Save.

To delete a user account:

1. In the Connection Center, tap Settings, and then tap User Accounts.
2. Select the account you would like to delete.
3. Tap Delete.

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 using the Remote Desktop client.

To set up a new gateway:

1. In the Connection Center, tap Settings > Gateways.
2. Tap Add Remote Desktop gateway.
3. 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.

Navigate the Remote Desktop session

When you start a remote desktop session, there are tools available that you can use to navigate the session.

Start a Remote Desktop Connection

1. Tap the remote desktop connection to start the remote desktop session.
2. If you are asked to verify the certificate for the remote desktop, tap Accept. You can choose to always accept by sliding the Don’t ask me again for connections to this computer toggle to ON.

Connection Bar

The connection bar gives you access to additional navigation controls.

• Pan Control: The pan control enables the screen to be enlarged and moved around. Note that pan control is only available using direct touch.
  • Enable / Disable the pan control: Tap the pan icon in the connection bar to display the pan control and zoom the screen. Tap the pan icon in the connection bar again to hide the control and return the screen to its original resolution.
  • Use the pan control: Tap and hold the pan control and then drag in the direction you want to move the screen.
  • Move the pan control: Double tap and hold the pan control to move the control on the screen.
• Connection name: The current connection name is displayed. Tap the connection name to display the session selection bar.
• Keyboard: Tap the keyboard icon to display or hide the keyboard. The pan control is displayed automatically when the keyboard is displayed.
• Move the connection bar: Tap and hold the connection bar, and then drag and drop to a new location at the top of the screen.

Session selection

You can have multiple connections open to different PCs at the same time. Tap the connection bar to display the session selection bar on the left-hand side of the screen. The session selection bar enables you to view your open connections and switch between them.

• Switch between apps in an open remote resource session.

  When you are connected to remote resources, you can switch between open applications within that session by tapping the expander menu and choosing from the list of available items.

• Start a new session

  You can start new applications or desktop sessions from within your current connection: tap Start New, and then choose from the list of available items.

• Disconnection a session

  To disconnect a session tap X in the left-hand side of the session tile.

Command bar

The command bar replaced the Utility bar starting in version 8.0.1. You can switch between the mouse modes and return to the connection center from the command bar.

Use touch gestures and mouse modes in a remote session

The client uses standard touch gestures. You can also use touch gestures to replicate mouse actions on the remote desktop. The mouse modes available are defined in the table below.

Note

Interacting with Windows 8 or newer the native touch gestures are supported in Direct Touch mode. For more information on Windows 8 gestures see Touch: Swipe, tap, and beyond.

Supported input devices

The Remote Desktop iOS beta client supports the Swiftpoint GT and ProPoint physical mice. Swiftpoint is offering an exclusive discount on the GT for iOS beta client users.

The iOS client currently only supports Swiftpoint mice. Refer to the What's new in the iOS client page and the iOS App Store for news about support for other devices in the future.

Use a keyboard in a remote session

You can use either an on-screen keyboard or physical keyboard in your remote session.

For on-screen keyboards, use the button on the right edge of the bar above the keyboard to switch between the standard and additional keyboard.

If Bluetooth is enabled for your iOS device, the client automatically detects the Bluetooth keyboard.

Be aware that, due to limitations on the OS, special keys such as Ctrl, Option, and Function will not work as expected with a Bluetooth keyboard. The following keys work:

• Alphanumeric keys
• Cursor keys
• Tab: Tab works, but Shift+Tab does not work
• Home / Pos1: Alt+Left = Home
• End: Alt+Right = End
• Page Up: Alt+Up = Page Up
• Page Down: Alt+Down = Page Down
• Select All: Command+A = Ctrl+A (Select all in most programs)
• Cut: Command+X = Ctrl+X (Cut in most programs)
• Copy: Command+C = Ctrl+C (Copy in most programs)
• Paste: Command+V = Ctrl+V (Paste in most programs)
• Symbols: Alt+Alphanumeric keys will produce different symbols depending on the language configured

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.

For anyone whose work follows them wherever they go (and whose doesn't?), a remote access solution is an easy sell. With a remote access tool, your office computer can be reached from home, your home computer can be reached from the office, and both can be reached from your hotel in Omaha or Maui or wherever you happen to be. Remote access means nothing ever gets left behind -- except maybe your laptop.

Best of all, a good remote access tool doesn't have to cost you a dime. There are plenty of good free tools available, and some of them are downright excellent. In this review, I examine seven of the most popular free remote access tools available for Windows and, in four cases, Mac users. Many of the free tools listed here also have paid versions that offer additional features (such as support for remote printing) or licensing (extra host computers or clients). For some users, the paid version will be the only true option.

[ Also on InfoWorld: They're great, and they're free: Top free troubleshooting tools for Windows | More great free troubleshooting tools for Windows | Top 10 Windows tools for IT pros | The best free open source software for Windows ]

As you read about each tool, you'll notice that I put a lot of emphasis on remote printing. I rely on remote access tools on a daily basis, and in most cases I need to be able to print to my remote PC. For someone that just wants to check their home/office email account or view documents from outside the office, all of the utilities here will work fine. But for those trying to get some serious work done, remote printing may be the deal breaker.

Check out these free remote access tools for Windows and Mac.

DESKTRA Freedom Desktop 1.1InfoWorld's Free RAS score: Fair

Microsoft Remote Desktop Client For Mac Download

DESKTRA Freedom Desktop is a Windows-only utility that provides good remote access but is limited in functionality. Only available for 32-bit versions of Windows, DESKTRA's host component installs as a service and allows two users to access the same Windows PC at the same time without interrupting each other. While it does pass audio to the remote client, it does not provide remote printing capabilities or file transfers.