Applies to: Windows Server 2022, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2
Today, Microsoft has added some long-awaited features to its remote desktop app, including mouse and trackpad support for iPad users running iPadOS 13.4 or higher. IPhone users also now get haptic feedback when performing a right-click, the gesture for which has been simplified to pressing and holding. To connect from a Mac on campus: Install Microsoft Remote Desktop 10. In your Applications folder, start Remote Desktop Connection. In the menu bar, click RDC - Preferences. Click on the Printers tab at the top. Uncheck the box that says 'Use a printer that is connected to the Mac'. Click on the Drives tab. You may select local folders on your.
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 client and start using it
This section will tell you how to download and set up the Remote Desktop client for iOS.
Download the Remote Desktop client from the iOS store
First you'll need to download the client and configure your PC to connect to remote resources.
To download the client:
- Download the Microsoft Remote Desktop client from the iOS App Store or iTunes.
- Set up your PC to accept remote connections.
Add a PC
After you've downloaded the client and configured your PC to accept remote connections, it's time to actually add a PC.
To add a PC:
- In the Connection Center, tap +, then tap Add PC.
- Enter the following information:
- PC name – the name of the computer. The PC name 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 you'll use to access the remote PC. You can use the following formats: user_name, domainuser_name, or
user_name@domain.com
. You can also select Ask when required to be prompted for a user name and password when necessary.
- You can also set the following additional options:
- Friendly name (optional) – An easy-to-remember name for the PC you're connecting to. You can use any string, but if you don't specify a friendly name, the PC name is displayed instead.
- 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. Swapping mouse buttons 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.
- Clipboard - Choose whether to redirect text and images in your clipboard to your PC.
- Storage - Choose whether to redirect storage to your PC.
- Tap Save.
Need to edit these settings? Press and hold the desktop you want to edit, then tap the settings icon.
Add a workspace
To get a list of managed resources you can access on your iOS, add a workspace by subscribing to the feed provided by your admin.
To add a workspace:
- On the Connection Center screen, tap +, and then tap Add workspace.
- In the Feed URL field, enter the URL for the feed you want to add. This URL can be either a URL or an email address.
- If you use a URL, use the one your admin gave you.
- If you're accessing resources from Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365, you can use one of the following URLs:
- For Azure Virtual Desktop (classic), use
https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com/api/feeddiscovery/webfeeddiscovery.aspx
. - For Azure Virtual Desktop, use
https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com/api/arm/feeddiscovery
. - If you're using Windows 365, use:
https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com/api/arm/feeddiscovery
.
- For Azure Virtual Desktop (classic), use
- If you're accessing resources from Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365, you can use one of the following URLs:
- If you use an email address, enter your email address. Entering your email address tells the client to search for a URL associated with your email address if your admin configured the server that way.
- If you use a URL, use the one your admin gave you.
- Tap Next.
- Provide your credentials when prompted.
- For User name, give the user name of an account with permission to access resources.
- For Password, give the password for the account.
- You may also be prompted to give additional information depending on the settings your admin configured authentication with.
- Tap Save.
After you've finished, the Connection Center should display the remote resources.
Once subscribed to a feed, the feed content will update automatically on a regular basis. Resources may be added, changed, or removed based on changes made by your administrator.
Manage your user accounts
When you connect to a PC or workspace, you can save the user accounts to select from again.
To create a new user account:
- In the Connection Center, tap Settings, and then tap User Accounts.
- Tap 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
, oruser_name@domain.com
. - Password - The password for the user you specified.
- 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:
- Tap Save.
To delete a user account:
- In the Connection Center, tap Settings, and then tap User Accounts.
- Select the account you would like to delete.
- 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:
- In the Connection Center, tap Settings > Gateways.
- Tap Add gateway.
- Enter the following information:
- Gateway name – The name of the computer you want to use as a gateway. The gateway name 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're connecting to. You can also select Use connection credentials to use the same user name and password that you used for the remote desktop connection.
Navigate the Remote Desktop session
This section describes tools you can use to help navigate your Remote Desktop session.
Start a Remote Desktop connection
- Tap the remote desktop connection to start the remote desktop session.
- If you're asked to verify the certificate for the remote desktop, tap Accept. To accept by default, set Don't ask me again for connections to this computer 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. Pan control is only available using direct touch.
- To enable or disable the pan control, tap the pan icon in the connection bar to display the pan control. The screen will zoom in while the pan control is active. the pan icon in the connection bar again to hide the control and return the screen to its original resolution.
- To use the pan control, tap and hold the pan control. While holding, drag your fingers in the direction you want to move the screen.
- To 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. While holding the bar, drag it over to its new location. Let go of the bar to place it at the new location.
Microsoft Remote Desktop On Mac Right Click
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.
Here's what you can do with the session selection bar:
- To switch between apps in an open remote resource session, tap the expander menu and choose an app from the list.
- Tap Start New to start a new session, then choose a session from the list of available sessions.
- Tap the X icon on the left side of the session tile to disconnect from your session.
Command bar
The command bar replaced the Utility bar starting in version 8.0.1. You can use the command bar to switch between mouse modes and return to the connection center.
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
In Windows 8 or later, the native touch gestures are supported in Direct Touch mode. For more information on Windows 8 gestures, see Touch: Swipe, tap, and beyond.
Mouse mode | Mouse operation | Gesture |
---|---|---|
Direct touch | Left-click | Tap with one finger |
Direct touch | Right-click | Tap and hold with one finger |
Mouse pointer | Left-click | Tap with one finger |
Mouse pointer | Left-click and drag | Tap and hold with one finger, then drag |
Mouse pointer | Right-click | Tap with two fingers |
Mouse pointer | Right-click and drag | Double-tap and hold with two fingers, then drag |
Mouse pointer | Mouse wheel | Double-tap and hold with two fingers, then drag up or down |
Mouse pointer | Zoom | With two fingers, pinch to zoom out and spread fingers apart to zoom in |
Supported input devices
The client has Bluetooth mouse support for iOS 13 and iPadOS as an accessibility feature. You can use Swiftpoint GT or ProPoint mice for deeper mouse integration. The client also supports external keyboards that are compatible with iOS and iPadOS.
For more information about device support, see What's new in the iOS client and the iOS App Store.
Tip
Swiftpoint is offering an exclusive discount on the ProPoint mouse for iOS client users.
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 on your iOS device, the client automatically detects the Bluetooth keyboard.
While certain key combinations might not work as expected in a remote session, many of the common Windows key combinations, such as CTRL+C, CTRL+V, and ALT+TAB will work.
Tip
Questions and comments are always welcome. However, if you post support requests or product feedback in this article's comments section, we won't be able to respond to your feedback. If you need help or want to troubleshoot your client, we highly recommend you go to the Remote Desktop client forum and start a new thread. If you have a feature suggestion, you can tell us using the client user voice forum.
List of content you will read in this article:
The Microsoft Store has a 'Remote Desktop' program for Windows 10, which is aimed to make it easier to connect and operate other devices through a local network or the internet. It's also the interface that'll take the place of the built-in 'Remote Desktop Connection' function. The application is straightforward, but based on how you want to access it, you may have to make additional configurations and then forward the appropriate port on your network that connects to other Windows 10 devices remotely. There's a problem, though. The Remote Desktop software may be enabled on any version of Windows 10, but the remote desktop protocols, that allow you to connect to a computer, are only available on the Pro and Enterprise versions of Windows 10. Remote connections are not supported in Windows 10 Home.
Connect to a Microsoft Remote Desktop session
To start, users or somebody else must actually login into the system you want to access from a distance. Open and turn on Remote Desktop on this machine. Turn on the option next to Remote Desktop to activate it. Click Confirm to activate the modification.
Make your PC accessible on secure networks and maintain your PC ready for connectivity when connected are both enabled by default. Click the relevant Show Settings link to examine or edit either option, although both can be left active at this time. Choose Advanced Settings from the drop-down box alternatively.
Select the checkbox next to 'Require machines to connect using Network Level Authentication (NLA).' NLA makes distant connections over the same network more secure by requiring users to authenticate before getting access to the remote PC.
You can skip the 'External connections' part if you're connected to a machine on the same network. The default port for listening for and accepting a remote connection is shown in the Remote Desktop port section.
Click the back arrow and navigate through the Remote Desktop choices to go to the previous page. By default, any user with an administrator privilege on the remote PC may view it. If you use a Microsoft Account to log into Windows and that account has administrator capabilities, your best chance is to sign in remotely with that account. Click the 'Select users who may remotely access this PC' choice at the bottom if you wish to allow remote access to a separate account. Click Add and provide the login for the user account.
Finally, jot down the name of the system because you'll need it to sign in remotely. Follow these procedures to change the computer's name to something simpler to remember. When you're finished, close the Remote Desktop settings window.
Using Windows, Access to a Remote Computer.
Assume you want to connect from your personal computer to this different Computer. By pressing the Start button and choosing Remote Desktop Connection in Windows 10, you can go to the Windows Accessories folder. Select Remote Desktop Connection from the shortcut menu.
For previous versions of the OS, the procedure is slightly different. To open the Search tool in Windows 8.1, press Win key+S. Type 'windows remote desktop' into the search area and select the result. In Windows 7, go to the Start menu, open the Accessories folder, and find the Remote Desktop Connection shortcut.
In the Remote Desktop Connection of window's Computer section, type the name or IP address of the remote computer. From the drop-down list, choose Show Options and enter the username for the profile you'll use to log in. Check the box beside 'Allow me to save credentials' and you'll save your details so you wouldn't have to type it in every session you logged in. By clicking the Connect button, you may establish a connection.
Type your password in the options window. Check the 'Remember Me' box if you might not want to enter your password every time you use this profile. Click the OK button. You could get a notice claiming that the distant computer's identification can't be verified. Select 'Don't ask me for connections to this machine again' and click on Yes.
You should now be able to execute apps, open and interact with files, and do other operations by connecting to the remote computer. At the top of the window, a blue connection bar with many options emerges.
You may anchor the bar and check the network connectivity using the controls on the left side of the bar. You may minimize the remote window to the taskbar, alter the window size, and stop the remote session using the controls on the right. Close the connection by clicking the Close symbol when you're done.
Remote Desktop Settings
You may change some of the tool's settings from the setup page for Remote Desktop Connection.
Use the Windows 10 Remote Desktop Application
You may use the Microsoft Remote Desktop application. From the Microsoft Store, download and start the program. Click the Add button and select Desktop from the drop-down box to make a connection.
Add your account by putting the name of the system you want to connect to in this box. In the account window, enter your username and password. You may also give your account a nickname or a display name if you choose. Save the document.
To connect to the remote PC, double-click the icon. Check the box next to 'Don't inquire about this certificate again' on the certificate screen.
You've established a link with the system on the other remote computer. Rather than a blue bar on top of the page, the Remote Desktop app uses a black panel just on side of the window.
You can scale in and out with the magnifying icon at the top, and you can toggle between full screen and windowed view with the ellipsis icon. To deactivate, select Disconnect from the ellipsis icon.
Additionally, we are also providing how to set up the remote connections on MAC OS and Android.
From a Mac, Connect to a Remote PC
Install the Microsoft Distant Desktop program from the Mac App Store to connect to a remote computer. Start the program and give it the permissions it needs. Select Add PC from the drop-down menu, then input the PC's name or IP address.
If you type the Computer name, you must use the domain name address. If you're talking about a single PC, you'd finish the name with .local, such as xyz.local.
Choose whether to keep the Ask when prompted for User Profile choice selected, or to enter your login and password now so you wouldn't have to fill them in each and every time. Click Add once you're finished.
Double-click the remote session icon on the Home screen. If you get a notice saying the certificate couldn't be confirmed, click Continue. After that, you should be able to connect to the remote PC.
To access the remote desktop app's menu bar, move your mouse to the top of the screen. You may alter the window's size and close the connection from the Window menu.
Connect to a Remote PC from iOS
Install the Microsoft Remote Desktop app from the App Store to connect to a remote PC from your iPhone or iPad. After you've given the program the required rights, touch the + button and choose Add PC from the drop-down menu.
Enter the PC name or IP address of the machine you wish to visit in the following box. You must specify the fully qualified domain name if you use the PC name. For a single PC, this entails appending. local to the end of its name.
Your user account can be typed in or selected. You may give the connection a pleasant name and activate other options under Additional Options. To connect to the computer, tap Save, then pick the desktop icon.
Enter your password on the Credentials screen, then toggle on the option next to Store username and password if you don't want to type them in every time. Don't forget to tap on Done. Turn the switch for 'Don't ask me for connection to this PC again' on in the login box. You'll be connected as soon as you accept.
Look at the toolbar at the top of the window. Zoom in and out by tapping the magnifying glass. The center icon returns you to the app's main screen without ending your current session. To bring up the device's keyboard, choose the keyboard icon.
Connecting to a Remote PC via an Android device
You can easily download and install the Microsoft Remote Desktop application software from the Google Play store to connect to a Windows System from your Android device. Accept the agreement by opening the app and accepting the terms. To add a connection, tap the Plus icon and choose the Desktop option.
You can scan for the distant PC wirelessly if you're close enough. Otherwise, manually enter it. Fill in the computer's name and username. Any more alternatives should be included. Save the file.
Tap on the icon to access that system. After you've entered your password and checked the box next to 'Store username and password,' tap Connect. And check the checkbox of Never ask again.
You've established a connection. A little toolbar is located at the top of the screen. To expand side panels with more choices, click the first icon. You may establish a new connection, terminate an existing one, return to the home screen, and toggle between touch and mouse pointer.
You can see an icon on the top. To terminate the session click on the cross button on the top left.
How to make Remote Desktop Faster
You'll want to start by launching the Remote Desktop Client. Go to Programs in Accessories in the Start Menu to find it. On the pop-up box that appears, choose Remote Desktop, then Options.
- First, let's look at the Display tab. Reduce the color depth to 16 bits (or even lower if you're not working with a lot of colors). If you're working with images or the colors will be too distorted to work with, increase the color settings to 16-bit; however, the higher the color settings, the poorer your connectivity will be.
- Adjust your Audio settings in the Local Resources tab. Sound from the workstation you're remotely into will automatically broadcast to the one you're seated at. Keep in mind that you won't hear the email notification sound if you operate your email client from a distant location.
- You may also disable printers on the Local Resources page. You won't be able to print to the distant site if you do this, so if you really need to print, avoid this step. This can solve a lot of latency issues, especially if you're not using print when you initially remote in.
Conclusion:
Hence we have seen how we can set up a remote desktop connection using various techniques and access other systems. This is a very useful technique if two systems are remotely away from each other. We also saw how and what makes the connection slower and how we can optimize the connection.