Menu
How to Use Remote Desktop Connection for Mac In this video we are going to learn about How to use Microsoft Remote Desktop for connecting Windows Machine. 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.
- How To Use Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 On Mac
- How To Download Microsoft Remote Desktop On Mac
- How To Microsoft Remote Desktop On Mac Os 10
Remote Desktop goes preinstalled with every modern Windows version. All you need to do is to use search in the Start Menu and launch Remote Desktop Connection App. Things are a bit different if you have a Mac or iPad. Obviously, there is no Microsoft Desktop Connection application preinstalled on Mac or iPad, and Apple does not provide built-in remote connection tools. Luckily Microsoft got your back. If you want to use Remote Desktop Connection on Mac or iPad, all you need to do is simply download the Application and set up Remote Desktop Connection. This article is about to show you how to do everything right.
One thing to note: we suppose the Desktop you are trying to connect to is already properly set for a Remote Connection. How to enable remote desktop connections to your Windows PC is a topic of a completely different article. Do note that by default Windows has remote connection disabled and you need to manually enable and configure it.
How to Use Windows Remote Desktop on Mac?
- First, you need to download the application form the Mac App Store. Simply open App store and search for “Remote Desktop Connection”. This application is completely free and has no ads. Thanks, Microsoft!
- Open Remote Desktop. It will greet you with a big blue button Add Desktop. It will disappear after you add the first desktop. Next time press the button with a plus mark at the bottom of the window. From the drop-down menu select Desktop. A new dialog window will pop on asking you for Desktop details. Now you need to enter Desktop details you want to connect to.
- Type Desktop IP address into the PC Name field. If you do not know which IP to use do the following thing: press Win + R on your Windows PC and type cmd. Press Enter and type in ipconfig command. Locate IPv4 Address. This is the IP address you need to type in the PC Name field.
- From the User account drop-down menu, you can select Ask me every time or Add a user account. If you leave the first option, then Remote Desktop will ask for credentials every time you try to connect. In the second case, you can save username and password in order not to enter this information every time.
- Friendly name field helps you to keep your Remote Desktop connections list tidy. If you leave it blank, then the app will use the IP address as a default name.
- Click Add and open the connection you have saved.
- Enter Username and Password. An important thing to know: if a Windows user uses a PIN code to log in instead of Microsoft Account password, then you need to enter Microsoft Account password. Authentication using PIN code won’t work. Also, username should be Microsoft Account email address, not something like Johnny McJohnnyface.
- You are in.
How to Use Microsoft Remote Desktop on iPad?
The main idea is the same except for the user interface and some options. We will lead you through the process of setting up an iPad Windows Remote Desktop Connection.
Did you know? Windows Remote Desktop app on iPad allows you to transform your iPad into an almost fully-functional Windows 10 tablet with full touch input and native screen resolution support. Just make sure you have a decent Internet connection.
- Open App Store on your iPad and search for Microsoft Remote Desktop. Again, this app is completely free.
- Open RD Client on your home screen (RD Client stands for Remote Desktop Client).
- Press the little plus button at the top-right corner of the screen.
- Select Desktop. On the next window tap PC Name and enter the IP Address.
- You can leave the User Account option blank. Remote Desktop client will ask you for credentials when you run a connection. If you want to save username and password tap User Account and type in all the necessary information.
- Tap Additional Options. This menu allows you to roam device sounds from a Desktop to your iPad, set friendly name, swap mouse buttons or enable admin mode.
- Tap the desktop you have set up.
- Wait for the connection to initialize and enter your credentials.
- Done.
How To Use Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 On Mac
Here are a few things to know about using Remote Desktop Connection on iPad. As we mentioned before this app is a nice way to transform your iPad into a Windows 10 tablet. Remote Desktop app allows you to control remote computer using two methods. Tap the button with three lines at the top of the screen and look to the right of the screen.
By default, the Remote Desktop app uses the Mouse Pointer input method. This method works like a touchpad. Just move your finger on the screen to move a cursor. Tap the screen with one finger to make a left-click and use two fingers to simulate right-click.
If you want to switch to the touch mode, click Mouse Pointer button (it will turn to Touch). Now you have a Windows 10 tablet inside the iPad body.
Screen resolution is another thing to note. As you probably know, iPad has a nice Retina display with a decent resolution, but by the default Remote Desktop app on iPad scales down screen resolution to pathetic 1024×768. This option is fine if you have a slow Internet connection or weak performance. The downside is obvious—pixelated picture. Luckily you can switch no native iPad resolution.
- Return to the main menu and press the button with a gear wheel icon at the top-left corner.
- Tap Display Resolution.
- Select Match This Device or use Custom.
- The best option is to use native resolution, but if the PC has problems with performance or can’t provide high-resolution picture—use default or custom option.
If you’re working from home and need to get remote access to a Windows 10 computer from your Mac, we have good news: it’s easy.
Microsoft offers a free tool to do the job. It lets you use your Windows apps, access files, or do anything else on Windows directly from your MacBook or other macOS machine.
Read on to learn how to set up your Mac with the Remote Desktop app to connect to Windows 10.
Step 1: Set Up Remote Desktop on Windows 10
Microsoft Remote Desktop requires Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, or Windows Server. The software runs on Microsoft’s proprietary RDP protocol, which isn’t available on the standard Windows 10 Home Edition. If you need to connect to a PC running Home, one of the best remote access tools will help you out.
The first steps to set up Remote Desktop for Mac occur on your Windows computer.
On your Windows 10 machine, open the Start menu and go to Settings > System > Remote Desktop. Set Enable Remote Desktop to On, and click Confirm when prompted.
Your PC needs to be on and awake for you to connect remotely. You might therefore want to activate the Keep my PC awake option. To do this, click Show settings alongside it and set Sleep to Never. You should probably only do this if you need constant remote access to the computer. If you don’t, then allowing it to sleep is wise.
Next, scroll down to User accounts. By default, the account you’re logged into will automatically have remote access permissions. To allow other users to log in remotely, click Select users to add their usernames.
How To Download Microsoft Remote Desktop On Mac
Get Your PC Name and IP Address
Finally, you need to grab a couple of pieces of info before you switch over to your Mac. On the same Remote Desktop menu, under How to connect to this PC, make a note of your PC name.
If the current name is generic and you’d like to make it something that’s easier to remember, switch to the About tab and click Rename this PC.
Next, you need to find your computer’s IP address on your network. Go to Settings > Network & Internet. Select Wi-Fi (or Ethernet if you using a wired connection), then click on the network you’re connected to.
How To Microsoft Remote Desktop On Mac Os 10
This opens the network connection properties screen. Scroll to the bottom of the page and locate the IPv4 address in the list. Make a note of this number.
Step 2: Install Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac
Now it’s time to set up remote access to Windows 10 from your Mac. First, install Microsoft Remote Desktop, available free in the Mac App Store. Microsoft also offers versions of the app for iOS and Android.
The instructions for those platforms are the same as the ones we use here.
Download: Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac | iOS | Android (Free)
Step 3: Add Your PC to Microsoft Remote Desktop
After installing it, launch the Remote Desktop client on your Mac. Click Add Desktop to begin.
In the dialog box that opens, type in the PC Name that you checked earlier. If you find that you’re unable to connect with this name, use the IP address you made note of instead.
By default, User Account is set to Ask me every time. This means it will prompt you for a username and password each time you connect. If you don’t want this, click the dropdown list and select Add account.
Add your username in the format domain[username]. You can add your password as well if you want to use automatic login. Leave it blank and you’ll get a prompt to enter it each time.
That’s all you need to do to set up a connection. Click Save and you can connect. However, you might want to adjust a few other settings before you go any further.
Step 4: Configure Your Remote Connection
Click Show More to change your settings. Here, you’re able to configure how your remote connection works:
- In the General tab, add a Friendly Name to make a computer recognizable if you’ve got more than one connection set up.
- Under the Display tab, click Fit session to window if you aren’t planning on using the remote connection in full screen mode. Also, set Optimize for Retina Displays if you’re working on a high-res monitor.
- In the Sound tab, choose which computer should play sound (if either), and whether you want to be able to use your Mac’s microphone.
However, the most important option is Local Resources.
This allows you to make certain folders on your Mac accessible within your remote Windows session. You can access these folders through the Windows File Explorer, where you’ll find them under This PC. You can work with files stored on your Mac in a Windows app, or copy files between the machines.
It’s all contained within the remote session, however. Sharing a folder in this way does not make the folder accessible on the physical Windows computer.
Click Save to finish setting up your connection.
Step 5: Connect to Windows 10 From Your Mac
You’re now ready to connect. Your PC must be turned on, awake, and connected to the same network as your Mac.
The Remote Desktop app will list your computer, with a thumbnail preview, under Saved Desktops. Double-click it to connect.
If you didn’t change the settings, you’ll need to enter your username and/or password now. Remember, the username must be in the format domain[username]. Click OK.
Security Warning
When you make an RDP connection from Mac to Windows, you’ll see a security warning relating to an unverified certificate. If you’re at home, or working on a small business network, you can click Continue and ignore the message. If you’re on a large network with public access, be wary about doing this.
Once You’re Connected
When your Mac establishes the remote desktop connection, your Windows PC will lock and switch to the login screen. If anyone tries to use the PC, your remote session will end. You can’t have two people using the same computer at once.
Using Windows on Your Mac
Unless you changed the setting, your remote desktop session opens in full screen. To use it in a window instead, move your mouse pointer to the top of the screen and click the green window button at the top-left.
Using Windows through Remote Desktop is pretty much the same as using it on a dedicated computer.
One of the few changes—and a possible point of confusion—is that the app maps the keyboard shortcuts for cut, copy, and paste to the ones used in macOS, using the Command key. However, some other shortcuts continue to use the Control key as they do in Windows.
You can launch apps, work on files, or even play games if you want to. There may be a little lag during heavy use, but most of the time it’s fast and responsive.
You can’t drag and drop files between Mac and Windows. They share the clipboard by default, though, so you can copy and paste between them instead.
For a greater level of file sharing, set up a shared folder using the Local Resources setting, as outlined above.
Disconnecting and Deleting Your Desktop
To disconnect and end the session, simply close the Remote Desktop window on your Mac. You can edit your settings at any time by hovering your mouse over the thumbnail in Saved Desktop and clicking the Pen icon.
To delete a desktop, right-click on it and select Delete.
Remotely Access Your Computer From Anywhere
Microsoft Remote Desktop is an easy way to get remote access to Windows 10 from a Mac. But what if you need to do it the other way around, or perhaps need to bring a Linux computer or a Chromebook into the mix?
The quickest solution here is to set up Chrome Remote Desktop, Google’s remote access tool that runs on any desktop computer with Chrome installed. We’ve also shown how to remote access your Mac from any platform.
Read the full article: Microsoft Remote Desktop: How to Access Windows From Your Mac