R emote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2 lets you connect from your Macintosh computer to a Windows-based computer or to multiple Windows-based computers at the same time. After you have connected, you can work with applications and files on the Windows-based computer. Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) client for Mac 2 can be downloaded from Microsoft’s Web site for free. To comment on this article and other Macworld content, visit our Facebook page or our. This is a free app available on the Mac App Store that allows users to connect to their Trail Blazer database remotely – this is the option we now promote vs. Using the Microsoft Remote Desktop Client Hot Fix v1.2.1 app.
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.
Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac With Remote Desktop Connection, you can connect from your Macintosh computer to a Windows-based computer and work with programs and files on that PC. This software is recommended for UB students, faculty and staff connecting to My Virtual Computing Lab. Hey, following are the stepwise procedure for the Microsoft remote desktop connection client for Mac 2.1.2 which are as follows: • First download the version 2.1.2 file and open the file to begin with installation.
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 HockeyApp. 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 HockeyApp 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 [email protected].
For Azure Active Directory (AAD) joined computers, use one of these formats: AzureADuser_name or [email protected].
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.
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.
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 [email protected].
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 changing the setting 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.
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 http://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.
Active1 year, 7 months ago
I administer a number of Windows machines, and am trying to find a really good application to remote desktop in to them from my Mac. I've tried CoRD, and I really like its library approach to saved sessions (as opposed to Microsoft's file based approach), and tabbed sessions are great when working on a bunch of machines. Unfortunately, it's just too buggy for serious use, and given that it averages less than 2 releases a year, I have little hope that that will change. Microsoft's official client is very bare bones and doesn't support connecting on non-standard ports (which I need).
Is there a remote desktop client for Mac out there that's both fully featured and not buggy?
Edit: Apparently the Microsoft doc I read that states that the Microsoft RDC client can't be used on non-standard ports is out of date.
In my experienced opinion, CoRD and Jump Desktop are the best RDP clients for Mac. Box client for mac. CoRD is more for those that know what they're doing - it's simple, stable, fast and reliable. Jump Desktop however is for those that are new to Remote Desktop Connections and want something that makes things easy. It's easily the slickest RDP client for Mac too and looks great. There's a useful extensive review of the best RDP clients for Mac here: http://machow2.com/rdp-for-mac/
GuestGuest
Reading this answer I learned about Royal TSX and after a few hours I'm happy with it.
In addition to RDP it has a terminal plugin for SSH/Telnet connections with X forwarding. Mac OS terminal can do the same, but connection documents are handy.
The terminal plugin also allows COM port use. I have not tested this but I hope that works OK because I have not found a good terminal program for plain COM port. I still use minicom.
Licensing terms are generous enough that in my case I can use it for free but I may consider purchasing to encourage the maintenance.
gatoAlfagatoAlfa
The best RDP client for OSX (whether free or not) is Thinomenon RDC. It supports audio, printing, scanning, and most importantly, RemoteApp/RAIL.
If you are willing to spend some money, there is LogMeIn, which I have used for my home Macs with great success. On the free side, we used to use 'Chicken of the VNC' but decided to go with Microsoft's official client for reasons unknown to me. Six of one half dozen of the other, if you ask me. Frankly, the VNC market is pretty banal.
try Teamviewer I am not sure about the multiple tabs for easy switch never had a chance to test it. Also you can set it for lan incoming connection so you can connect via a lan rather than internet.You can create a free account and add all machines to it, So you can even see which system is on and connect with one click
Abhishek SalianAbhishek Salian
You may want to try iTAP.
It seems it does support NLA per the specs. (I only tested TSG, which works fine).
If you come from CoRD, you will find the overall frame quite basic, but the emulation itself seems to work pretty well (I normally work in full screen mode and switch windows with the top menu).
Chrome Remote Desktop is cross-platform. 'Provide remote assistance to Windows, Mac and Linux users, or access your Windows (XP and above) and Mac (OS X 10.6 and above) desktops at any time, all from the Chrome browser on virtually any device, including Chromebooks.'
Used LogMeIn til they yanked free utility, Chrome RD works almost as well, but I can't reboot a computer without losing connection completely. It must then be reconnected locally - AHRRRG.
So, still looking for cross-plat solution, too.
jeijei
Since updating my iMac to El Capitan 10.11.4, CORD Version 0.5.7 (5701) is no longer crashing.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client For Mac Free Download
I've been using it since Tiger. It began crashing intermittently with OSX Yosemite, then would always crash on quitting with El Capitan before 10.11.4, and often crash on changing screen resolution. After 2 days of use, I have no longer seen a crash with OSX 10.11.4.
ColinColin
Microsoft now has a beta for yet another new RDP client: Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac v8.2.20
Remote Desktop Connection Client For Mac Microsoft Remote
It still has a variety of problems, but it at least looks more like a MacOSX application.
wfaulkwfaulk
The best RDP client for Mac is Thinomenon.
I can even run .rdp files from remote apps and work only the application does not show the entire desktop
Remote Desktop Connection Client For Mac Microsoft Office
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