Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection client for Macintosh is a terrific utility that allows Mac users access to Windows applications and to perform administration tasks on Windows servers. I am running the Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac app on a Macbook Pro w/Retina, running Yosemite, using the latest version of the RDP app (8.0.10). I am trying to connect to a Windows 7 Ultimate computer, which I can connect to using any other computer without any issues.
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
Follow these steps to get started with Remote Desktop on your Mac:
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.
To create a remote desktop connection:
In the Connection Center, click +, and then click Desktop.
Enter the following information:
You can also set these optional settings for the connection:
Click Save.
To start the connection, just double-click it. The same is true for remote resources.
You can export a remote desktop connection definition and use it on a different device. Remote desktops are saved in separate .RDP files.
Use the following steps to import a remote desktop .RDP file.
Remote resources are RemoteApp programs, session-based desktops, and virtual desktops published using RemoteApp and Desktop Connections.
To add a remote resource:
The remote resources will be displayed in the Connection Center.
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:
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:
You can specify the display resolution for the remote desktop session.
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 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
The fastest torrent client for mac. In order to use this feature, the administrator needs to set the appropriate settings on the server.
Mac keyboard layouts differ from the Windows keyboard layouts.
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.
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.
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 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.