Get started with the Remote Desktop app

Before you can connect to your devices and apps from Windows, you need:

• Internet access.

• A device running one of the following supported versions of Windows:

  • Windows 11
  • Windows 10
  • Windows Server 2022
  • Windows Server 2019
  • Windows Server 2016

  Important

  • Support for Windows 7 ended on January 10, 2023.
  • Support for Windows Server 2012 R2 ended on October 10, 2023.

• .NET Framework 4.6.2 or later. You may need to install this on Windows Server 2016, and some versions of Windows 10. To download the latest version, see Download .NET Framework.

• Download and install the Remote Desktop client using the MSI installer.

Download and install the Remote Desktop client for Windows (MSI)

Here's how to install the Remote Desktop client for Windows using the MSI installer. If you want to deploy the Remote Desktop client in an enterprise, you can use msiexec from the command line to install the MSI file. For more information, see Enterprise deployment.

1. Download the Remote Desktop client installer, choosing the correct version for your device:

   • Windows 64-bit (most common)
   • Windows 32-bit
   • Windows ARM64

2. Run the installer by double-clicking the file you downloaded.

3. On the welcome screen, select Next.

4. To accept the end-user license agreement, check the box for I accept the terms in the License Agreement, then select Next.

5. For the Installation Scope, select one of the following options:

   • Install just for you: Remote Desktop will be installed in a per-user folder and be available just for your user account. You don't need local Administrator privileges.
   • Install for all users of this machine: Remote Desktop will be installed in a per-machine folder and be available for all users. You must have local Administrator privileges

6. Select Install.

7. Once installation has completed, select Finish.

8. If you left the box for Launch Remote Desktop when setup exits selected, the Remote Desktop client will automatically open. Alternatively to launch the client after installation, use the Start menu to search for and select Remote Desktop.

Before you can connect to your devices and apps from macOS, you need:

• Internet access.

• A device running macOS 12 or later.

• Download and install the Remote Desktop client from the Mac App Store.

Before you can connect to your devices and apps from iOS or iPadOS, you need:

• Internet access.

• An iPhone running iOS 16 or later or an iPad running iPadOS 16 or later.

• Download and install the Remote Desktop client from the App Store.

Before you can connect to your devices and apps from Android or Chrome OS, you need:

• Internet access

• One of the following:

  • Smartphone or tablet running Android 9 or later.
  • Chromebook running Chrome OS 53 or later. Learn more about Android applications running in Chrome OS.

• Download and install the Remote Desktop client from Google Play.

Before you can access your resources, you'll need to meet the prerequisites:

• Internet access.

• A supported web browser. While any HTML5-capable web browser should work, we officially support the following web browsers and operating systems:

  Web browser	Supported operating system	Notes
  Microsoft Edge	Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS	Version 79 or later
  Google Chrome	Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS	Version 57 or later
  Apple Safari	macOS	Version 11 or later
  Mozilla Firefox	Windows, macOS, Linux	Version 55 or later

Subscribe to a workspace

A workspace combines all the desktops and applications that have been made available to you by your admin. To be able to see these in the Remote Desktop client, you need to subscribe to the workspace by following these steps:

1. Open the Remote Desktop app on your device.

2. The first time you subscribe to a workspace, from the Let's get started screen, select Subscribe or Subscribe with URL.

   • If you selected Subscribe, sign in with your user account when prompted, for example [email protected]. After a few seconds, your workspaces should show the desktops and applications that have been made available to you by your admin.

     If you see the message No workspace is associated with this email address, your admin might not have set up email discovery, or you're using an Azure environment that isn't Azure cloud, such as Azure for US Government. Try the steps to Subscribe with URL instead.

   • If you selected Subscribe with URL, in the Email or Workspace URL box, enter the relevant URL from the following table. After a few seconds, the message We found Workspaces at the following URLs should be displayed.

     Azure environment	Workspace URL
     Azure cloud (most common)	https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com
     Azure for US Government	https://rdweb.wvd.azure.us/api/arm/feeddiscovery
     Azure operated by 21Vianet	https://rdweb.wvd.azure.cn/api/arm/feeddiscovery

3. Select Next.

4. Sign in with your user account when prompted. After a few seconds, the workspace should show the desktops and applications that have been made available to you by your admin.

Once you've subscribed to a workspace, its content will update automatically regularly and each time you start the client. Resources may be added, changed, or removed based on changes made by your admin.

Connect to your desktops and applications

To connect to your desktops and applications:

1. Open the Remote Desktop client on your device.

2. Double-click one of the icons to launch a session to Azure Virtual Desktop. You may be prompted to enter the password for your user account again, depending on how your admin has configured Azure Virtual Desktop.

Insider releases

If you want to help us test new builds before they're released, you should download our Insider releases. Organizations can use the Insider releases to validate new versions for their users before they're generally available. For more information, see Enable Insider releases.

Subscribe to a workspace

A workspace combines all the desktops and applications that have been made available to you by your admin. To be able to see these in the Remote Desktop client, you need to subscribe to the workspace by following these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Remote Desktop app on your device.

2. In the Connection Center, select +, then select Add Workspace.

3. In the Email or Workspace URL box, either enter your user account, for example [email protected], or the relevant URL from the following table. After a few seconds, the message A workspace is associated with this URL should be displayed.

   Tip

   If you see the message No workspace is associated with this email address, your admin might not have set up email discovery. Use one of the following workspace URLs instead.

   Azure environment	Workspace URL
   Azure cloud (most common)	https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com
   Azure for US Government	https://rdweb.wvd.azure.us/api/arm/feeddiscovery
   Azure operated by 21Vianet	https://rdweb.wvd.azure.cn/api/arm/feeddiscovery

4. Select Add.

5. Sign in with your user account. After a few seconds, your workspaces should show the desktops and applications that have been made available to you by your admin.

Once you've subscribed to a workspace, its content will update automatically every six hours and each time you start the client. Resources may be added, changed, or removed based on changes made by your admin.

Connect to your desktops and applications

To connect to your desktops and applications:

1. Open the Microsoft Remote Desktop app on your device.

2. Double-click one of the icons to launch a session to Azure Virtual Desktop. You may be prompted to enter the password for your user account again, depending on how your admin has configured Azure Virtual Desktop.

Beta client

If you want to help us test new builds before they're released, you should download our beta client. Organizations can use the beta client to validate new versions for their users before they're generally available. For more information, see Test the beta client.

Subscribe to a workspace

A workspace combines all the desktops and applications that have been made available to you by your admin. To be able to see these in the Remote Desktop client, you need to subscribe to the workspace by following these steps:

1. Open the RD Client app on your device.

2. In the Connection Center, tap +, then tap Add Workspace.

3. In the Email or Workspace URL box, either enter your user account, for example [email protected], or the relevant URL from the following table. After a few seconds, the message A workspace is associated with this URL should be displayed.

   Tip

   If you see the message No workspace is associated with this email address, your admin might not have set up email discovery. Use one of the following workspace URLs instead.

   Azure environment	Workspace URL
   Azure cloud (most common)	https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com
   Azure for US Government	https://rdweb.wvd.azure.us/api/arm/feeddiscovery
   Azure operated by 21Vianet	https://rdweb.wvd.azure.cn/api/arm/feeddiscovery

4. Tap Next.

5. Sign in with your user account. After a few seconds, your workspaces should show the desktops and applications that have been made available to you by your admin.

Once you've subscribed to a workspace, its content will update automatically regularly. Resources may be added, changed, or removed based on changes made by your admin.

Connect to your desktops and applications

To connect to your desktops and applications:

1. Open the RD Client app on your device.

2. Tap one of the icons to launch a session to Azure Virtual Desktop. You may be prompted to enter the password for your user account again, depending on how your admin has configured Azure Virtual Desktop.

Beta client

If you want to help us test new builds before they're released, you should download our beta client. Organizations can use the beta client to validate new versions for their users before they're generally available. For more information, see Test the beta client.

Subscribe to a workspace

A workspace combines all the desktops and applications that have been made available to you by your admin. To be able to see these in the Remote Desktop client, you need to subscribe to the workspace by following these steps:

1. Open the RD Client app on your device.

2. In the Connection Center, tap +, then tap Add Workspace.

3. In the Email or Workspace URL box, either enter your user account, for example [email protected], or the relevant URL from the following table. After a few seconds, the message A workspace is associated with this URL should be displayed.

   Tip

   If you see the message No workspace is associated with this email address, your admin might not have set up email discovery. Use one of the following workspace URLs instead.

   Azure environment	Workspace URL
   Azure cloud (most common)	https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com
   Azure for US Government	https://rdweb.wvd.azure.us/api/arm/feeddiscovery
   Azure operated by 21Vianet	https://rdweb.wvd.azure.cn/api/arm/feeddiscovery

4. Tap Next.

5. Sign in with your user account. After a few seconds, your workspaces should show the desktops and applications that have been made available to you by your admin.

Once you've subscribed to a workspace, its content will update automatically regularly. Resources may be added, changed, or removed based on changes made by your admin.

Connect to your desktops and applications

To connect to your desktops and applications:

1. Open the RD Client app on your device.

2. Tap one of the icons to launch a session to Azure Virtual Desktop. You may be prompted to enter the password for your user account again, and to make sure you trust the remote PC before you connect, depending on how your admin has configured Azure Virtual Desktop.

Beta client

If you want to help us test new builds before they're released, you should download our beta client. Organizations can use the beta client to validate new versions for their users before they're generally available. For more information, see Test the beta client.

When you sign in to the Remote Desktop Web client, you'll see your workspaces. A workspace combines all the desktops and applications that have been made available to you by your admin. You sign in by following these steps:

1. Open your web browser.

2. Go to one of the following URLs:

   Azure environment	Workspace URL
   Azure cloud (most common)	https://client.wvd.microsoft.com/arm/webclient/
   Azure cloud (classic)	https://client.wvd.microsoft.com/webclient/index.html
   Azure for US Government	https://rdweb.wvd.azure.us/arm/webclient/
   Azure operated by 21Vianet	https://rdweb.wvd.azure.cn/arm/webclient/

3. Sign in with your user account. Once you've signed in successfully, your workspaces should show the desktops and applications that have been made available to you by your admin.

4. Select one of the icons to launch a session to Azure Virtual Desktop. You may be prompted to enter the password for your user account again, depending on how your admin has configured Azure Virtual Desktop.

5. A prompt for Access local resources may be displayed asking you to confirm which local resources you want to be available in the remote session. Make your selection, then select Allow.