Today's technology has made significant progress toward bridging the gap between Windows and Mac applications, especially in businesses. However, for some, there is still a gap that necessitates the use of a bridge to move between computing environments. The Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac connection has been a reliable tool for Mac users. Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac is now available through the Mac App Store and allows users to connect to a Windows desktop remotely to access local files, applications, and network resources.
Features of Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac
- You can connect to a remote computing device using Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac RDP client software, but this computer must also run RDP server software.
- Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac grants you access to remote resources made available by your administrator.
- Ensure your data and apps are connected securely.
- Enjoy streaming HD video and audio.
- Your clipboard, folders, microphones, and cameras are all redirected by Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac for Mac.
- Connect easily to multiple screens and projectors for presentations.
- With the Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac, you can manage local files on your Mac from your Windows apps.
Let Apple Remote Desktop access your Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac
- Allow others to use Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac by enabling Remote Management in the Sharing settings.
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then General in the sidebar, then Sharing on the right.
- Turn on Remote Management, then on the right, click the Info button.
- Select the tasks that remote users are permitted to perform if prompted. If you are not prompted, select tasks by clicking Options.
- Implement one of the following:
- Select "All users" to allow anyone with a Mac user account to share your screen.
- Select "Only these users," then click the Add button to add the users who will be able to share your Mac.
- Click Computer Settings, then select your Mac's options before clicking OK.
- You must set a password if people connect using a VNC viewer.
- Click Done
Add a workspace
- Subscribe to the feed provided by your Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac administrator to get a list of managed resources available on your macOS device.
- To subscribe to a feed, do the following:
- On the main page, click Add the feed to get connected to their service and retrieve your required resources.
- Enter the URL for the feed you need to add in the Feed URL field. This URL could be a URL or an email address.
- If you must use a URL, use the one provided by your administrator.
- Enter your email address if you are using one. If your administrator has configured the server in this manner, entering your email address instructs the client to look for a URL associated with your email address.
- Click on Subscribe.
- When prompted, sign in with your user account.
- You will be able to go through a list of available resources after signing in.
When you subscribe to a feed, the content of the feed will automatically update on a regular basis. Your Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac administrator's changes may cause resources to be added, changed, or removed.
Add a remote resource
- Remote resources in Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac include RemoteApp programs, session-based desktops, and virtual desktops made available via RemoteApp and Desktop Connections.
- The URL provides a link to the RD Web Access server, which provides access to RemoteApp and Desktop Connections.
- The RemoteApp and Desktop Connections that have been configured are listed.
- To add a remote resource, do the following:
- In the Connection Center, click +, then Add Remote Resources.
- Enter the following information for the remote resource:
- Feed URL - The RD Web Access server's URL. In this field, you can also enter your corporate email address, which instructs the client to look for the RD Web Access Server linked with your email ID.
- User name - The user name you need to use while connecting to the RD Web Access server.
- Password - The password for the RD Web Access server to which you are connecting.
- Click Save
- The Connection Center will display the remote resources.
Use a keyboard in a remote session
- Mac keyboard layouts of Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac differ from those of Windows.
- On the Mac keyboard, the Command key corresponds to the Windows key.
- To perform actions on the Mac that use the Command button, utilize the control button in Windows (for example, Copy = Ctrl+C).
- During the session, the function keys can be activated by pressing the FN key in addition (for example, FN+F1).
- On the Mac keyboard, the Alt key to the right side of the space bar corresponds to the Alt Gr/right Alt key in Windows.
By default, the remote session will utilize the same keyboard locale as the Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac operating system on which the client is running. (If your Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac is running an en-us operating system, it will also be used for remote sessions.) If the OS keyboard locale isn't being used, check the remote PC's keyboard settings and change them manually.
With the Remote Desktop design of Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac, you can manage your work from any location over a network connection. For Mac users, ITarian has been the Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac connection. Visit for more.