Smartphones and tablets today boast strikingly colorful touchscreen displays, good performance, and a plethora of useful apps, features, and functions. Therefore, it was no surprise that Microsoft decided to create an application for remote PC control directly from mobile devices based on Android and iOS. Redmond announced the release of the application Remote Desktop for Android and iOS devices, which allows you to remotely connect to your Windows PC desktop using a WiFi network and the Internet.

Of course, this application only works with those PCs that have the ability to connect to their desktop enabled in the settings. Microsoft Remote Desktop App is a free application that does not require any additional PC software to be installed. The procedure for setting up such a connection is quite simple.

Both Android and iOS versions of the app use RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) to communicate with the computer. To use this feature, you must enable remote connection in the Control Panel. To do this, in Windows 7 or Windows 8 / 8.1, you need to go to: Control Panel -> System and Security -> System (or just the “System” tab if you have large or small icons enabled in your viewing settings), where you need to select in the menu on the left "Setting up remote access".

The "Remote Access" tab opens in the system properties window that appears. It's disabled by default, so to enable it, set the toggle to "Allow remote connections to this computer". Network Level Authentication is also checked by default, but should you experience any connectivity issues, you can turn it off. In the same tab, you can set the users who will be granted remote access, but remember that all users who belong to the "Administrators" group have this access by default.

Once all the settings on the Windows side have been completed, you can safely run the application on your mobile device.

After running the Remote Desktop client application on any supported device, the first thing to do is create a new connection. For example, in Android, by clicking on the "+" button in the lower left corner of the screen, as in iOS, you will see an option called "New Remote Desktop" (New Remote Desktop) where you can set the settings for your remote PC.

In the "PC name" field, as you can see from the image above, you must enter the IP address of the computer. There is no problem with this setting if you are on the same network as your PC (for example, at home using a home router), but if you take the case of connecting via the Internet, then one rule applies: your computer must have a “real address”. That is, a unique address to which you can send your request from anywhere where there is a global network - the Internet. Such a service as assigning a real address is provided by almost all Internet providers, though for a fee. At the same time, it must be pointed out that having a real IP address can compromise the security of your PC.

Now you can start the newly created connection from the main page of the program. If authentication data is not specified in the connection configuration, then the application will definitely ask for them during the connection establishment, since according to generally accepted security standards, such connections cannot be established without key parameters, and this is a login and password. Next, in the tooltip, you need to confirm the trust in this connection: "Trust Once" (trust only this time) or "Trust Always" (always trust).

Once this is done, the remote computer will immediately start broadcasting its desktop to your mobile device. A bar is displayed at the top of the Remote Desktop window with the connection name in the center, a remote screen control button on the left, and a virtual keyboard button on the right. The control button allows you to zoom and move sideways on the remote desktop. Unfortunately, this is not the most intuitive control. TeamViewer has done the best job in this regard.

Both versions of Microsoft Remote Desktop for iOS and Android platforms are available for free download and installation from iTunes and Google Play, respectively, at the following links.

First you need to download and install MRD. Direct link in iTunes Store Microsoft Remote Desktop.

After the first launch, you need to configure the connection:

With the connection settings, everything is simple. Enter the name of the connection, then the connection address (or ip) with the port. In the User name field, you will be prompted to enter your username and password. All other settings are default.

After setting up the connection, click connect, the application tells us that the magic will happen now.

As in the case of the desktop client, it will offer to accept a self-signed server certificate.

I was able to connect immediately and without problems. I found the desktop in the form in which I left it since the last connection.

As for management. I found it very intuitive. However, the selected default setting - tap control is not very convenient. Just like in the case of regular Windows 7 on a tablet, it is very difficult to hit the small icons and inscriptions. I did not immediately find the switching mode and already wanted to close the application. Tapping on the connection header opens 2 additional buttons:

In order.

The first button means switching between cursor/hand mode. In the case of the "hand" mode, the finger acts as a mouse and all actions have to be emulated with a finger, which is not always convenient. The "mouse" mode allows you to move the virtual cursor around the screen, 1 tap means click, 2 tap means 2 clicks, tap hold means right click. Everything is simple here. It is worth noting that the cursor has inertia and it took about 5 minutes to study its possibility and chase the cursor around the screen.

The second button is always present and means to zoom in. I didn’t find a use for it, because. and everything looks so good.

The third, as you can see from the icon, is to disconnect.

Virtual keyboard

The usual virtual keyboard with a number of additional buttons, if not for one but. The arrows on the left and right turn on the additional keyboard, which contains the num-pad, arrows and other control buttons.

Summary

In general, the application seemed convenient. In some ways, it is comparable to Team Viewer. But the fact that it allows you to connect via RDP to any machine from a mobile device is definitely a success and rays of good. When developing mobile applications - the mobile applications used show what kind of experience the user expects. It stands for application development.

Microsoft has released Remote Desktop Preview for Windows Phone 8.1. Your attention is an instruction on how to use the Remote Desktop application on Windows Phone.

1. First, make sure your smartphone is running Windows Phone 8.1. If not, update, because the application only works on Windows Phone 8.1.
2. Download the application from the store to your device (smartphone).

3. Now we set up the PC. Go to "This PC" - "System Properties" - "Remote Access Settings" - check the box "Allow remote connections to this computer".

4. We press the right button on the menu "Start" - "Run" - enter "CMD" - then "IPCONFIG". Write down your IPv4 address.
5. We go into the application - press the plus button, enter the address field your IPv4 address.

6. In the Credentials field, select "Add credentials" and enter the email and password that you use on your PC as an account.
7. Click save, connect.

8. Done. During remote access, the PC will be locked, control will be from the phone.

It is worth noting that the application has high performance and is really convenient to use. But the performance will also depend on the speed of your Internet, the power of your computer and phone, so it's impossible to say for sure.

Have you found a use for this application? Share your opinion in the comments.

While there are many different alternatives, Microsoft's Remote Desktop is the ideal way to access another computer, but the program must be used correctly. All in all, Remote Desktop is a powerful tool that allows you to avoid installing third party applications for this type of functionality.

• Windows 8.1 Pro
• Windows 8.1 Enterprise
• Windows 8 Enterprise
• Windows 8 Pro
• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows 7 Enterprise
• Windows 7 Ultimate
• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows XP Professional

Enable Remote Desktop

First, you need to enable Remote Desktop and select the users who will be given remote access to the computer. Press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the run prompt and type "sysdm.cpl".

Another way to enable this menu is to go to "My Computer" and click "Properties":

In any of these cases, you will be taken to the specified menu, where you need to click on the Remote tab:

Select "Allow remote connections to this computer" and "Allow computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication to connect".

Network Level Authentication is optional, but it provides the user with additional security measures to protect you from attacks. Even older systems such as Windows XP can connect to network layer authentication nodes, so there is no reason not to use the feature on it.

You may be able to get a warning about power settings when you turn on Remote Desktop:

If you receive such a message, click on the power options link, and set your computer so that it cannot go to sleep.

Any accounts in the Administrators group will already have access. If you need to give remote access to other users, just click "Add" and enter the names of the desired users.

Click on the "Check Names" button to check if the username is entered correctly and click "OK". In the properties window, also click the OK button.

Remote access protection

The computer will, for now, be connected via remote access (only on your local network if you are using a router), however there are a few more settings that need to be set to achieve maximum security.

First, let's set up the obvious setting. All users for whom you have opened remote access must have strong passwords.

There are so many different bots that scan the Internet for vulnerable computers with remote access, so don't underestimate the importance of setting a strong password. Use more than 8 characters (it is recommended to create a password of 12 or more characters) with numbers, lowercase and uppercase letters, and special characters.

Go to the start menu or open the start prompt (Windows key + R) and type "secpol.msc" to open the local security menu.

Going to the menu, expand "Local Settings", and click on the item "User rights assignment".

Double-click on "Allow login using remote access services" located on the right.

We also advise you to remove both groups listed in this window: Administrators and Remote Access Users. After that, click the "Add User or Group" button and manually add the users you want to grant remote access to. These steps are optional, but give you more control over the profiles you share. If you create a new administrator account in the future, and don't set a strong password, access to your computer will be practically open to hackers from all over the world.

Close the Local Security Settings window and open the Local Group Settings Editor by typing "gpedit.msc" in the Start or Run program.

When the Local Group Settings Editor opens, expand Computer Settings > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Access Services > Remote Access Session Host, and then select Security.

Set the client connection encryption level to High to ensure that your remote access sessions are secured with 128-bit encryption.

RPC communication security requirement - set to "Enabled".

The requirement to use a special security layer for remote (RDP) connections is set to SSL (TLS 1.0).

Require user authentication check for remote connections using network authentication level - set to "Enabled".

After these changes have been made, you can close the local group settings editor. The last security recommendation we will share with you is to change the default port on which remote control resides. This step is also not considered mandatory and is considered only a security improvement based on practice. However, the fact is that changing the default port number significantly reduces the number of unauthorized connection attempts that will hit your computer. Your password and security settings allow you to make remote access invulnerable, regardless of the port on which it is located, however, with this step, you can reduce the number of connection attempts.

Security Through Hiding: Changing the Default RDP Port

The default port assigned to Remote Desktop is 3389. Select any five-digit number (less than 65535) that you would like to use for your remote access port. With this number in mind, open the Registry Editor by typing "Regedit" in the Start menu or the Run program.

When the Registry Editor opens, expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Terminal Server > WinStations > RDP-Tcp, and double click on "PortNumber" in the window on the right.

With the "PortNumber" registry key open, select "Decimal" on the right side of the window and enter the same five-digit port code in the "Value data" on the left side.

Click the OK button and close the Registry Editor.

Windows 10 has built-in standard tools that allow you to connect to a remote computer. We will not explain why this is necessary - if you have opened this instruction, then you understand in which scenarios you can use a remote connection. Simple curiosity, it is worth saying, no one has canceled.

Setting up Remote Desktop in Windows 10

Before you can connect to the remote desktop of another computer in Windows 10, it must be configured accordingly. Make sure that remote connections are allowed on the target device. For this:

How to find out the IP address of a remote computer

To access a remote computer, you need to know its IP address. To do this, follow these steps:

Set up Remote Desktop Connection in Windows 10

The computer is ready to be connected remotely. Now you need to configure the connection to the remote desktop directly.

Please note that Windows does not allow two people to use the same computer at the same time (locally and remotely), so local access to the computer will be blocked until the remote session ends.

Setting up a remote desktop through the Remote Desktop app

You might be interested in another way to connect to Remote Desktop. It is carried out through the universal Remote Desktop application and is useful on tablets and touch laptops, as it provides additional convenience in managing touch devices.

Remote Desktop Connection with Windows 10 Mobile

Since the Microsoft Remote Desktop client for Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile is the same application, the instructions for Windows 10 Mobile are the same for both types of operating system. Just follow the instructions above.

How to Set Up Remote Desktop on iPhone and iPad

If in Windows 10 all remote connection procedures are carried out by native, built-in tools, on iOS devices like iPad or iPhone, you need to use the official Remote Desktop application.

How to connect to remote desktop via android

In Android, the whole process is actually the same, only with reservations about the Android interface. The principle is the same.

How to Set Up Remote Desktop on MacOS X

In fact, it makes no sense to paint the same remote connection instructions for each individual operating system, but for the sake of conscience (and the loyalty of the search engine), we will allocate a separate place for MacOS X.