Important
To ensure a seamless experience, users are encouraged to download Windows App. Windows App is the gateway to securely connect to any devices or apps across Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, and Microsoft Dev Box. For more information, see What is Windows App.
The Microsoft Remote Desktop client is used to connect to Azure Virtual Desktop to access your desktops and applications. This article shows you how to connect to Azure Virtual Desktop with the Remote Desktop client.
Select a tab for the platform you're using.
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.
Download the Remote Desktop client installer, choosing the correct version for your device:
Run the installer by double-clicking the file you downloaded.
On the welcome screen, select Next.
To accept the end-user license agreement, check the box for I accept the terms in the License Agreement, then select Next.
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
Select Install.
Once installation has completed, select Finish.
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.
Important
If you have the Remote Desktop client (MSI) and the Azure Virtual Desktop app from the Microsoft Store installed on the same device, you may see the message that begins A version of this application called Azure Virtual Desktop was installed from the Microsoft Store. Both apps are supported, and you have the option to choose Continue anyway, however it could be confusing to use the same remote resource across both apps. We recommend using only one version of the app at a time.
Before you can connect to your devices and apps from iOS or iPadOS, you need:
Important
In version 11.0.0 and above, the Remote Desktop client has a new name, Windows App. For more information on the Windows App update, see What is Windows App. If you're using macOS or iOS/iPadOS, you should reference Get started with Windows App to connect to desktops and apps moving forward.
Before you can access your resources, you'll need to meet the prerequisites:
Note
The Remote Desktop Web client doesn't support mobile web browsers.
As of September 30, 2021, the Remote Desktop Web client no longer supports Internet Explorer. We recommend that you use Microsoft Edge with the Remote Desktop Web client instead. For more information, see our blog post.
Select a tab for the platform you're using.
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:
Open the Remote Desktop app on your device.
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 user@contoso.com. 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 operated by 21Vianet. 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 |
Select Next.
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:
Open the Remote Desktop client on your device.
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:
Open the Microsoft Remote Desktop app on your device.
In the Connection Center, select +, then select Add Workspace.
In the Email or Workspace URL box, either enter your user account, for example user@contoso.com, 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 |
Select Add.
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:
Open the Microsoft Remote Desktop app on your device.
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.
Important
The Remote Desktop app is changing to Windows App. To ensure you can validate the upcoming Windows App update before it's released into the store, the Windows App preview is now available in the Remote Desktop Beta channels where you can test the experience of updating from Remote Desktop to Windows App. To learn more about Windows App, see Get started with Windows App to connect to devices and apps.
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:
Open the RD Client app on your device.
In the Connection Center, tap +, then tap Add Workspace.
In the Email or Workspace URL box, either enter your user account, for example user@contoso.com, 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 |
Tap Next.
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:
Open the RD Client app on your device.
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:
Open the RD Client app on your device.
In the Connection Center, tap +, then tap Add Workspace.
In the Email or Workspace URL box, either enter your user account, for example user@contoso.com, 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 |
Tap Next.
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:
Open the RD Client app on your device.
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.
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:
Open your web browser.
Go to one of the following URLs:
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.
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.
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.
Tip
If you've already signed in to the web browser with a different Microsoft Entra account than the one you want to use for Azure Virtual Desktop, you should either sign out or use a private browser window.