Remote desktop is a tool that allows you to connect to another computer. If you are using a Windows computer then Remote Desktop is already installed. Windows 10 comes with the same Remote Desktop Connection program as Windows 7. However there is now a new, better, and free version available through the Microsoft Store. For this tutorial I will be talking about this new Remote Desktop App. This same app is available for Mac in the App Store.
You can find the Microsoft Store in the Start menu or by using Cortana. Cortana is the windows search function usually on the bottom left of your screen near the Start button.
In the Microsoft store search for “Remote Desktop”. There will be a few different apps that are listed, make sure you get Microsoft Remote Desktop.
Use the “Get” button to complete the install. Note if your organization does not permit the use of the Microsoft Store for installations, you can still use the original Remote Desktop Connection tool.
Once the install completes you can find the new Remote Desktop using the start button or with Cortana you will want to search for “Remote Desktop”.
You may want to right click this and select “Pin to task bar” so that you can find it quickly in the future.
Click the Remote Desktop icon to open the app. We’ll then use the “+ ADD” button in the top right corn to create our first connection.
For our purposes we will choose “Desktop” from the drop down list. This will give us a new menu where we will put in our connection info.
The “PC Name” will be the address given to you by the RDP creator or provider. I will often be something like CompanyRDP.com, but it can also be an IP address like 192.168.0.34. In some cases when you are on a company network it can be a simple as “Server” or “Bob PC”.
For “User Account” We will want to press the “+” button. This will allow us to save our login information for this connection
You will now be able to add your username and password. If you are connecting to a PC you use at work or home this will be the same user name and password you use when physically at your desk. Click “Save” to create this account. Next Click the Account drop box and select the account you just created.
The “Display name” is for your information, you can name this connection what you want, perhaps Work PC, or Internal RDP.
Now that we have the three needed functions we will hit “Save” at the bottom of the page.
You will now see your RDP connection in the manager. You can even click these three dots to pin the new session to your Start Menu for easy access.
To open your RDP session just click it.
The first time you connect you might see a message like this.
Make sure to select “Don’t ask about this certificate again” and choose “Connect”
You should soon be connected to your remote computer, and can use it like you would if you were right in front of it, or as a second window on your local computer, you can even Copy-Paste across to your other computer.
To exit Your RDP session click the three dots “…” along the top then hit the “X” that pops up on the right
