The Remote Desktop app for iOS, iPad, and Android lets you connect to a remote Windows computer and control it to work with your files and apps. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of us to work from home. This includes the need to access computers using Microsoft’s Remote Desktop tool, which most people will use to connect their personal computer to their office computer. But when you are on the go, you can also access a remote PC from an Apple or Android device.
You can view the screen, open files, and work with apps on your mobile device as easily (but maybe not as quickly) as if you were sitting at that computer. How to use the Remote Desktop mobile app to access a remote computer.
Allow Remote Access
In order to access a computer remotely, it must first be properly configured. On the computer you want to access, go to Settings > System > Remote Desktop and make sure the Enable Remote Desktop switch is turned on.
By default, “Keep your PC alert for logins when plugged in” and “Make my PC visible on private networks to enable automatic login from a remote device” are enabled. To view or change either option, click the corresponding View Settings link, but you can leave both checked at this point.
Click the Advanced Settings link and make sure the Configure Network Level Authentication box is checked. This feature provides an additional layer of protection to prevent uninvited guests and malicious users.
If you are using a VPN or another means to connect to the computer on the same home or work network, skip the External Connections section. The Remote Desktop Port section displays the default port for listening to and accepting a remote connection.
By default, any user with an administrator account on the remote PC can access it. Assuming you use a Microsoft account or a corporate account to log into Windows, it’s best to use that account for remote login.
If you want to grant remote access to another account, click the Select users who can remotely access this PC link below. Click Add and enter the username of the account you want to use.
Set Up Remote Access From iPhone or iPad
You can now turn to your mobile device. To access your computer from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, download and install the Remote Desktop app from the Apple App Store. Open the app, tap the + button in the upper right corner and select the Add PC option.
In the Add PC window, enter the computer name or IP address in the PC Name field. Enter the name of the account you want to use in the “User account” field or leave the field set to “Ask me to enter the name every time for security reasons”.
Enter a name in the Display Name field to add a more convenient label to this connection. Enabling the management mode switch connects you to a console session to manage a Windows server. Normally I would leave that out. The “Swap Mouse Buttons” option swaps the left and right mouse buttons.
In the Gateway section, you only need to enable and configure the gateway option if your organization uses a remote desktop gateway to secure remote connections.
Scroll down to the Device and Audio Redirection section to enable any features on your device that you want to use while connected remotely. You may want to control the sound that will play on this device. You can also enable the clipboard if you plan to copy and paste both ways. You can also activate the microphone, camera, and remote storage. When you’re done, tap Save in the top right.
An icon for the computer you want to access will appear in the app. Tap this icon to connect. When you try to access the computer for the first time, Remote Desktop may prompt you to verify the connection to this computer. Tick Don’t ask to connect to this computer again, then tap OK.
Then you must be connected to the remote computer. Now you can open apps and windows, manage your desktop, and do just about anything you could do if you were sitting at your computer.
To help you control your remote session, the app displays a small toolbar at the top that you can use to zoom in and out, show your device’s keyboard, or switch to another remote connection.
Tap the center icon to see all your remote connections. Select a remote connection to switch to another session. This page has its own toolbar at the top. Touch the home icon to return to the home screen, where you can set up or access another connection. Touch the hand icon to switch to touchscreen mode and touch the mouse icon to switch to mouse mode.
Press the X button on a remote connection tile to disconnect from that session. Otherwise, tap Disconnect all PCs to end any current session.
Set Up Remote Access From an Android Device
Remote Desktop for Android works similarly to its iOS/iPadOS counterpart, although the setup process is slightly different. Download and install the app from Google Play. After launching the app, tap the + icon and select Add PC.
If you are close to the remote computer, the app will search for you at that time. When the PC is recognized, its name appears on the screen. Otherwise, tap the Add manually link.
Enter the computer name or IP address. For Username, tap the Sign in every time field and leave this option as is, or tap Add user account and enter the username and password. Tap Show additional options, then enter a descriptive name if desired.
You can add the gateway if your organization uses a remote desktop gateway. Choose to play audio from the remote PC on your device. Unless you need to customize screen resolution, mouse buttons, admin session, and local storage options, you can skip them. When you’re done, click Save.
Tap the name and icon of the remote session you just created. If you receive a message that the certificate cannot be verified, select the Don’t prompt to connect to this PC again box, then tap Connect.
Once connected to the remote desktop, you can use the toolbar at the top of the screen to zoom in and out, show the onscreen keyboard, or view other remote sessions. Tap the hamburger icon to show sidebars.
From there, you can tap the “Restart” icon to start another remote session on another computer. Press the home button to return to the app’s home screen. Tap the mouse pointer icon to display a mouse pointer. Tap the X in your computer’s thumbnail window to disconnect the current remote session.
