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Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac

By Microsoft Free Editors' Rating
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Editors' Review

Download.com Staff Aug 7, 2014

Microsoft Remote Deskop is an effective free tool for managing remote-desktop connections from a Mac. Perfect for those who travel frequently, or those who have a Mac/PC environment at work that they need to interface with, this free app provides most of the basic tools necessary.

Pros

Fast and intuitive: Microsoft Remote Desktop's basic tools allow you to access your remote Windows desktop and open common programs, sort through files, and manipulate your machine from a Mac over an Internet connection. This is an invaluable tool.

Clean user interface: The interface is decidedly Mac-friendly, offering a range of tools that can quick-start popular Windows programs or folders that you use frequently on your PC. Whether you're booting up Remote Desktop quickly to access your machine or you're using it for long work sessions, the layout of the tools is effective.

Cons

Limited display options: The display options can be limited at times, with dock and menu hide options not available in certain configurations. Multiscreen support sometimes causes issues when you switch back to single-screen use, which can be frustrating when you're managing multiple apps or switching between interfaces.

Bottom Line

Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac is a useful free tool that allows you to access your Windows programs and files from a remote Mac. That alone is reason enough to download it, if you work on both systems and need to move files between them often. Remote Desktop is not as robust as other paid tools, but for infrequent transfers or very basic needs, it gets the job done.

Full Specifications

What's new in version 8.0.18

Fix for issues with concurrent connections using Gateway on Windows Server 2012 editions.

General

Release May 21, 2015
Date Added May 21, 2015
Version 8.0.18

Operating Systems

Operating Systems Macintosh, Mac OS X 10.9, Mac OS X 10.10, Mac OS X 10.8, Mac OS X 10.7
Additional Requirements None

Popularity

Total Downloads 139,166
Downloads Last Week 100
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User Reviews

3.5/5
64 User Votes
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Developer's Description

With the Microsoft Remote Desktop app, you can connect to a remote PC and your work resources from almost anywhere. Experience the power of Windows with RemoteFX in a Remote Desktop client designed to help you get your work done wherever you are.
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