The Microsoft Remote Desktop client can be used to connect to Azure Virtual Desktops (AVD), providing access to provisioned desktops and applications. This article will show you how to install the Remote Desktop client on your UFV device and use it to connect to AVD.
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
- .NET Framework 4.6.2 or later
Install the Remote Desktop client
Software Center
Employees with a UFV device can utilize the Software Center to easily install and uninstall the Remote Desktop client.
If you require information on how to install software/applications available on the Software Center, please review the Software Center Application Install article.
Manual Install
Employees that do not have a UFV device, can install the client manually by doing the following:
- 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.
Subscribe to a workspace
Workspaces combine all of the desktops and applications that have been made available to you. You will not be able to see these desktops and applications in the Remote Desktop client until you have subscribed to the workspace. Below are instructions on how to subscribe:
- Open the Remote Desktop app
- The first time you subscribe you should see a “Let’s get started” screen, select Subscribe
- Enter your UFV credentials when prompted
- Once the login is complete your workspaces should show the applications and desktops that are available to you
Your workspaces will be automatically updated to reflect any changes to the resources available to you (additions, changes, removals, etc.).
Connect to desktops and applications
You can connect to your available desktops and applications by doing the following:
- Open the Remote Desktop client on your device
- Double-click on the desired icon to launch a session to Azure Virtual Desktop. You may be prompted to enter your account password again
- A session should open and you will be able to use your desktop/application
Display preferences
If you want to use different display settings than the defaults, you can configure custom settings by doing the following:
- Open the Remote Desktop application on your device.
- Right-click the name of a desktop connection, for example SessionDesktop, then select Settings.
- Toggle Use default settings to off.
- On the Display tab, you can select from the following options:
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Display Configuration
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Description
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All displays
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Automatically use all displays for the desktop. If multiple displays are available, all of them will be used
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Single display
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Only a single display is used by the remote desktop
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Select displays
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Only selected displays will be used by the remote desktop
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Each display configuration in the table above has its own settings. Use the following table to understand each setting:
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Display Configuration
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Setting
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Description
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All displays
Single display
Select displays
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Fit session to window
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When you resize the window, the scaling of the desktop will automatically adjust to fit the new window size. The resolution will stay the same.
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All displays
Select displays
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Single display when in windowed mode
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Only use a single display when running in windows mode, rather than full screen.
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Select displays
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Choose which display to use for this session
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Select which displays you want to use. All selected displays must be next to each other.
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Select displays
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Maximize to current displays
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The remote desktop will show full screen on the current display(s) the window is on, even if this isn't the display selected in the settings. If this is off, the remote desktop will show full screen the same display(s) regardless of the current display the window is on. If your window overlaps multiple displays, those displays will be used when maximizing the remote desktop.
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Single display
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Update the resolution on resize
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When you resize the window, the resolution of the desktop will automatically change to match.
If this is disabled, a new option for Resolution is displayed where you can select from a pre-defined list of resolutions.
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Single display
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Start in full screen
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The desktop will be displayed full screen.
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Input Methods
Keyboard
There are a number of keyboard shortcuts that can be helpful when utilizing different features. The following shortcuts can help control how the Remote Desktop client displays a session:
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Key Combination
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Description
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CTRL+ALT+HOME
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Activates the connection bar when in full-screen mode and the connection bar isn't pinned.
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CTRL+ALT+PAUSE
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Switches the client between full-screen mode and window mode.
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Most of the common shortcuts are the same when using AVD. However, when using a remote desktop or app in windowed mode there are some shortcuts that are different, allowing Windows to know if they should be used in AVD or on the local device. These shortcuts are:
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Windows Shortcut
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AVD Shortcut
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Description
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CTRL+ALT+DELETE
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CTRL+ALT+END
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Shows the Windows Security dialog box. Also applicable in fullscreen mode.
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ALT+TAB
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ALT+PAGE UP
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Switches between programs from left to right.
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ALT+SHIFT+TAB
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ALT+PAGE DOWN
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Switches between programs from right to left.
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WINDOWS key, or CTRL+ESC
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ALT+HOME
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Shows the Start menu.
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ALT+SPACE BAR
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ALT+DELETE
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Shows the system menu.
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PRINT SCREEN
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CTRL+ALT+”+”(plus sign)
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Takes a snapshot of the entire remote session, and places it in the clipboard.
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ALT+PRINT SCREEN
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CTRL+ALT+”-“(minus sign)
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Takes a snapshot of the active window in the remote session, and places it in the clipboard.
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Redirect devices, audio, and clipboard
The Remote Desktop client can make your local clipboard and local devices available in your remote session where you can copy and paste text, images, and files. The audio from the remote session can also be redirected to your local device. However, redirection can't be configured using the Remote Desktop client for Windows. This behavior is configured by your admin in Azure Virtual Desktop. Here's a list of some of the devices and resources that can be redirected. For the full list, see Compare the features of the Remote Desktop clients when connecting to Azure Virtual Desktop.
- Printers
- USB devices
- Audio output
- Smart cards
- Clipboard
- Microphones
- Cameras
App display modes
You can configure the Remote Desktop client to be displayed in light or dark mode, or match the mode of your system:
- Open the Remote Desktop application on your device.
- Select Settings.
- Under App mode, select Light, Dark, or Use System Mode. The change is applied instantly.
Views
You can view your remote desktops and apps as either a tile view (default) or list view:
- Open the Remote Desktop application on your device.
- If you want to switch to List view, select Tile, then select List view.
- If you want to switch to Tile view, select List, then select Tile view.