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RDP macOS Clients

Recommended RDP clients for macOS to connect to Windows VMs and servers.

Quick Comparison

Client Price Quality Features Best For
Microsoft Remote Desktop Free Excellent Full Everyone
Jump Desktop $35 Excellent Premium Power users
Parallels Client Free Good Enterprise Parallels RAS users
Royal TSX Free/Pro Good Multi-protocol IT professionals

The official Microsoft client is excellent and free.

Installation

From Mac App Store: - Search "Microsoft Remote Desktop" - Or direct link: Mac App Store

Add a Connection

  1. Click + > Add PC
  2. PC name: Enter IP or hostname
  3. Tailscale: windows.tail-network.ts.net
  4. Direct: 192.168.1.100
  5. User account: Add or select credentials
  6. Friendly name: Optional display name
  7. Click Add

Connection Settings

Display

Setting Recommendation
Resolution Match local display
Scale content Retina displays
Use all monitors Multi-monitor setups
Start in full screen Personal preference

Devices & Audio

Setting Description
Sound Play on this computer
Microphone Redirect if needed
Clipboard Always enable
Folders Map local folders to share files

Keyboard Shortcuts

Action Shortcut
Full screen Cmd+Ctrl+F
Minimize Cmd+M
Disconnect Cmd+W
Send Ctrl+Alt+Del Ctrl+Option+Del
Toggle menu bar Cmd+Option+M

Redirect Local Folders

  1. Edit connection > Folders tab
  2. Click + to add folder
  3. Select local folder to share
  4. Appears as network drive in Windows

Jump Desktop ($35)

Premium client supporting both RDP and VNC.

Installation

Why Pay for Jump Desktop

Feature MS Remote Desktop Jump Desktop
Fluid engine No Yes
RDP + VNC RDP only Both
Touch Bar Basic Full
Multi-monitor Good Excellent
Retina scaling Good Excellent

Fluid Remote Desktop

Jump Desktop's "Fluid" engine: - Lower latency than standard RDP - Better for high-latency connections - Smoother scrolling and animations - Requires client on Windows (free download)

Configuration

  1. Add new computer
  2. Select RDP
  3. Enter hostname: windows.tail-network.ts.net
  4. Enter credentials
  5. Enable "Fluid" for best performance

Royal TSX (Free/Pro)

Multi-protocol connection manager for IT professionals.

Installation

brew install --cask royal-tsx

Features

  • RDP, VNC, SSH, SFTP in one app
  • Credential management
  • Connection folders
  • Tabbed interface
  • Team sharing (Pro)

When to Use

  • Managing multiple servers
  • Need SSH + RDP in one app
  • Team environments
  • Complex connection hierarchies

Connecting via Tailscale

Using MagicDNS

windows.tail-network.ts.net

In Microsoft Remote Desktop: 1. Add PC 2. PC name: windows.tail-network.ts.net 3. Connect

Using Tailscale IP

# Find Windows VM's Tailscale IP
tailscale status | grep windows
# 100.64.0.5    windows-vm

Use 100.64.0.5 as PC name.

Connection Quality Settings

High Bandwidth (LAN/Tailscale Direct)

In Microsoft Remote Desktop: - Display: Full resolution - Color: 32-bit - Check "Enable all Mac shortcuts"

Lower Bandwidth (Relayed/WAN)

  • Display: Scaled down
  • Color: 16-bit
  • Uncheck visual enhancements

Checking Connection Type

Tailscale shows connection type: 

tailscale status
# Look for "direct" vs "relay"

Multi-Monitor Setup

Microsoft Remote Desktop

  1. Edit connection
  2. Display tab
  3. Check "Use all monitors"
  4. Choose scaling option

Selective Monitors

# Create .rdp file with specific monitors
selectedmonitors:s:0,1
use multimon:i:1

Keyboard Mapping

Windows Keys on Mac

Windows Key Mac Key
Ctrl Ctrl
Alt Option
Win Cmd (configurable)
Del Fn+Del
Print Screen Cmd+Shift+3 (local)

Configure Windows Key

In Microsoft Remote Desktop: 1. Preferences > Keyboard 2. Select how Cmd maps

Options: - Windows key - Ctrl (for Ctrl+C, etc.)

File Transfer

Folder Redirection

  1. Edit connection > Folders
  2. Add local folder
  3. Access in Windows at: \\tsclient\FolderName

Clipboard

Files can be copied via clipboard: 1. Copy file on Mac 2. Paste in Windows Explorer

Size limits apply (~2GB typically).

Audio Configuration

Remote Audio Playback

Default: Plays on local Mac

Settings: - Play on this computer (recommended) - Play on remote computer - Do not play

Microphone Redirect

  1. Edit connection
  2. Devices & Audio tab
  3. Enable microphone

Troubleshooting

Connection Refused

  1. Verify RDP is enabled on Windows
  2. Check Windows Firewall
  3. Test port: nc -zv windows-ip 3389
  4. Verify Tailscale connection: tailscale ping windows

NLA/CredSSP Errors

"An authentication error has occurred": 1. Ensure clocks are synchronized 2. Update client app 3. Check Windows updates 4. Temporarily disable NLA to test

Slow/Laggy

  1. Check connection type (direct vs relay)
  2. Reduce color depth
  3. Disable visual effects
  4. Check for network congestion

Black Screen

  1. Wait 30+ seconds (GPU init)
  2. Press Ctrl+Option+Del
  3. Try reconnecting
  4. Disable UDP:
  5. Add custom RDP file
  6. Add line: networkautodetect:i:0

Keyboard Issues

  1. Check keyboard preferences in client
  2. Try different Windows key mapping
  3. Use on-screen keyboard for special keys

Home Lab Windows VM

PC name: windows.tail-network.ts.net
Resolution: Same as local display
Color: 32-bit
Folders: ~/Documents, ~/Downloads
Audio: Play on this computer

Work Windows Server

PC name: server.company.com
Gateway: rd.company.com (if required)
Resolution: 1920x1080
Folders: None (security)
Clipboard: Enabled

Low-Bandwidth Remote

PC name: 100.64.0.x
Resolution: 1280x720
Color: 16-bit
Desktop background: Disabled
Smooth fonts: Disabled

Client Comparison Summary

Need Recommended
Standard use Microsoft Remote Desktop
Also need VNC Jump Desktop
Managing many servers Royal TSX
Enterprise with Parallels Parallels Client
Best performance Jump Desktop (Fluid)
Free and works Microsoft Remote Desktop