In the last year itself Microsoft has given app for Android,
iOS users to control desktop PCs using there smartphones. At that time Windows
phone users were eagerly waiting for it. But now Microsoft has now launched a
new app for them named ‘
Microsoft Remote Desktop’. This app is now available
for free from the Windows Phone Store.
Basic requirements:
- Windows Phone – Windows 8.1
- Android – Android 2.2 or later
- Mac – OS X 10.6.0 or later
Once you download and install Remote Desktop in your Windows
Phone 8.1 then, Windows store will recognize you as the owner of this app. This
allows you to install the same app in another device. So that this can be
called as a Universal app.
Remote Desktop has many user interface features, such as the
ability to pin desktop connections to Windows Phone 8.1’s start screen, Use the
predictive text capability of the operating system to specify a remote
connection. It also has an option to disable thumbnails on the Windows Phone
8.1 screen and could show the background image through the application tiles.
The Remote Desktop live tile features transparency support
which allows users to change home screen backgrounds. The app uses RDP 8.1 and
RemoteFX to provide high audio fidelity and graphics.
The app can be connected with the Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows
7 and Windows Vista OS. To access the PC you have to first know about the PC
name, your username and password. When you are connecting it with Windows 8.1
or Windows 8 OS, then the system defaults to touch mode allowing you to touch,
swipe and to use gestures. But if you are connecting to a Windows 7 OS, default
mode will interrupt your finger as mouse input. The connection will get
disconnect quicker when sessions are terminated.
Connect with Windows 8.1 Phone
By default, Windows PC’s have Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
disabled. So you have to enable it first. For that,
- Right click Computer of the PC then select Properties.
- Click on Remote settings tab given at the top left corner (for
Windows 8.1 PC)
- Click on Change settings then select Remote tab (for Windows
8 PC)
- Click the box to Allow remote connection to this computer.
- Windows 8.1 OS is also recommend to click the box to allow connection from
computers with Network level Authentication for an additional level of security.
Accepting remote desktop connection feature will not be included in Home
version of Windows 8, Windows 8 and Windows Vista.
- First install the setup on your Windows 8.1 Phone. Then you
can find out it from the app or from the start screen (if it is pinned).
- After the app get loads click on the plus (+) symbol which
will be showed below the current screen. In order to connect a new PC.
- Enter the Host name or IP address of PC which you are
connecting to. Then select save if you would like to connect again in future.
Then the connection checks for a valid, trusted certificate. After that select
don’t ask again option.
- When the connection is made then your phone will be changed
to landscape view allows you to see the desktop of PC.
- Navigate with your finger with the on-screen mouse cursor.
Single and double click can be done by single tap and double tap on your
Windows 8.1 phone.
- Tap on the keyboard icon on the header bar to access
on-screen keyboard. This allows you to use keys such as Alt, Ctrl, Esc and
others.
- To disconnect tap twice on your Windows 8.1 phone’s back key.
The Remote Desktop app for Windows phone 8.1 has avoided
some important features such as Remote Desktop Gateway, RD Connection Broker
and pinch and zoom option. Hope it will come up with the next update but the
app will be currently suitable for persons other than IT pros.
Hit
LIKE to connect me on Facebook.
Subscribe to get daily updates.