However, as of late March 2026, Microsoft officially retired the legacy Remote Desktop client. Both the Microsoft Store version and the standalone MSI installer are no longer supported.

Before you can connect to a remote PC, you must configure it to accept incoming Remote Desktop connections. This must be done on the computer you want to access remotely.

To download and install Microsoft Remote Desktop (now largely superseded by the Windows App ), you typically use the official app stores for your specific operating system. While version 10.2 was a standard release in the past, Microsoft now maintains a rolling update cycle, with current versions for Windows and mobile platforms generally being higher (e.g., version 1.2.x for Windows MSI or 11.x for mobile).

For the vast majority of users, the Windows App offers a superior experience with better performance, stronger security, and more features. The migration process is straightforward, and the new client maintains compatibility with the same underlying infrastructure.

For accessing RemoteApp programs, session-based desktops, or virtual desktops published by your administrator:

Note down the listed under this setting. You will need it to connect. 🤝 4. Establishing Your First Remote Connection

Remote Desktop session disconnects, Explorer crashes, or general instability.

Downloading the client application is only half of the equation. You must explicitly permit remote connections on the target Windows machine before you can log in.

To make the Remote Desktop experience more convenient, pin items so you can get to Remote Desktop quickly from your Start menu or taskbar.