Use the new Microsoft Remote Desktop app to connect to a remote PC or virtual apps and desktops made available by your administrator. The app helps you be. Our development department want a Mac Mini setup in server room to remote into and work on iPad applications, but not sure how easy it is for them to remote desktop from Windows 7 desktops to the Mac Mini on an Ethernet network.
To access the Mac from a Windows machine, you will need to install a VNC client on the Windows machine, or locate RDP server software for the Mac (not sure if it exists). I use VNC myself since it is ubiquitous, easy to set up, cross-platform and essentially open source.
However, be aware that it is not a very secure protocol since it lacks sufficient encryption or even a username parameter. All the same, it is still widely used in secure environments.
The VNC protocol can also be hardened by tunneling it through SSH, but that is a topic for another day. To enable VNC on the Mac, navigate to SystemPreferencesSharingRemoteManagement. Make sure this feature is enabled (as you say you have already done).
Then click on the 'Computer Settings.' In the new window, place a check to enable 'VNC viewers may control screen with password:' and then set a password. Back on the Windows machine, install your prefered VNC client and launch the program (I prefer TightVNC). Enter the IP address of the Mac and the password you previously created in the Mac's settings if needed. If you are not asked to supply the password in the VNC client's connection settings, you will be prompted for it after the connection begins to take place.
If you have Windows PCs and Macs on your home network, there might be times when you need to access the Windows machine from your Mac. Here take a look at a free utility from Microsoft that allows you to RDP from a Mac to a Windows PC on your network. Update: the method outlined in this tutorial still works (late 2015). However, we have created an updated version of this tutorial –, and though the screenshots (pictures) used in the tutorial are specific to Windows 10 – the steps are exactly the same for earlier versions of Windows. The updated method also allows you to control your Windows PC from iPhones, iPads and Android devices, and makes connecting to/from each device across the internet, much easier. Again, the method outlined below still works, and is is a great way to control your PC from your Mac across your local network.
For this tutorial we’re using OS X Snow Leopard and accessing a Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit PC. Also, Home versions of Windows don’t allow you to remote into them without 3rd-party software, but do allow you to remote out to other machines that have RDP capability.
First you need to make sure you have incoming remote desktop connections enabled on the Windows PC. Click Start then right-click on Computer and select Properties. Then click on the Advanced system settings hyperlink. In System Properties click the Remote tab, under Remote Desktop click Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop, then click OK.
Now on your Mac computer download and install. Installation is easyjust accept the defaults following the wizard. Close out of the installer and click Finder from the dock. Then you’ll find the Remote Desktop Connection utility in Applications.
If you find that you’re using it a lot, you might want to add it to The Dock for easier access. Launch Remote Desktop Connection for Mac and enter in the computer name or IP Address of the machine you want to connect to. In my tests, entering in the IP Address worked the best. Next you’re prompted to enter in your user name and password of the Windows PC, then click OK. You might also want to check Add user information to your keychain so you don’t have to enter it in every time you want to connect. There you go! Now you have access to your Windows PC from your Mac just like you were sitting in front of it.
Here is an example of accessing an XP Pro computer from a Mac on a Home Network. If you have a Windows Home Server on your network, you can remote into it from your Mac too. Usually when you remote into another computer, you don’t need to have all of the extra “eye candy” associated with the remote OS.
Go into RDC Display settings and uncheck unneeded display featuresthis should help speed up the remote connection as well. Remote Desktop Connection for Mac has most if not all features that Windows users are familiar with when doing an RDP session into another Windows machine.