what happened to microsoft remote desktop on mac?
microsoft remote desktop on mac is now windows app. microsoft's release notes say the remote desktop app took the name windows app with version 11.0.0, published september 19, 2024, along with a new interface and more features. microsoft's migration page says remote desktop for macos updates automatically to windows app.
this guide follows microsoft's windows app pages as we read them in november 2026. for windows on the mac itself, see what happened to boot camp on mac.
download the remynd desktop app to search text you saw in a focused window, by app and date.
what changed when remote desktop became windows app?
the name and the interface changed, and the old download went away. microsoft's remote desktop for macos page says you can no longer download the old client, and that windows app replaces it.
the mac app store listing describes the app as windows app for mac, previously named microsoft remote desktop. microsoft's release notes list version 11.4.4, published october 14, 2026, as the current macos release.
what can windows app connect to from a mac?
microsoft's windows app overview marks five services as available on macos. this table pairs each with what microsoft's setup pages say you need.
| service | what you need from a mac |
|---|---|
| remote pc | network access to the pc and a user account on it, with no windows app sign-in |
| azure virtual desktop | your user account for the service, with devices or apps assigned by your administrator |
| windows 365 | your user account for the service, with devices or apps assigned by your administrator |
| microsoft dev box | your user account for the service, with a dev box assigned to you |
| remote desktop services | connection details from your administrator, as an email address or a url |
for sign-in, microsoft says you need a work or school account that your administrator provides. a personal microsoft account can't sign in to windows app.
how do you connect to a remote pc from a mac?
microsoft's getting started page gives these steps for macos, in this order:
- download and install windows app from the mac app store, then open it.
- if it's your first time, go through the tour, then select done, or select skip.
- make sure remote desktop access is turned on for the pc you want to reach.
- on the devices tab, select the plus icon, then add pc.
- type the remote pc's hostname or ip address in the pc name field. you can also add a user account, a friendly name, display settings and redirection now or later.
- select add, then double-click the pc on the devices tab to connect. if you didn't add a user account, you're asked for one.
which pcs can you connect to?
microsoft's remote desktop access page says you can connect to computers running windows professional, enterprise or education editions, and windows server editions. it says windows home editions can't serve as remote desktop hosts.
on the pc, microsoft's steps are start, then settings, then system, then remote desktop, where you turn on enable remote desktop and confirm. microsoft says changing this setting takes administrator rights on that pc.
microsoft warns that enabling remote desktop opens a port on your pc, and says to enable it only on trusted networks, such as your home network. to reach your pc from outside its network, it points to port forwarding or a vpn.
where does remynd fit?
in microsoft's work trend index, published may 9, 2023, which surveyed 31,000 full-time employed or self-employed workers in 31 markets, 62% of respondents said they struggle with spending too much of their workday searching for information. the same survey found 86% were looking for ai to help find the information and answers they need.
in our read, a remote session is easy to lose track of once you disconnect. remynd records your screen, runs ocr locally with apple vision, and keeps a searchable index on your computer. text comes from the focused window only, and video covers windows you have not excluded.
you can exclude apps and sites, and private browser windows are excluded by default.
press control space to search in plain language, refine by app, date or source, and jump to an exact moment, provided remynd was running then, the window was not excluded and, for text, it was the focused window. it needs macos 14 or later on an apple silicon mac.
limits of this guide
- microsoft's getting started page lists macos 12.0 or later for most services and macos 14.0 or later for windows 365, while the mac app store listing says windows app requires macos 14.0 or later. we follow the store listing.
- it covers the macos app only. we did not test connections, gateways or company setups.
- signing in and the services that need it depend on what your administrator assigns.
download the remynd desktop app and search what you saw in a focused window, by app and date.