Remote Desktop Web Access Help

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

The Remote Desktop Web Access (RD Web Access) website enables you to use a Web browser to access RemoteApp and Desktop Connections.

Help topics

  • What is RemoteApp and Desktop Connections?

  • What is RemoteApp?

  • Starting a RemoteApp program

  • What is the Remote Desktop tab?

  • Public vs. private computer settings

  • Computer requirements

  • I am prompted to run the Remote Desktop Services ActiveX Client control. How do I do that?

What is RemoteApp and Desktop Connections?

RemoteApp and Desktop Connections gives you a customized view of RemoteApp programs and virtual desktops that have been made available to you by your network administrator.

What is RemoteApp?

Using RemoteApp, you can access programs on a remote computer through Remote Desktop Services. Although the programs are running on a remote computer, RemoteApp programs behave as if they are running on your local computer. For example, a RemoteApp program has its own entry in the taskbar, and you can resize, minimize, or maximize the program window.

Starting a RemoteApp program

To start a RemoteApp program or Remote Desktop session, click the program icon in RD Web Access. When you are prompted for user credentials, log on with your network user name and password.

What is the Remote Desktop tab?

The Remote Desktop tab allows you to connect from the RD Web Access website to any desktop that is configured to accept Remote Desktop connections.

Public vs. private computer settings

If you connect to the RD Web Access website from a public computer, such as a kiosk computer in a public establishment, or from a computer that you share with other users, click This is a public or shared computer. You will need to provide both your user name and password each time you sign in to the RD Web Access website.

If you are using a work computer assigned to you that you do not share with other people, click This is a private computer.

To protect against unauthorized access, RD Web Access sessions automatically end after a period of inactivity. If your RD Web Access session ends, you will need to sign in again. The amount of time before a session ends is determined by your administrator.

Computer requirements

To use RD Web Access, your computer must be running at least Internet Explorer 6.0 and a version of Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) that supports at least Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) 6.1.

To determine the RDP version that RDC supports, open Remote Desktop Connection, click the icon in the upper-left corner of the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box, and then click About. The RDP version that RDC supports is listed in the About Remote Desktop Connection dialog box.

RDC 6.1 supports Remote Desktop Protocol 6.1. RDC 6.1 is included with the following operating systems:

  • Windows Server 2008

  • Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 (SP1)

  • Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3)

The version of RDC in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 supports RDP 7.0.

Additionally, the Remote Desktop Services ActiveX Client control must be enabled. The ActiveX control is included with RDC 6.1 and the version of RDC in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

The version of RDC that you are using determines which features of RD Web Access are available to you.

For more information about client requirements for using RD Web Access, see Connect to Remote Desktop Web Access (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=142240).

I am prompted to run the Remote Desktop Services ActiveX Client control. How do I do that?

If you are prompted to run the Remote Desktop Services ActiveX Client control when you access RD Web Access, do one of the following, depending on your operating system:

  • If you are running Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP, and you are prompted to run the Remote Desktop Services ActiveX Client control, click the message line, click Run ActiveX Control, and then click Run. After you have enabled the control, refresh the Web page.

  • If you are running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista, click the warning message on the Internet Explorer Information bar, point to Add-on Disabled, and then click Run ActiveX Control. When you do this, you might see a security warning. Make sure that the publisher of the ActiveX control is "Microsoft Corporation" before you click Run.

  • If you are running Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7, in addition to the above steps, you can choose to allow the ActiveX control to run only on this website.

If the Internet Explorer Information bar does not appear, you can enable the ActiveX control by using the Manage Add-ons tool on the Tools menu of Internet Explorer.

If your computer meets all the client requirements but you do not see any programs listed, contact your network administrator or the webmaster of the website.

See also