Connect via RDP

_{Updated May 8, 2026} Once a Windows VM is active, you have two ways to connect: The dashboard’s Console button always opens VNC for Windows VMs (in-browser RDP is not offered). For real RDP, use a desktop client against the VM’s public IPv4.

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Before you start

• The VM is active and has a public IPv4 (visible on the detail page)
• The Administrator password — find it in the Credentials card on the detail page (use Send to Email if it isn’t visible)
• The attached security group allows inbound TCP/3389 from your IP (default Windows templates allow it; tighten to your office IP for production)

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1. In-app console (VNC)

Open it the same way as for Linux VMs — Console button on the detail page, or the row’s 3-dot menu → Open Terminal. The in-app console for Windows uses VNC and gives you the full graphical desktop in the browser. Toolbar (top of the console): Use VNC when:

• The VM has no public IPv4
• TCP/3389 is blocked by the security group
• RDP isn’t running yet (e.g. first boot, recovery)
• You misconfigured the network or got locked out

For everyday work, switch to direct RDP — it’s faster, supports clipboard and file transfer, and doesn’t have a session timer.

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2. Direct RDP (desktop client)

Connect from any RDP client. The connection details are the same everywhere:

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Windows

Pick any of:

• Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc) — built into every Windows install. Press Win + R, type mstsc, paste the public IPv4, click Connect.
• Windows App — Microsoft’s modern client (replaces “Microsoft Remote Desktop” on the Microsoft Store). Adds saved-PC management and gateway support.
• Royal TS — paid, optional. Good if you manage many servers; supports tabbed sessions, credential vaults, multi-protocol (RDP/SSH/VNC).

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macOS

Pick any of:

• Windows App — Microsoft’s official RDP client on the Mac App Store (replaces the older “Microsoft Remote Desktop”). Free, recommended.
• Royal TSX — paid, multi-protocol with tabs and credential vault. Good for managing many servers.
• Jump Desktop — paid, App Store. Polished UX, supports Fluid Remote Desktop in addition to RDP.

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Linux

Pick any of:

• Remmina — most common GTK client. sudo apt install remmina remmina-plugin-rdp on Debian/Ubuntu. Run remmina, click +, set protocol to RDP, fill in host and credentials.
• FreeRDP — command line, robust. Most distros ship FreeRDP 2.x; some recent ones ship 3.x with new flag syntax. Pick the matching example below. FreeRDP 2.x (older syntax — /key:value):
  xfreerdp /v:<public-ipv4> /u:Administrator /p:'<password>' \
           /size:1920x1080 /cert:ignore +clipboard
  
  FreeRDP 3.x (newer syntax — same idea, slightly different flags):
  xfreerdp3 /v:<public-ipv4> /u:Administrator /p:'<password>' \
            /size:1920x1080 /cert:ignore +clipboard
  
  Useful flags either way:
  • /size:1920x1080 — set initial resolution. Use /f for fullscreen instead
  • +clipboard — enable clipboard sync between Linux host and Windows VM
  • /drive:home,$HOME — share your local home directory as a drive in the VM (\\tsclient\home)
  • /sound:sys:pulse — forward Windows audio to local PulseAudio
  • /cert:ignore — accept the VM’s self-signed RDP certificate (always needed unless you’ve installed your own cert in Windows)
  • /network:auto — let FreeRDP pick the best network profile (modem / broadband / LAN) based on round-trip time
• KRDC — KDE’s bundled client; same workflow as Remmina.

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Troubleshooting

• Connection refused / timeout — the security group must allow inbound TCP/3389 from your IP. Use the VNC console to verify Windows itself is up.
• Authentication failed — confirm the password from the Credentials card on the VM detail page; reset it via the Password action if needed.
• Black screen after login — usually a stuck session. Send Ctrl+Alt+Del from the VNC console and choose Sign out, then reconnect.
• No public IP — use the VNC console; direct RDP needs a public IPv4 (or a Public IP).
• Certificate warning — expected; the VM uses a self-signed RDP cert. Click Connect anyway in your client.

See Troubleshooting for more.

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Next steps