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Remote Desktop Copy Files: Detailed Guide

Editorial Team Aug 16, 2023

Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) gives users the ability to remotely view and operate a Windows desktop. And often it is required to reliably and quickly copy files to a remote desktop from a local machine. Microsoft has developed this functionality a long time ago, so connecting external hard drives to the remote desktop to transfer files can be accomplished with RDC in a matter of minutes.

Contents

Windows remote desktop copy files - tutorial
- 1.1 Step-by-step guide
- 1.2 Remote desktop file transfer video help
FAQ

If you’re using RDC and want to know how to copy files from remote desktop PCs, you will need to properly configure your RDC setup.

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Windows remote desktop copy files guide

RDC utilizes Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol to share files to remote desktop sessions. This functionality comes standard in every edition of Windows 10 and Windows Server.

Windows users have the Remote Desktop Connection tool already built-in, which makes configuring file-sharing settings (before connecting), simple and fast.

Transfer files with Remote Desktop - step-by-step-walkthrough

1

Open the Remote Desktop Connect tool (located either in the Windows Start menu or by searching for “mstsc/remote desktop/RDC”.

Remote Desktop Connection’s first launch will seem pretty simple. Usually, you would enter the IP address of the remote machine and then click the connect button. However, for this circumstance, before being able to copy files to a remote desktop, a configuration is needed.

2

Click “Show Options” from the Remote Desktop Connection window (this shows RDC’s configuration options).

3

Access the remote desktop file-sharing settings, go to the Local Resources tab.

4

Click “More” (which can be found at the bottom of the Local Devices and Resources section).

From within the Local Devices and Resources box, you can configure the remote desktop connection to transfer files with remote Windows PCs.

5

Click the “+” arrow next to “Drives” (this will expand the section, allowing you to transfer local files and/or folders to remote desktop).

You can share your available Windows drives while inside the Drives section. For example, any attached optical drives (such as a CD drive, DVD drive, or portable storage - like flash drives) are sharable in case you want to connect to them in the future.

6

Share the desired storage with a remote machine by checking a box next to it displayed in the GUI. Then hit OK.

7

Return to the General tab once drive sharing settings are all done.

8

In the General tab, enter the server/remote PC’s IP address in the Computer field (found beneath the “Log on Settings” section).

9

Click Connect to access a remote machine.

10

Open Windows File Explorer once a successful connection to a remote desktop session is established.

11

From within the Devices and Drives section, you’ll be able to open and copy files from shared disks to remote desktop.

Remote desktop File transfer - Video guide

FAQ

Can you transfer files with Chrome Remote Desktop?

Yes, you can use Chrome Remote Desktop to transfer files. You need to be aware of the tool’s limitations when using Chrome’s remote desktop connection to transfer files.

When using Chrome Remote Desktop on a Windows machine, the host computer needs to be running Windows 10 or above.
One-way file transfers are supported by Chrome Remote Desktop. You can perform a remote desktop file transfer to the remote computer you are controlling with Chrome Remote Desktop. You cannot transfer files from the remote machine to your computer.

We invite you to view our tutorial which provides complete details on performing a Chrome remote desktop file transfer.

Is Microsoft Remote Desktop file transfer possible only between Windows?

The Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) uses the Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to facilitate file sharing between a local machine and a remote desktop. To use Windows Remote Desktop to copy files, you need to be running a version of Windows 10.

There are RDP-compatible software tools by Microsoft that also provide Mac users with the ability to connect to Windows PCs and access mobile platforms like iOS and Android.

If you’re on a Mac computer, you can transfer files to Windows remote desktops by using the Redirection tab (located in the Remote Desktop app).

Microsoft offers RDP tools that let users remotely access and share files on a Windows computer from Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.

How to gain access to local files?

Mapping drives from a server to a remote desktop so you can access the local files is not difficult. Using Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) can greatly simplify the process. A native version of RDC is built into Windows Remote Desktop, allowing users to transfer files and configure sharing parameters before establishing a connection.

We offer a step-by-step guide that demonstrates how to copy files from a remote desktop and invite you to take a look.

For Windows users, Remote Desktop Connection is built-in by default and permits the configuration of file and folder sharing before a connection is established.
Read our step-by-step guide to accessing local files on a remote desktop.

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Latest version: v10.0.2593, Released 1 Nov, 2023 Release notes