Is it possible to copy files to remote desktop only on Windows?
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.
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].
Windows users have the Remote Desktop Connection tool already built-in, which makes configuring file-sharing settings [before connecting], simple and fast.
Remote File Transfer During Windows RDP Sessions
[Feature available in the Enterprise Edition only]
Transfering Files From Local Computer to Connected Remote Desktop Session
HAL9000 Updated 5 years ago Windows 30 Comments
It’s quite easy to transfer files between computers on the network, all you have to do is select the folder to be shared and other users can find and connect to that folder and the files inside. If you use the Remote Desktop Connection feature in Windows you can even gain control of the remote computer, find your shared folder from it, and then transfer files between the two computers as required.
Windows Remote Desktop actually has a feature built in that allows you to share any of the local drives on the host computer with the remote computer without having to manually share specific folders or drives. This is far easier and can be more secure because folders are not being shared permanently but only for the life of the Remote Desktop session.
Here we show you how to setup your Remote Desktop session to share some or all of your local drives.
1. You can start the Remote Desktop Connection from Start > All Programs > Accessories > Remote Desktop Connection or run Mstsc.exe from the Run dialog or Search box. The window will show the current connection in the computer box or you can select a previous session from the drop down.
2. Click the Show options button at the bottom left.
3. This will display the connection preferences, click on the Local Resources tab. Look near the bottom in the section “Local devices and resources” and click the More button.
4. An entry called Drives will be in the list, if you tick that all drives will be mapped to the Remote Desktop and shared. If you only want to share specific drives which is safer, click the + to the left and expand the drives list, then you can specifically tick which drives that need to be shared, including ROM drives and USB flash drives the haven’t been inserted yet [Drives that I plug in later]. Click OK when you’re done.
5. Upon trying to connect you will be asked if you trust the remote connection and clicking Show Details will show that it’s trying to share your drives. If you’re happy then tick the box to not be asked again and press Connect.
After a successful connection go to Computer or This PC on the remote computer and under Other you should see the shared drives. Now you can start transferring files to and from your remote computer
Another option for transferring files in the Remote Desktop session is by using the Windows Clipboard so you can right click and Copy the file on the host computer and then right click and select Paste inside the Remote Desktop. This works just the same as if you are copying and pasting inside your own computer and obviously also works on text.
The option to use the Clipboard should be enabled by default but you can turn it off and on from the Local Resources tab in step 3.
What is Remote Desktop Protocol?
Remote Desktop Protocol [RDP] is Microsoft’s proprietary protocol that provides a graphical interface for connecting to other servers or computers over a network connection. In addition, it gives the ability to redirect one server or workstation's hard drive, making it appear once logged into another server or workstation.
The Remote Desktop Connection program comes with all Windows operating systems. It uses the remote desktop protocol to transfer files.