Remote Desktop on Android

The Informatics Remote Desktop gives you a graphical login on DICE, displaying on another computer.

This page explains how to access the Remote Desktop service from an Android device. This involves installing an app, then configuring it, then connecting to the service. Installing and configuring the app only has to be done once.

Get on the network

First, your device will need to join the University's network. On campus, connect to eduroam wifi. Anywhere else, connect to the University VPN.

• ⇒ Wireless network.
• ⇒ VPNs.

Install the app

1. Open the Play Store.
2. Search for Microsoft Remote Desktop.
3. Install it - it's free.

Configure the app

1. Start RD Client
   
2. Touch + in the top-right corner
3. Touch Desktop
4. In PC Name enter the address of your chosen service. For example, if user s1234567 wanted to connect to their remote server they would enter s1234567.remote.inf.ed.ac.uk. (You should use your own DICE username instead of s1234567.).
5. In User name choose Add user account
6. In User name type your DICE username. It is NOT recommended to save the Password. Touch SAVE
7. Touch Save

How to connect

1. In RD Client touch the icon you've made.
2. When prompted, enter your username and password as you would on a DICE machine. (To move the keyboard focus to the login box, move the mouse pointer to where you want to type, then tap the screen once.)
3. Touch Done

How to logout

When you've finished, please logout of your DICE session. Here's how to do that:

• ⇒ How to logout of a remote DICE session.

Tips

• Look for the mouse pointer. Input happens where the mouse pointer is, not where you touch the screen. Tapping and holding works as right mouse key.
• Use the screen as a trackpad to move the mouse pointer about.
• To click and drag, touch once, then drag with a second touch.
• Tap with two fingers to do a right-click.
• The keyboard icon at the top of the screen makes a keyboard appear and disappear. The utility bar at the top can be moved to the sides
• If Microsoft Remote Desktop version 10 doesn't work for you, try the older Microsoft Remote Desktop version 8 instead. Version 10 required a user name to be added before the connection.
• Copy and Paste: Copy from Remote Desktop and paste to Android works. Copying from Android and pasting works if you use the Android keyboards (e.g. Google Keyboard - Gboard) paste options, using the right mouse key and paste option did not work for us