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Remote Desktop

· 5 min read
Keith Tan
Software Engineer • Geek • Potato

Hello there!

This article outlines basic functions and how to fix common issues in Cloud PC.

Cloud vs Remote

  • Cloud PC is a virtual machine providing users with a rich Windows Desktop experience hosted in the Windows365 services.
  • Remote Desktop/Cloud PC Client is a tool for accessing your Cloud PC from anywhere using another device.

cpcvsremote

How to Access

Visit windows365.microsoft.com to see remote desktop that your admin has made available to you. If you get an error similar to "subscription and/or license", reach out your manager to ask and confirm whether your employment package comes with the Cloud PC license.

keep in mind

Admins don't manually create Cloud PCs. Cloud PCs are created automatically by the Windows 365 service when an appropriate license is assigned.

Installation

System Requirements

Navigate to this article to know more about minimum system requirements.

Login to windows365.microsoft.com > Navigate to Downloads > Choose the system type (64/32) in the dropdown. If you don't know what your system type, click to "what's my os" button bellow.


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Perform a normal installation, follow the prompts and put a "check" at before hitting "finish".

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it's asking for admin

Our support may be limited for personal devices as this is beyond our scope. However, you can either contact the owner or reset the device.

Setup

Once installed, open the Remote Desktop client, and hit Subscribe and enter your login credentials.Once finished, your workspaces are displayed in the Remote Desktop application.

Before connecting to Remote Desktop for the first time, we recommend turning off the “Use default settings” option. To do this, right-click the Remote Desktop icon and select Settings.

cpc-settings cpc-settings-default

Troubleshooting

Cloud PCs works like physical devices and may encounter issues such as connectivity problems, slow performance, and software compatibility.

User Actions

The table below describes important actions you can perform as basic troubleshooting. Login to windows365.microsoft.com using your account.

ActionDescription
RestartClears temporary files and refreshes resources, which can enhance performance and apply updates.
TroubleshootChecks for connection issues, ensuring necessary files or agents are installed.
System InfoDisplays specifications of your Cloud PC.

Connectivity

If connecting is an issue, consider trying these steps:

  • Check Your Internet: Ensure your internet is stable and functioning properly.
  • Check Your Cables: You might want to check if those cables are properly connected with no physical damage.
  • Restart the App: Closing and reopening the Cloud PC app or your browser can sometimes help.
  • Clear Your Browser Cache: If you’re using a browser, clearing cache and cookies might resolve the issue.

Performance

For a sluggish Cloud PC, here are some things to think about:

  • Close Extra Apps: Reducing the number of open applications can improve performance.
  • Check Resource Usage: Look at your CPU and memory usage to identify any resource-heavy apps.
  • Restart Your Cloud PC: A quick restart can refresh the system and boost speed.

Audio and video

For connections using the Remote Desktop client for Windows to access Cloud PCs, the first time you sign in to your Cloud PC, Microsoft Teams will be installed.

After the installation, the optimizations to redirect audio and video to your local Windows endpoint don’t work. You must close Teams and sign out from or restart the Cloud PC to activate the Optimized status.

Pro Tips

Stay Updated

Keeping your system and applications updated ensures you have the latest features and security. If there’s a green arrow on your Cloud PC client, it indicates updates are available.

updates

Close those Extra Apps

Reducing the number of open applications can improve performance. You can check what app consumes most memory/RAM via task manager (CTRL + shift + Esc). cpc-processes

Check Uptime

This applies to both Cloud and local PCs. You can check how long your Cloud PC has been running in Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) under the "Performance" tab, displayed as [DAYS: HOURS: MINUTES: SECONDS]. Regular restarts, ideally once a week, can keep things running smoothly.

uptime

Something Missing?

If you have suggestions for improvement or ran into issues:

For Developers 🚀

Report those pesky bugs and become a contributor of this project! Take me there.

Direct Contact💡

If we share the same workplace, you can reach out to me directly via MS Teams.