Fixed: Copy File from RDP to Mac Not Working

How can I copy files from an RDP PC to my Mac?

“I installed Microsoft Remote Desktop and connected to a PC. But copying and pasting files from my Remote Desktop session (connected to a Windows server) to the local Mac desktop doesn’t work. Only copying text works. How do I transfer files from Windows to Mac? Is there some configuration I am missing?”

How to copy file from RDP to Mac successfully

When moving files between Windows machines via RDP, you check the box in front of Drives to map your drive on the remote machine. However, this isn’t quite the same on the Microsoft Remote Desktop Mac app. On Mac, you have to map a special folder on your machine to accept transfers so as to achieve copying files from RDP to Mac. Let’s learn how to copy files from a remote Windows server to a local machine Mac.

Step 1. Open Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac

Step 2. Go to My Desktops and choose your Connection Entry. Then type Edit.

Step 3. In the popup window, click the Redirection button. Check the Enable folder redirection box. Click the “+” button at the bottom of that window and browse to the Mac folder you want to redirect.

Step 4. When you connect to the remote Windows computer, you can see the redirected Folder in your PC’s My Computer directory.

Step 5. Then connect your Windows computer to your Mac, and you can start to copy files from RDP to Mac or copy files from Mac to Windows RDP. 

Bonus tips: Best RDP alternative for Mac file transfer

When it comes to transferring files between Mac devices and remote systems, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) may not always be the most convenient or efficient option. Fortunately, several great alternatives offer seamless file transfer capabilities.

AnyViewer is an excellent remote access tool that provides fast and secure file transfer capabilities. With AnyViewer, you can easily transfer files between Mac and remote devices, whether you’re connecting from a Windows or Mac device. The file transfer feature is intuitive, and it supports both drag-and-drop and direct file transfer methods. Additionally, AnyViewer supports high security with features like ECC-256-bit encryption, ensuring that your files are always protected during the transfer process.

Let's take Mac-to-Windows file transfer as an example. 

Part 1. Sign up for AnyViewer for file transfer 

To transfer files from Mac to Windows, you'll need to set up AnyViewer on Mac and Windows first.

Step 1. On the Mac, download, install, and launch AnyViewer.

Step 2. Go to Log in, and then click Sign up. (If you already have signed up on its official website, you can log in directly.)

Step 3. On your Windows, download, install, and launch AnyViewer.

Step 4. Log in to the same account on Windows.

Part 2. Transfer files with AnyViewer

After signing up for an AnyViewer account and logging in to AnyViewer on the Mac and Windows, you can start to transfer files. 

Step 1. Open AnyViewer on your Mac and click “Device” to view a list of connected devices. Locate your Windows PC under “My Devices,” select it, and choose “File Transfer” to open the file transfer manager.

Step 2. In the file transfer manager, select the file you want to move and click the arrow to start the transfer.

Alternative method:

If you need unattended remote access during the transfer, select “One-click control” to remotely access your Windows PC. Once connected, use the file transfer manager from the toolbar to transfer files seamlessly.

Note: The maximum size of a single file that can be transferred for the free account is 100 MB, and the maximum number of files that can be transferred per time is 100. If you want to transfer larger files in more quantity per time, please upgrade to a Professional or Enterprise plan. What can a professional or enterprise plan brings to you:

• Faster transfer speed. Transfer speed for a free account is 500 KB/s, and for a paid account is up to 10 MB/s.
• Increasing number of files transferred in bulk.
• Larger size of a single file that can be transferred.
• More devices can be assigned to the same account for unattended remote access.
• More Currently connected devices are displayed for management.
• Connect in privacy mode to protect privacy.

Conclusion

This post primarily introduces how to copy files from RDP to Mac. For this to work, you are suggested to redirect a Mac folder. Another focus of this post is how to use AnyViewer to transfer files between Windows computers. As an alternative to Windows RDP for file transfer, AnyViewer offers you faster speed than you can ever imagine.