[Answered] Can I Transfer Files Using Remote Desktop Connection

Can I transfer files using Remote Desktop Connection?

“My friend recommended to me the Remote Desktop in the MS Store to transfer files remotely between computers. When I used it, I found that I couldn’t transfer files to the host computer. I checked the Microsoft Remote Desktop and Windows versions I used, nothing is wrong. I really don’t know why this happens. Why can’t I transfer files using Remote Desktop Connection?”

Can you transfer files through Remote Desktop Connection? Actually, the answer is YES! RDC can breakthrough space limitations, allow you to remotely control other computers anytime, anywhere. You can easily transfer files, provide technical support for others or ask for remote help from others. But the fact is that many users still don't know how to do it. Based on this, this tutorial will teach you how to transfer files from a Remote Desktop Connection session.

How to transfer files from Remote Desktop Connection?

How can I transfer files using Remote Desktop Connection? Next, we will give you a detailed introduction to the operation steps.

Step 1. On the host computer, navigate here: Start > Settings > System > Remote Desktop, and turn on Enable Remote Desktop.

Step 2. Find User accounts and click Select users that can remotely access this PC.

Step 3. After opening the Remote Desktop Users window, click Add to add users who are allowed to access this computer (you need to add already existing users to realize remote desktop).

Step 4. On the client computer, search for Remote Desktop Connection in the Search box. And then open it.

Step 5. On the main interface of Remote Desktop Connection, switch from the General tab to the Local Resources tab, and in the Local Devices and Resources column, click More.

Step 6. On the Local Devices and Resources interface, check the Drives and click OK.

Step 7. Go back to the General tab. Enter the IP address and user name in the Remote Desktop Connection interface to achieve connection. (The detailed steps to find the IP address and user name will be introduced later in case you don’t know how to find them.)

Step 8. After the connection is successful, click This Computer on the host computer desktop, and find the previously checked disk.

Step 9. Find the disk that stores the files you need and select the file you want to transfer, click the Home tab above, and then click Move to. Click Choose Location in the drop-down menu to realize remote desktop file transfer.

How to query IP address and user name?

When using Remote Desktop Connection to transfer files, the first thing we need to do is to find the IP address and user name of the host computer.

Step 1. Press Win + R to invoke the Run dialog box. Type in “cmd” and press OK. 

Step 2. Then type “ipconfig” and press Enter. Now you can see a group of IP addresses, of which the IPv4 address is the one you need.

Step 3. Then type “query user” to see the username.

If you think this method is troublesome, you can also use Ctrl+C to copy the specified file, Ctrl+V to paste the specified file to transfer files back and forth between the local computer and the remote computer.

Although using RDC to transfer files is very simple, some people still encounter problems during using it, such as the question raised by the user we mentioned at the beginning of this post. Next, I will introduce to you how to solve this problem when copying files from remote desktop to local does not work.

What to do if copy and paste do not work?

Sometimes, you may find it unable to copy and paste to a remote desktop session. Generally speaking, such problems are caused by incorrect settings. In this regard, we provide 3 solutions to ensure the normal use of the file transfer function of RDC.

• Enable the clipboard on the local computer.
• Restart the RDP clipboard monitoring program process.
• Disable the “Do not allow clipboard redirection” service.

Method 1. Enable the clipboard on the local computer.

Not enabling the clipboard on the local computer is one of the main reasons that copy and paste the remote desktop does not work. Therefore, enabling the clipboard on the local computer is a feasible solution.

Step 1. Search for Remote Desktop Connection in the Search box. And then open it. In the pop-up window, click Show Options in the lower-left corner to expand the detailed settings.

Step 2. Switch to the Local Resources tab, confirm whether the Clipboard below is checked, if not, please check it.

Method 2. Restart the RDP clipboard monitoring program process

In some user feedback, restarting the RDP clipboard monitoring program process helps to solve the problem of copy and paste not working.

Step 1. Use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc key combination to open the Task Manager.

Step 2. Go into the Details tab and find the task named “rdpclip.exe”.

Step 3. Right-click the “rdpclip.exe” task and then click End task.

Step 4. Go to File and then click Run new task. A Create new task window will pop up. Type in “rdpclip.exe” in the box and then click OK to restart Remote Desktop Clipboard.   

Method 3. Disable the “Do not allow clipboard redirection” service

The so-called “clipboard redirection” means that the user can use the clipboard on the local computer while using the remote computer. After disabling the “Do not allow clipboard redirection” service, you can solve the problem that copy and paste do not work.

Step 1. Press Win + R to invoke the Run dialog box. Type in “gpedit.msc” and press OK. This will open up the Local Group Policy Editor window.

Step 2. Navigate here: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Device and Resource Redirection.

Step 3. Double click Device and Resource Redirection, you’ll see Do not allow Clipboard redirection and Do not allow drive redirection in the right pane. You need to change the state of the two settings separately.

Step 4. Change the state of Do not allow Clipboard redirection. Right-click it, and click Edit. Then change the state of it from Not configured or Enable to Disable. Click OK to save the change.

Step 5. Repeat the same step to Do not allow drive redirection.

Conclusion

Can I transfer files using Remote Desktop Connection? From this post, you can find the explicit answer to the question. And you also get 3 effective and easy solutions when you can’t transfer files using Remote Desktop Connection. 

Ast the end, we would also like to introduce a great RDC alternative to you. It is AnyViewer. As an RDC alternative, it has the following advantages over RDC:

• RDC requires an IP address or computer name to achieve remote connection, while AnyViewer doesn’t.
• RDC requires the two devices to be under the same network, while AnyViewer doesn’t.
• RDC can’t be used to connect to Windows 10 Home edition (some other editions as well), while AnyViewer supports any devices running iOS 10.0 or later and multiple Windows versions on PCs.

Therefore, if you would like to try a free and easy remote desktop tool, you can give AnyViewer a try.