Remote Desktop #

Use Remote Desktop to see and operate a registered Windows, macOS or Linux computer from your browser. It is useful when supporting a kiosk, an operator workstation or an engineering computer running an existing graphical application.

Remote Desktop computers have their own inventory, separate from managed Linux devices. Registering a computer here does not enrol it into a Device Class or consume the managed-device allowance. Check current plans for Remote Desktop allowances.

Install and register a computer #

Sign in to the correct organisation and open Remote Desktop.
Choose Add a computer, then select Windows, macOS or Linux for the computer you want to support.
Copy the generated Install and register commands and run them on that computer with the required installation privileges. Use the commands from your own organisation's dialog.
Complete host operating-system permissions and start the installed service.
Wait for the computer to appear in Remote Desktop, then confirm its hostname, platform and online status before connecting.

The install dialog prepares a registration token. Treat the generated command as a credential: run it only on the intended computer, and keep it out of chat, screenshots and tickets. If token preparation fails, ask an administrator with organisation API-key management access to complete registration.

The Linux installer shown by the app selects an AMD64 or ARM64 Debian package according to the host. Windows uses its installer and macOS uses the supplied Homebrew commands. On macOS, grant the operating-system permissions requested for screen capture and remote input. The app identifies a missing Accessibility permission when it prevents control.

On the registered computer, check:

dataplicity-rd doctor --strict

Confirm registration and service health before investigating a browser session problem.

Choose who may connect #

Use organisation accounts and device-access tags to limit the computers each person or group can see and connect to. A hostname, display name or shared page link is not an access grant.

Computer tags can affect who sees the computer, so changing them requires organisation administrator authority or the Remote Desktop Admin role. Renaming a computer is a separate permission. Generated tags, such as operating-system or location information, update automatically.

After changing access, verify the result with the intended support account. A person who should not have access must not gain it merely because a computer is online.

Open and finish a session #

Select the computer from the list. Use the search and tag filters to find the intended host.
Check the host details and online state, then choose Connect.
Wait for a desktop frame before entering input. Select a screen when the host offers more than one.
Use the session's Send keys menu for available operating-system shortcuts, or Send text for text that is difficult to enter through local key events.
Choose Disconnect when the support work is complete, and verify the application outcome with the person or equipment being supported.

Desktop streaming starts on demand while a viewer is connected. Input and multi-monitor behaviour depend on the host and client release and their operating-system permissions. When viewing a computer from a browser on that same computer, remote control is disabled to avoid recursive input; connect from another computer to control it.

Remote input can affect the running application. Coordinate with the local operator and retain the equipment's local safeguards and authorisation procedures.

Diagnose a failed connection #

Symptom	Check
The computer is missing	Correct organisation, registration, access tags and whether the computer was deleted
Computer is offline	Host power, outbound network access and installed service health
Online but unable to connect	Run `dataplicity-rd doctor --strict`; confirm the host service and Dataplicity forwarding path are available
Picture appears but input does not work	Required host permissions, including macOS Accessibility, and whether you are viewing the computer from itself
Session is interrupted	Restore host connectivity and inspect the session's reconnect state before resuming input

Deleting a computer removes its organisation registration; register it again to reconnect. For a temporary interruption, diagnose the service and network first.

Choose the right remote-access workflow #

Job	Guide
Operate a registered Windows, macOS or Linux desktop in the browser	Remote Desktop, on this page
Use a local SSH or VNC client against a managed Linux device	Dataplicity Connector
Expose a browser desktop service you maintain on a Linux device	Desktop through Wormhole
Share a named local TCP service between CLI machines	Development tunnels

For help investigating a failed setup, share the error and redacted diagnostic findings in a support conversation.