To control a Windows PC from a Mac for free, install Microsoft’s Windows App on the Mac and turn on Remote Desktop on a Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education PC. If your Windows PC runs Home, it cannot act as the host, so use a free tool such as Chrome Remote Desktop or the open-source RustDesk instead. Whichever you choose, do not accept connection requests from people you do not know, because remote access tools are a common route for scammers.
This guide explains what changed with Microsoft’s Mac app, how to set up each option, what each costs, and how to keep the connection safe.
What Happened to Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac
Older tutorials tell Mac users to download “Microsoft Remote Desktop” from the App Store. That app has been replaced. A Microsoft Learn Q and A thread answered by a moderator in September 2024 says the Remote Desktop listing in the Mac App Store was replaced, and that updating the old app switches it to the Windows App.
Microsoft’s current Windows App overview (published July 9, 2026 and updated July 21, 2026) lists support for Windows, macOS, iOS and iPadOS, Android and ChromeOS, web browsers, and Meta Quest. It says Remote PC connections work on macOS but not in web browsers, and that you do not need to sign in to use Remote PC. The page adds that personal Microsoft accounts are not supported for Azure Virtual Desktop and the other sign-in services.
One separate item can cause confusion. Microsoft retired a different app, the Remote Desktop app for Windows 10 and 11, on May 27, 2025. The classic Remote Desktop Connection tool, mstsc, remains. That is a Windows-side matter and does not affect Mac clients.
Check Your Windows Edition First
Microsoft’s support page on using Remote Desktop states that the host PC must run Windows Pro, and that Home cannot host. Microsoft Learn’s page on allowing access to your PC lists Windows Professional, Enterprise, and Education, plus Server, as supported hosts. Home can only be a client.
To check your edition, open Settings, then System, then About on the Windows PC. If it says Home, skip to the alternatives below. Upgrading to Pro is a paid option, but free tools can solve the problem without it.
Method 1: Windows App (Free, Official)
Step 1: Turn On Remote Desktop on the Windows PC
Microsoft Learn gives the path for Windows 11: Settings, then System, then Remote Desktop, switch on Enable Remote Desktop, and confirm. Note the PC name shown on the page. Administrators can always connect, and other accounts must be added under Remote Desktop users.
Step 2: Keep Network Level Authentication On
Microsoft Learn explains that Network Level Authentication requires authentication before a session is established, and recommends keeping it on. This reduces exposure to unauthenticated connection attempts.
Step 3: Install Windows App on the Mac
Get Windows App from the Mac App Store. Microsoft’s page says to install it from the Microsoft Store or Apple App Store depending on your platform.
Step 4: Add the PC
Open Windows App, choose to add a PC, and enter the PC name or IP address and your Windows credentials. Microsoft says sign-in to the service is not required for Remote PC connections. Save the connection and double-click it to connect.
Step 5: Connect From Another Network Safely
Microsoft Learn advises enabling Remote Desktop only on trusted networks, using strong unique passwords, and using port forwarding or a VPN for access from outside the network. The page does not name a port number, and no Microsoft page reviewed for this article did. The safest reading of Microsoft’s guidance is to use a VPN to reach your home or office network, and not to expose the PC directly to the internet.
Method 2: Chrome Remote Desktop (Free, Works With Windows Home)
Google’s help page explains that you set up access at remotedesktop.google.com/access on a Mac, Windows PC, or Linux machine, then connect using a PIN. Google says sessions are fully encrypted. The service needs Chrome on the machines involved, plus TCP ports 443 and 3478 and some UDP traffic allowed on the network.
Because it does not rely on Windows Remote Desktop, it works on Windows Home. The trade-off is that you depend on Google’s service and a Chrome installation on the host.
Google also offers support codes that give someone “full access” to your computer and require you to reconfirm every 30 minutes. Only share a code with someone you trust.
Method 3: RustDesk (Free, Open Source, Self-Hostable)
GitHub lists RustDesk under the AGPL-3.0 license, with about 125,000 stars and 19,400 forks as of October 17, 2026. RustDesk’s site says you can self-host the server using Docker with the open-source server, or buy the Pro server. If you use the public servers, controllers must sign in through Google or GitHub.
Safety Warnings From RustDesk Itself
RustDesk’s own post on remote access scams (published July 6, 2026 and updated October 14, 2026) says the app is legitimate but abused in scams, and that it is “not scam-proof.” It says RustDesk was removed from Google Play on September 3, 2023 and is not currently there, so Android users should use GitHub Releases or F-Droid. The safeguards it lists include setting a permanent password, turning on TOTP two-factor authentication, and using an IP allowlist or an ID allowlist (available from version 1.5.0).
A February 2026 report from Born City, a German-language site, says a botnet repeatedly knocked RustDesk’s public servers offline. The maintainer put the number at about 2.06 million IP addresses. The botnet sent connection requests, and clicking Accept would give attackers access. The lesson is practical: never click Accept on a request you did not start.
Download Only From Official Sources
Scammers copy remote access tools. Get RustDesk from its GitHub releases or the official site. This article did not confirm a list of fake domains, so verify any link you are given.
Other Free Options and Their Catches
TeamViewer
TeamViewer says its free plan is designed for personal use only. Its support page states that sessions are capped at 48 hours and that an algorithm flags suspected commercial use, such as repeated sessions, multiple computers, or corporate networks. A wrongly flagged user can contact support. The page mentions up to three devices for free. Using it for work can trigger a block.
AnyDesk
AnyDesk’s pricing page says only that it is free for personal use with a limited set of features and support. The details of the free tier were not verifiable, so check its site before relying on it.
Parsec
Parsec’s help center says Mac hosting requires macOS 10.15 or later and Metal. The free tier and the Windows requirements were not verified for this article.
Which Method Should You Pick?
You Have Windows Pro and Want the Simplest Path
Use Windows App with Remote Desktop enabled. It is official, free, and built for this.
You Have Windows Home
Use Chrome Remote Desktop for the least effort, or RustDesk if you want open-source software or a self-hosted server.
You Need to Reach the PC From Outside Your Network
Use a VPN to your network with Windows App, or a service built for internet access such as Chrome Remote Desktop or RustDesk with a permanent password and two-factor authentication turned on.
You Are Helping a Relative
Use a support code or an on-demand session, and end the session when you finish. Remove the software afterward if you will not need it again.
Security Checklist
Keep Windows updated. Use a strong, unique password on the Windows account. Keep Network Level Authentication on. Do not expose the PC to the internet without a VPN or a service with its own authentication. Turn on two-factor authentication wherever the tool offers it. Never accept an unexpected connection request. Download remote access software only from official sources. Disable Remote Desktop on the Windows PC when you do not need it.
Troubleshooting
If Windows App cannot find the PC, confirm that Remote Desktop is enabled and that you used the correct name or IP. If the login fails, check that the account is an administrator or has been added to Remote Desktop users. If you are outside the network and cannot connect, a VPN is the recommended route in Microsoft’s guidance, since the PC will not be reachable directly. If Chrome Remote Desktop fails, check that the required ports are open on the network.
Setting a Strong Password and Keeping the PC Awake
Remote access only works when the target PC is on and reachable. Microsoft’s guidance in the sources reviewed covers accounts, passwords, and network trust, but does not discuss sleep settings, so check your PC’s power options yourself if connections fail when the machine is idle. The account you connect with needs a strong, unique password, because Microsoft’s own advice is to use one. Avoid reusing the password from any other service, and consider a password manager so you do not have to remember it.
Choosing Between a Local and an Internet Connection
There are two different jobs hiding in the phrase “remote desktop.” One is reaching a PC on the same home or office network, where Windows App and a PC name are enough. The other is reaching it from anywhere, which adds risk because the PC must be reachable over the internet or through a VPN. Microsoft’s guidance in the sources reviewed prefers a VPN or port forwarding with care. Services such as Chrome Remote Desktop and RustDesk handle the second job through their own servers, trading some control for convenience. Decide which job you actually have before you choose a tool, since most home users only need the first.
When Something Goes Wrong
If a connection drops, check the simple things first: both machines on, correct PC name, correct account. If the Mac asks for credentials repeatedly, confirm that the Windows account has a password and appears under Remote Desktop users or is an administrator, which are the access rules in Microsoft’s guidance. If Chrome Remote Desktop refuses to connect, confirm the host machine is online and that Chrome is running on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Microsoft Remote Desktop still available for Mac?
It has been replaced by the Windows App, according to Microsoft Learn. Updating the old app switches it to Windows App.
Can Windows 11 Home accept Remote Desktop connections?
No. Microsoft says Home can be a client only. Hosts must run Pro, Enterprise, Education, or Server.
Is RustDesk safe?
It is legitimate, open-source software, but RustDesk itself says it is abused in scams and is not scam-proof. Use a permanent password, enable two-factor authentication, and never accept requests you did not start.
What is the best free remote desktop for Mac to Windows?
For Windows Pro, the Windows App. For Windows Home, Chrome Remote Desktop or RustDesk.
Is TeamViewer free?
Its free plan is for personal use only, with a 48-hour session cap and a system that flags suspected commercial use.
References and Sources
Microsoft Learn, “Windows App overview”: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-app/overview
Microsoft Learn, “The Remote Desktop App seems to have been retired early on MacOS?”: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2077494/the-remote-desktop-app-seems-to-have-been-retired
Microsoft Support, “How to use Remote Desktop”: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-use-remote-desktop-5fe128d5-8fb1-7a23-3b8a-41e636865e8c
Microsoft Learn, “Allow access to your PC”: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/remotepc/remote-desktop-allow-access
Google Chrome Help, “Access a computer remotely”: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1649523
RustDesk, “RustDesk and remote access scams”: https://rustdesk.com/blog/rustdesk-and-remote-access-scams
GitHub, “rustdesk/rustdesk”: https://github.com/rustdesk/rustdesk
Born City, “RustDesk durch Botnet-Angriffe immer wieder offline”: https://borncity.com/blog/2026/02/06/rustdesk-durch-botnet-angriffe-immer-wieder-offline/
TeamViewer, “TeamViewer connection blocked after timeout”: https://www.teamviewer.com/en/insights/teamviewer-connection-blocked-after-timeout/
AnyDesk, “Pricing”: https://anydesk.com/en/pricing
Parsec Help Center, “Install Parsec App on macOS”: https://support.parsec.app/hc/en-us/articles/4423549357837
About The Author
