When I need to reach a Mac from a Windows PC, the usual advice is to install a VNC server on the Mac and a separate client on Windows. That works, but it is one more program to install and explain.
Windows already ships with a remote desktop client, mstsc.exe. It speaks RDP, and macOS has no RDP server. So I built one: RDPyon is a Mac app that accepts RDP connections, so you can use mstsc and install nothing on Windows.
What you need
- A Mac on macOS 12.3 (Monterey) or later, Apple Silicon or Intel.
- You are logged in on the Mac. You sign in with the Mac owner's short account name and its password.
- A network path between the two machines: same network, or a VPN.
- An RDPyon license key, or the 14-day free trial (no card required).
Steps
1. Install RDPyon on the Mac. Open the .dmg, drag RDPyon into Applications, and open it.
2. Allow the permissions. Allow what the app asks for on first launch (Screen Recording, Accessibility) in System Settings under Privacy & Security, then restart the app.
3. Find the Mac's address. Click the RDPyon menu bar icon. It shows "Local IP" and "Port". The default port is 3389; "Change Server Port" accepts 1024 to 65535.
4. Open Remote Desktop Connection. Press Windows key + R and run:
mstsc /v:MacAddress:Port /prompt
5. Sign in with your Mac account. Choose "More choices" or "Use a different account", then enter the short account name and your Mac login password. An empty password is rejected.
6. Check the connection. When the Mac screen appears in the window, you are in. A connection bar shows at the top of the Mac screen.
What works
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Client | The built-in Windows Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc.exe). Nothing to install on Windows. |
| Supported Macs | macOS 12.3 or later. Both Apple Silicon and Intel. |
| Sign-in | Your Mac account's short name and password. The connection uses TLS. |
| Screen size | The Mac screen is sent at the size of the Remote Desktop window. How well a window resize is followed can vary by client version and settings. |
| Clipboard | Copy and paste text and images between the Mac and Windows. |
| Sound | Sends the Mac's sound to Windows. Needs macOS 13 or later. Turn on "Forward Mac Audio" in the menu; it is off by default. |
| Shortcuts | Windows Ctrl is sent as Mac Cmd, and the Windows key as Mac Ctrl. Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V work as you expect. |
| Port | Default 3389. You can change it to any value from 1024 to 65535. |
| Choosing a display | If your Mac has several displays, pick the one to send with "Select Monitor" in the menu. |
What does not work
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| NLA (Network Level Authentication) | Not provided. The Mac account is checked over a TLS connection. |
| Server-side sign-in screen | None. You enter your credentials in the Remote Desktop Connection window. |
| Simultaneous connections | One session at a time. |
| Multiple displays | One display is sent at a time. |
| Failed sign-ins | After 5 failed attempts in a row from the same IP address, connections are blocked for 30 seconds. The block gets longer with each further failure. |
| Korean/English key and Hanja key | The Korean/English key switches the Mac input source, and the Hanja key is sent as Option+Return. A keyboard that uses Right Alt as the Korean/English key cannot be told apart from Option. mstsc may also capture the Windows key, Ctrl, or CapsLock first, so behavior can differ by setup. |
| Locking local input while connected | Not available yet (the menu item is marked "coming soon"). |
| Mac screen lock | If the screen is locked, connecting may fail, so unlock the Mac first. If the screen locks during a session, the connection ends by default ("Disconnect when screen locks" is on). |
| Copying and pasting files | Not guaranteed yet. |
| Mac App Store | RDPyon is not distributed through the App Store. You download and install it directly. |
Compatibility checklist
Mac
- [ ] macOS 12.3 or later.
- [ ] You are logged in on the Mac.
- [ ] Screen Recording and Accessibility are allowed, and the app was restarted afterwards.
- [ ] The Mac screen is unlocked (connecting to a locked Mac may fail, and the session ends on lock by default).
- [ ] For sound: macOS 13 or later, with "Forward Mac Audio" on.
Network and port
- [ ] Both machines are on the same network, or on a VPN.
- [ ] You use the Local IP and Port shown in the RDPyon menu.
- [ ] The port in your
mstsccommand matches the menu (default 3389, custom 1024 to 65535).
Windows and mstsc
- [ ] You use the built-in
mstsc.exe. - [ ] An
.rdpfile does not containenablecredsspsupport:i:0. On Windows 10 that line stops mstsc from asking for TLS and the connection is blocked. - [ ] You entered the short account name, not the full name, and a non-empty password.
- [ ] You have not failed 5 sign-ins in a row from the same IP. If so, wait 30 seconds.
Expectations
- [ ] You need one session and one display.
- [ ] You do not rely on file copy and paste.
Gaps you find are welcome in the comments.
RDPyon costs $19 one-time (up to 2 Macs, 1 year of updates, 30-day refund), and the 14-day trial starts without a card. The full guide, with the same tables, is here: Windows to Mac remote desktop guide
Drafted with AI assistance and checked against the product guide.
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