Customizing Windows 10 Remote Desktop Client

Customizing your Remote Desktop Client can improve your experience when accessing CI Virtual Labs. You can either watch our "self-paced video guide" or follow the steps below to customize your RDP client:

  • Accessing Local Files from your VDI session
  • Caching your Network Credentials
  • Changing Display Settings
  • Pining Network Drives
  • Use an External Mouse

Accessing Local Files

Folder redirection allows the virtual machine to interact with local files stored on our local PC.
 

  1. To start click the Start Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, input “Remote Desktop” into the search, then press Enter. This will launch the Microsoft Remote Desktop client.

 

  1. Launch the virtual machine by double-clicking on its icon, then sign in using your CSUCI credentials.
  1. Once you have connected to the virtual machine, press Windows Key + E to open File Explorer.
  1. Select “This PC” on the left side of the screen to display drives connected to the VDI. This will include network drives and your computer’s native drives. Your computer’s native drives, including connected USB drives, will be under the “Redirected drives and folders” section near the bottom of the File Explorer window.



     

Caching Network Credentials

Caching your Dolphin credentials can speed up launching your VDI session and eliminate having to login each time you access campus resources.
 

  1. To start click the Start Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, input “Remote Desktop” into the search, then press Enter. This will launch the Microsoft Remote Desktop client.


     
  2. Launch the virtual machine by double-clicking on its icon
  3. Check “Remember Me”, input your credentials, then click “OK”



     

Changing the VMs Display Settings

Changing the VM resolution can improve the desktop appearance. Be advised that your resolution size will depend on your computer graphics card and monitor. Check your hardware manufacturer for available resolutions.
 

  1. To start click the Start Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, input “Remote Desktop” into the search, then press Enter. This will launch the Microsoft Remote Desktop
    client.



     
  2. Right-click the virtual machine, then click “Settings”

     
  3. Disable the “Use default settings” option.


     
  4. If you are using multiple displays, click on the displays that you want to use the virtual computer in. This may be useful if you only want to use the virtual computer in a single monitor while running applications in your native Windows environment on the other monitor.

            
  1. If you do not want the virtual computer to start in a full screen, disable the “Start in full screen” option.

     
  2. To set a static resolution, you must have the option to use multiple displays disabled. Next, disable the “Update the resolution on resize”, then select your desired resolution in the “Resolution” dropdown menu. The resolution of the virtual computer will remain the same even if you resize the window.

     
  3. If you would like the virtual computer’s desktop to fill the entire Remote Desktop window, enable the “Fit session to window” option.
     
     

Pinning Network Drives

Pinning network drives within your Virtual Desktop session will speed up access to network file shares.
 

  1. After logging in to the virtual computer, open File Explorer (Windows Key + E)
     
  2. Pinning locations in the virtual computer uses the same process as pinning locations in Windows 10. Right click on the network drive that you want to pin. It can be pinned to the virtual computer’s Quick Access section in File Explorer or to the Start Menu.


     
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