title | description | author | ms.service | ms.workload | ms.topic | ms.date | ms.author | ms.custom |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Connect to a Windows Server VM |
Learn how to connect and sign on to a Windows VM using the Azure portal and the Resource Manager deployment model. |
cynthn |
virtual-machines-windows |
infrastructure-services |
how-to |
11/26/2018 |
cynthn |
devx-track-azurepowershell |
You'll use the Connect button in the Azure portal to start a Remote Desktop (RDP) session from a Windows desktop. First you connect to the virtual machine, and then you sign on.
To connect to a Windows VM from a Mac, you will need to install an RDP client for Mac such as Microsoft Remote Desktop.
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Go to the Azure portal to connect to a VM. Search for and select Virtual machines.
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Select the virtual machine from the list.
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At the beginning of the virtual machine page, select Connect.
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On the Connect to virtual machine page, select RDP, and then select the appropriate IP address and Port number. In most cases, the default IP address and port should be used. Select Download RDP File. If the VM has a just-in-time policy set, you first need to select the Request access button to request access before you can download the RDP file. For more information about the just-in-time policy, see Manage virtual machine access using the just in time policy.
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Open the downloaded RDP file and select Connect when prompted. You will get a warning that the
.rdp
file is from an unknown publisher. This is expected. In the Remote Desktop Connection window, select Connect to continue. -
In the Windows Security window, select More choices and then Use a different account. Enter the credentials for an account on the virtual machine and then select OK.
Local account: This is usually the local account user name and password that you specified when you created the virtual machine. In this case, the domain is the name of the virtual machine and it is entered as vmname\username.
Domain joined VM: If the VM belongs to a domain, enter the user name in the format Domain\Username. The account also needs to either be in the Administrators group or have been granted remote access privileges to the VM.
Domain controller: If the VM is a domain controller, enter the user name and password of a domain administrator account for that domain.
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Select Yes to verify the identity of the virtual machine and finish logging on.
[!TIP] If the Connect button in the portal is grayed-out and you are not connected to Azure via an Express Route or Site-to-Site VPN connection, you will need to create and assign your VM a public IP address before you can use RDP. For more information, see Public IP addresses in Azure.
If you are using PowerShell and have the Azure PowerShell module installed you may also connect using the Get-AzRemoteDesktopFile
cmdlet, as shown below.
This example will immediately launch the RDP connection, taking you through similar prompts as above.
Get-AzRemoteDesktopFile -ResourceGroupName "RgName" -Name "VmName" -Launch
You may also save the RDP file for future use.
Get-AzRemoteDesktopFile -ResourceGroupName "RgName" -Name "VmName" -LocalPath "C:\Path\to\folder"
If you have difficulty connecting, see Troubleshoot Remote Desktop connections.