How do I connect to the Virtual Computer Lab using a mobile device?

Install the IOS/Android remote desktop client and connect to a Virtual Desktop
 

iOS

Install the iOS client

1. Navigate to the app store; using the following link, for example (https://aka.ms/rdios) and search for, and install, the "Microsoft Remote Desktop" app.
 
 
safari app store screen for downloading microsoft remote desktop
 
2.  Click on "open" from the app store or locate and click on the newly added icon to Launch the Windows Desktop app.  A second screen should pop up informing you of the need to grant additional permissions for the application (Bluetooth, Camera, and Microphone).  Click on "Continue".  On the three following screens, click OK to grant the applications permission to use your Bluetooth, Camera, and Microphone respectively.
 
Safari microsoft remote desktop screen highlighting open button

app screen requesting access to bluetooth, microphone and camera -- click button continue

After selecting continue for permissions, screen to confirm bluetooth permissions with "don't allow" or OK buttons

 app screen asking for confirmation to access camera with don't allow or OK buttons

screen asking to confirm access to microphone with don't allow or OK buttons

4. Once the app has the needed permissions and runs, click the Plus symbol ("+") to subscribe to a new feed.

screen with the plus icon in the top left corner

5.  Click on "Add Workspace"

screen with 3 buttons: add PC, Add Workspace,Cancel

6. Enter https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com and click "Next"

Add Workspace screen with field to add the URL in step 6

7.  A screen similar to the one you see when you log into O365 should next be dispolayed.  Enter your UIC email address and click "Next"

Microsoft sign in screen with email field

8.  You should be redirected to our UIC branded sign in page, Again, enter your password and then click "Sign in". 

NOTE:  Your email address should already be on the appropriate line.  If it's not, enter it there,

U I C sign in page with fields for email and password

 
 
9.  Select the icon for the desktop you'd like to connect to.  For example, if you need to connect to the "Virtual Lab", click on the icon labeled "Virtual Lab".
 
Workspaces screen showing 2 labeled icon options

10.  You should see a pop-up prompting you to "Enter your user account" to log into one of the resouces you selected above. Enter your NetID and Technology Solutions common password.

screen to enter netid and password

 

Closing Connections

1. The Remote Desktop app icon should appear in the middle of the three icons at the top of the screen. Click on that button to launch the app.

 

Screen showing three icons in the middle at the top edge of the screen. The remote desktop button is in the middle

2.  Click the "X" for the desktop you'd like to close or "Disconnect all PCs" in the bottom right.

screen showing the X icon to click

NOTE: You can also simply log off from the desktop you're connected to by clicking on the windows icon and selecting "Sign out" similar to the way you'd sign out of your local machine.

example screen showing how to log off from the desktop you're connected to

NOTE: You can change the way the computer responds to input by clicking the middle button at the top then selecting the hand symbol or mouse symbol in the top left corner. Touch mode will use your touch as the mouse left-click and mouse mode will let you move the move around the screen with your finger.

example screen for selecting touch mode or mouse mode

 

Note: If you have the Microsoft Authenticator app installed, you will be redirected to that application for logging in with your Microsoft account.

Connect with the Android client

Applies to: Android 4.1 and later, Chromebooks with ChromeOS 53 and later.

Note: The ability to access Windows Virtual Desktop resources from the Android client is currently available in preview.

You can access Windows Virtual Desktop resources from your Android device with our downloadable client. You can also use the Android client on Chromebook devices that

Install the Android client

 

1. To get started, download and install the client on your Android device using the previous link from your phone or open the "Play Store: and search for "Microsoft Remote Desktop" and click "Install"

example screen for android app

NOTE:  You're going to need the official Microsoft Remote Desktop client

2.  Once it is installed, Launch the client by either clicking on the newly added icon or selecting open when viewing the app from the play store.

3. In the Connection Center, tap +, and then tap the Remote Resource Feed button the pops up after pressing the plus sign in the upper-right hand corner,

Screen view showing where to click the plus then remote resource feed

4. Enter https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com/api/arm/feeddiscovery in the feed UR field that should be displayed.

NOTE:  The URL pictured below is slightly different.  Please use the URL above.

showing field for remote resource feed URL

 
5. A Microsoft sign in screen should be displayed.  Enter your email address
microsoft sign in screen where you enter U I C email
NOTE:  You will be redirected to the UIC login page.
6.  Enter your netID and Technology Solutions common password at the UIC login page.
organizational account sigh in page with fields for email and password
7.  Once connected, Select your virtual resource to open up a remote session to that resource.  For example, click on "Virtual Lab" to connect to a virtual lab machine.
 
example windows virtual desktop  screen
 
 
8.  A screen informing you to only connect to remote PCs that you trust should appear. Click "Connect" to connect to your resource.
screen to confirm letting the remote PC access the resource

9. A screen asking for additional permissions should appear the first time you run the app (photos, media, files). Click "Allow" to grant the app the required permissions.

screen asking to access photos, media and files

10.  You will again be prompted to enter your logon information to login to the actual resource. Enter your netID and Technology Solutions common password or the password that you would use to connect to this resource and click on "connect".

Logon screen

 

How to logoff

1.  Once logged in, Click on the icon with the three horizontal lines highlighted in the picture (read as "“open side drawer button”).

screen highlighting the button with 3 horizontal lines read as “open side drawer button”

2.  Icons representing the resources you're currently connected to should appear. Click on the "X" next to the name of the resource you would like to disconnect from

screen showing an example resource with an x button to disconnect

 

NOTE: Alternatively, you can sign off through the OS to disconnect by clicking on the windows icon and selecting "sign out" just like you would when signing out of a physical device.

screen showing the menu option to select to sign out

 

NOTE:  Instead of using a cursor to interact with the OS, you can click the touch icon to "touch" things on the desktop you'd like to interact with. 

screen highlighting location of the touch button