Remote desktop

Question

I installed the remote desktop on my iPad and when I try to sign in it buffers

Answer 1

Hi Kenneth Carter,

Just a quick follow-up to see if you managed to get past that endless buffering screen on your iPad. Did toggling the "Local Network" permission in the iOS settings do the trick, or did disabling Hardware Acceleration fix the hang?

If you are still stuck at the sign-in phase, just drop a quick comment and we can look into it further. I'm always happy to help!

Tracy.

Answer 2

Hi Kenneth Carter,

When the Remote Desktop app on an iPad endlessly "buffers" (spins) right at sign-in, it is rarely a Windows configuration issue. It is almost always an iOS-level privacy restriction or an app rendering hang.

Here are the two actual culprits and how to fix them immediately:

1. iOS Local Network Privacy (The most common cause)

Apple strictly blocks apps from communicating with local devices by default. If you are trying to connect to a PC on the same Wi-Fi, the app will buffer forever if it doesn't have this permission.

Open your iPad's main Settings app.

Scroll all the way down the left sidebar until you find the Windows App (or Remote Desktop app) and tap it.

Make sure the Local Network toggle is turned ON.

2. Disable Hardware Acceleration

If you are connecting from an outside network and it hangs during the "securing connection" or sign-in phase, the iPad's hardware decoder might be failing to process the RDP video stream.

Inside the Remote Desktop app on your iPad, go to Settings.

Find the display or session options and turn OFF "Use Hardware Acceleration".

Force close the app and try connecting again.

I hope this gets you past the buffering screen! If this resolves your issue, please click "Accept Answer".

Tracy Le.

Answer 3

Try these steps on the iPad and the PC being connected to:

1. Confirm the PC is reachable
   • Make sure the target PC is powered on, awake, and connected to the network.
   • Verify the PC is running a supported Windows version for Remote Desktop.
2. Use the correct PC name or IP
   • In Windows App on iPad, edit the connection and ensure PC Name is set to the correct hostname or IP address.
   • On many home networks, name resolution (DNS) does not work reliably, so use the PC’s local IP address instead of its name.
3. Ensure Remote Desktop is enabled on the PC
   • On the Windows PC, confirm Remote Desktop access is enabled as described in Enable remote desktop (Remote Desktop must be allowed for the user account being used).
4. Check network and external access
   • If the PC is on a different network (for example, trying to connect from outside home or office), make sure Remote Desktop is allowed through the router/firewall and configured for outside access. See Allow access to your PC from outside your network for required configuration.
5. Verify iPad app setup
   • Use Windows App or the Remote Desktop client for iOS/iPadOS as documented.
   • In Windows App on iPad: open the app → tap + → PC → enter PC name/IP → save → tap the PC under Devices to connect.
6. Check VPN or company access (if applicable)
   • If connecting to a company network, ensure any required VPN or Remote Desktop Gateway is connected and working before starting the Remote Desktop session.
   • If VPN is used, test that the VPN works by opening a company intranet page in Safari on the iPad.

If it still just buffers, test from another device (Windows or macOS) using the same PC name/IP and account. If other devices also cannot connect, focus on the PC’s Remote Desktop, firewall, and router configuration; if only the iPad fails, remove and re-add the connection in Windows App or try the other supported client (Remote Desktop client for iOS/iPadOS).

---

References:

• Frequently asked questions about the Remote Desktop clients
• Connect to Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server
• Quickstart: deploy a sample Azure Virtual Desktop environment
• Get started with Windows App to connect to devices and apps (remote-pc)