iOS RDP Client app Bluetooth mouse movement issue (can't move remote cursor)

Mark Toboll 21

I have been using the official MS RDP client app on iPad/iPhone for some time, but recently decided to try it with a Bluetooth mouse, instead of using fingers on touchscreen. Also using a Bluetooth keyboard.

I've got most current app (10.3.6) and running current iOS (15.4)

I have no issues connecting the mouse to iOS device, and mouse works great in iOS. But when in an RDP session to a Win10 machine, the local iOS mouse movement, does not "pass to" the Win10 machine, I see the remote Win10 arrow cursor in the middle of the screen, and I see the local iOS mouse dot cursor, which I can move fine.

I can left/right click, and scroll on the mouse, and see that those actions pass to the remote Win10 machine, but I just cannot get it to move the cursor on the remote machine. (I can move Win10 cursor fine with finger on touchscreen)

I've searched, and only thing I find is a thread from 2020 here that is describing the exact issue I have:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/54687/ios-rdc-not-recognising-mouse-pointer-is-not-movin.html

I've checked out everything mentioned in this 2020 thread. Unfortunately, no resolution or indication if the user ever got this working was ever posted- it just died.

The mouse is seen by and connected to the iOS device.
It kinda works with all other actions to remote machine (left/right click, scroll)
Bluetooth access IS enabled in the RDP app settings.

The part where it says in the App to go Settings>Input Devices, it just sits and spins and never shows ANY device, mouse or keyboard. Nothing shows up there except spinning cursor goes on forever.

The Bluetooth keyboard works fine, the mouse is sending some input to remote device, even though the app's "Device List" is blank.

Everything is fine except for the stupid remote cursor won't move with the local mouse movement.

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I really want to stick with the RDP app, but if this doesn't work out, I'll need to move to some alternative app.

Thanks!

Mark Toboll 21 Reputation points

2022-03-29T18:02:07.287+00:00

Ok, I was playing with this more, and happened to discover that it IS possible to move the Remote Desktop cursor.

You need to simultaneously left AND right click and hold to “drag” the cursor. PLUS you need to place the iOS cursor directly over the remote cursor if you want it to synchronize.

If you don’t align them then they move together but you see 2 separate cursors which is super distracting. Also if the iOS cursor hits an edge boundary before the remote cursor gets to where you want it you are screwed and need to release, realign and start again.

Sooooo unintuitive! Sooooo stupid! Why do all other mouse actions behave as expected but just moving the cursor takes absolute nonsense to do it?

Given this super odd behavior and no setting options to change it, I’ll be ditching the RDP app. I’m sure there are better options, even if I need to pay for something.

This leaves a really bad taste in the mouth Microsoft!
JTT 0 Reputation points

2023-04-11T20:15:08.4166667+00:00

Yah the mouse is bad just plain period. It’s like there’s no filter on it so it just glides off and away from whatever link or button you were on and about to click on when you lift your thumb or finger to tap to do so. When you’re working on an iPhone or iPad that **** don’t fly ms! Guess I’m not using a external mouse either after reading this...
Vlado 0 Reputation points

2023-06-27T18:33:16.1666667+00:00
I had the same two Problems:

the cursor dont move like i move the mouse (the Mouse and RDP thinks that the Iphone is still upright), but i fixet this Problem --> you must unlock the "orientation Lock-Button"

i must push the hole time the left Button of the mouse to move the cursor in the RDP --> That Problem ist still not fixed.

I would be glad if someone could help with the second problem
Viktor Vasilev 0 Reputation points

2023-12-01T08:56:21.9066667+00:00

Is there any update on that? With the Iphone 15 pro, RD Client and Windows 365 it can be a great fit to use one device and still get a normal PC experience, but that mouse coursor usage is pretty annoying and a game stopper at the moment
Mark Toboll 21 Reputation points

2023-12-01T12:26:53.6833333+00:00

Sorry, nothing more on this from me... I gave up on this back when I last posted.

I really didn't need to RDP from my iPad, I just wanted to, but the mouse thing was a show-stopper for me. So, I uninstalled the iPad app and just continued doing all my RDP-ing from my Windows laptop.

Once in a while I still use this app on my iPhone if I want to do a quick check of something or reboot the remote machine, but when I do, I just stick to using the finger touch to control the mouse. That works fine for simple actions.

I honestly totally forgot about all of this, but really surprised to hear the problem is still currently there after this much time.
Kovacs, Karoly 0 Reputation points

2024-06-26T07:51:44.09+00:00

Does anyone know about an update for this issue? With iPhone 15 you can (more easily) mirror screen to USB C - HDMI and can use iPhone as Desktop computer. But with the mouse issue it is not really possible. Will be super to have a solution for this. Thanks in advance

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iOS RDP Client app Bluetooth mouse movement issue (can't move remote cursor)

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