Install the Remote Desktop client for Windows on a per-user basis with Intune or Configuration Manager

You can install the Remote Desktop client for Windows on either a per-system or per-user basis. Installing it on a per-system basis installs the client on the machines for all users by default, and administrators control updates. Per-user installation installs the application to a subfolder within the local AppData folder of each user's profile, enabling users to install updates without needing administrative rights.

When you install the client using msiexec.exe, per-system is the default method of client installation. You can use the parameters ALLUSERS=2 MSIINSTALLPERUSER=1 with msiexec to install the client per-user, however if you're deploying the client with Intune or Configuration Manager, using msiexec directly to install the client causes it to be installed per-system, regardless of the parameters used. Wrapping the msiexec command in a PowerShell script enables the client to be successfully installed per-user.

Prerequisites

In order to install the Remote Desktop client for Windows on a per-user basis with Intune or Configuration Manager, you need the following things:

• Download the latest version of the Remote Desktop client for Windows.

• Supported Windows devices managed by Microsoft Intune or Configuration Manager with permission to add applications.

• For Intune, you need a local Windows device to use the Microsoft Win32 Content Prep Tool.

Install the Remote Desktop client per-user using a PowerShell script

To install the client on a per-user basis using a PowerShell script, select the relevant tab for your scenario and follow the steps.

Intune

Here's how to install the client on a per-user basis using a PowerShell script with Intune as a Windows app (Win32).

1. Create a new folder on your local Windows device and add the Remote Desktop client .msi file you downloaded.

2. Within that folder, create a PowerShell script file called Install.ps1 and add the following content, replacing <RemoteDesktop> with the filename of the .msi file you downloaded:

   msiexec /i <RemoteDesktop>.msi /qn ALLUSERS=2 MSIINSTALLPERUSER=1
   

3. In the same folder, create a PowerShell script file called Uninstall.ps1 and add the following content:

   $productCode = (Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -eq 'Remote Desktop' -and $_.Vendor -eq 'Microsoft Corporation'}).IdentifyingNumber
   
   msiexec /x $productCode /qn
   

4. In the same folder, create a PowerShell script file called Detection.ps1 and add the following content:

   If (([string](Get-ChildItem Registry::HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall | Where-Object {$_.GetValue('DisplayName') -eq 'Remote Desktop'})) -and (Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -eq 'Remote Desktop' -and $_.Vendor -eq 'Microsoft Corporation'})) {
       Write-Host "Microsoft Remote Desktop client is installed"
       exit 0
   } else {
       Write-Host "Microsoft Remote Desktop client isn't installed"
       exit 1
   }
   

5. Follow the steps in Prepare Win32 app content for upload to package the contents of the folder into an .intunewin file.

6. Follow the steps in Add, assign, and monitor a Win32 app in Microsoft Intune to add the Remote Desktop client. Here's some of the information you need to specify during the process. You can leave the rest of the settings as default or update them as needed.

   Parameter	Value/Description
   Name	Enter Remote Desktop.
   Publisher	Enter Microsoft Corporation.
   Install command	powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -WindowStyle Hidden -File .\Install.ps1
   Uninstall command	powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -WindowStyle Hidden -File .\Uninstall.ps1
   Install behavior	Select User.
   Operating system architecture	Select 64-bit or 32-bit, depending on the version of the Remote Desktop client you downloaded.
   Minimum operating system	Select the minimum version of Windows in your environment and that is in support.
   Detection rules format	Select Use a custom detection script.
   Detection script file	Select the file Detection.ps1 you created earlier.

Configuration Manager

Here's how to install the client on a per-user basis using a PowerShell script with Configuration Manager as a Script Installer.

1. Create a new folder in your content location share for Configuration Manager and add the Remote Desktop client .msi file you downloaded.

2. Within that folder, create a PowerShell script file called Install.ps1 and add the following content, replacing <RemoteDesktop> with the filename of the .msi file you downloaded:

   msiexec /i <RemoteDesktop>.msi /qn ALLUSERS=2 MSIINSTALLPERUSER=1
   

3. In the same folder, create a PowerShell script file called Uninstall.ps1 and add the following content:

   $productCode = (Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -eq 'Remote Desktop' -and $_.Vendor -eq 'Microsoft Corporation'}).IdentifyingNumber
   
   msiexec /x $productCode /qn
   

4. In the same folder, create a PowerShell script file called Detection.ps1 and add the following content:

   If (([string](Get-ChildItem Registry::HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall | Where-Object {$_.GetValue('DisplayName') -eq 'Remote Desktop'})) -and (Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -eq 'Remote Desktop' -and $_.Vendor -eq 'Microsoft Corporation'})) {
       Write-Host "Microsoft Remote Desktop client is installed"
       exit 0
   } else {
       Write-Host "Microsoft Remote Desktop client isn't installed"
       exit 1
   }
   

5. Follow the steps in Create applications in Configuration Manager, selecting to manually specify application information to add the Remote Desktop client. Here's some of the information you need to specify during the process. You can leave the rest of the settings as default or update them as needed.

   Parameter	Value/Description
   Deployment type	Select Script Installer.
   Content location	Enter the UNC path to the new folder you created.
   Installation program	powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -WindowStyle Hidden -File .\Install.ps1
   Uninstall program	powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -WindowStyle Hidden -File .\Uninstall.ps1
   Detection method	Select Use a custom script to detect the presence of this deployment type.
   Detection script editor	Select PowerShell.
   Detection script file	Select the file Detection.ps1 you created earlier.
   Installation behavior	Select Install for user.

6. Follow the steps in Deploy applications with Configuration Manager to deploy the Remote Desktop client to your users.

Next steps

Learn more about the Remote Desktop client at Use features of the Remote Desktop client for Windows.