rdesktop vs Microsoft Remote Desktop: is it a good Linux alternative?

rdesktop as a Linux alternative to Microsoft Remote Desktop

Updated October 27, 2026

Our verdict

rdesktop is a functional, lightweight replacement for Microsoft Remote Desktop, best suited for users who prefer command-line tools or need to script connections. It handles core RDP tasks like displaying the remote desktop, sharing the clipboard, and forwarding audio. However, it lacks a graphical interface, which makes managing multiple simultaneous sessions or handling complex authentication settings more cumbersome than the Windows client. If you rely heavily on GUI-based session management or advanced file transfer features, you might find rdesktop limiting. For basic remote access to Windows machines from Linux, it works well, but consider FreeRDP if you need a more modern, GUI-friendly experience.

Feature parity75%

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Latest version: 1.9.1
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Install rdesktop

What works the same

Connects to Windows machines via the RDP protocol
Displays the remote Windows desktop on the local Linux screen
Supports keyboard and mouse input integration
Allows clipboard sharing between local and remote systems

What is different

Command-line interface only, no graphical user interface for managing sessions
Limited support for modern RDP features compared to the native Microsoft client
No built-in file transfer manager; relies on standard RDP drive mapping or separate tools
Authentication setup is manual and less intuitive than the Windows client's credential storage

Opening your Microsoft Remote Desktop files

rdesktop does not natively open .rdp connection files created by Microsoft Remote Desktop. You must manually translate the settings from the .rdp file into command-line arguments. While some community scripts exist to parse these files, there is no official support, so you will need to extract parameters like IP address, port, username, and encryption settings manually to build your rdesktop command.

Switching from Microsoft Remote Desktop to rdesktop, step by step

Install rdesktop via your distribution's package manager
Extract connection details (IP, port, username) from your existing .rdp file
Construct the rdesktop command with appropriate flags for resolution and clipboard
Test the connection to ensure authentication and display work correctly
Create a shell script or desktop entry to simplify launching the session

Key features of rdesktop

Command‑line interface with extensive options
Supports RDP 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0 protocols
Multiple monitor support
Clipboard sharing (copy/paste)
Local port forwarding
Keyboard mapping customization
Audio redirection
Print‑to‑file support

How to install rdesktop on Linux

Ubuntu / Mintsudo apt install rdesktop

Debiansudo apt install rdesktop

Fedorasudo dnf install rdesktop

Arch / Manjarosudo pacman -S rdesktop

openSUSEsudo zypper install rdesktop

Frequently asked questions

Can rdesktop handle Kerberos authentication?

Yes, rdesktop supports Kerberos authentication, but you may need to configure your local system's Kerberos settings and pass the correct flags to the rdesktop command to ensure it works seamlessly with your domain environment.

Is there a GUI version of rdesktop?

No, rdesktop is strictly a command-line tool. If you need a graphical interface for managing RDP connections on Linux, consider using FreeRDP's xfreerdp client or Remmina instead.

Does rdesktop support multiple monitors?

Yes, rdesktop supports multiple monitor setups. You can specify the resolution and layout for each monitor using command-line arguments, allowing you to extend the remote desktop across your local displays.

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Is it a good replacement for Microsoft Remote Desktop? 7