Transfer Files with Remote Desktop on Windows

Understanding Remote Desktop File Transfers

When setting up a new Windows-Server, transferring files is often one of the first tasks administrators need to complete. In many situations, common transfer methods may not be ready yet.

Zum Beispiel:

• FTP may not be configured
• Plesk may not be installed
• Network sharing may not be enabled
• Firewall rules may still need adjustment
• Certain ports may be blocked by the network provider

In diesen Fällen, Remote Desktop Protocol can be used as a practical way to move files between a local Windows computer and a remote Windows server.

Remote Desktop allows drive redirection, which makes your local computer’s drives available inside the remote session. Einmal konfiguriert, files can be copied between the local machine and the server using standard Windows tools.

What Is Remote Desktop Protocol?

Remote Desktop Protocol, commonly known as RDP, is Microsoft’s remote access protocol for connecting to Windows computers and servers over a network.

RDP provides a graphical interface that allows users to control a remote Windows system as if they were working directly on it.

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With RDP, administrators can:

• Manage Windows servers
• Install software
• Configure services
• Review logs
• Transfer files
• Perform maintenance tasks

One important RDP feature is local resource redirection. This allows local drives, printers, clipboard content, and other resources to appear inside the remote desktop session.

Why Use RDP for File Transfers?

RDP file transfer is useful when other methods are unavailable or inconvenient.

Common scenarios include:

• Initial server setup
• Moving small configuration files
• Uploading installers
• Copying logs from the server
• Transferring scripts
• Downloading reports

For small files and occasional transfers, RDP is simple and efficient.

For large files or frequent transfers, dedicated tools such as SFTP, SMB, oder Cloud-Speicher may be more suitable.

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Opening Remote Desktop Connection

Remote Desktop Connection is included with Windows.

To open it:

1. Click the Start button.
2. Search for:

Remote Desktop Connection

3. Open the application.

You can also launch it from the Run dialog:

mstsc

Press Enter to start the Remote Desktop Connection tool.

Configuring Local Drive Redirection

Redirect only the drives needed for the task. The remote server can access the redirected files with your session permissions, so do not expose personal or sensitive drives to an untrusted host. Organization policies may disable redirection even when the client checkbox is selected.

Before connecting to the server, configure Remote Desktop to make your local drive available in the remote session.

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Schritt 1: Show Advanced Options

Open Remote Desktop Connection and click:

Show Options

Enter the server IP address or hostname in the Computer field.

Beispiel:

203.0.113.10

Schritt 2: Open Local Resources

Select the tab named:

Local Resources

This section controls which local devices and resources are available inside the remote session.

Schritt 3: Open More Options

Under Local devices and resources, klicken:

More

A list of redirectable resources will appear.

Schritt 4: Select Local Drives

Expand:

Drives

Select the checkbox next to the drive you want to redirect.

Häufige Beispiele sind::

Local Disk (C:)
Downloads drive
USB storage device
External hard drive

You may select multiple drives if required.

Klicken:

OK

to save the drive redirection settings.

Schritt 5: Connect to the Server

Return to the General tab and click:

Connect

Enter your Windows server credentials when prompted.

After login, the selected local drives will be available inside the remote Windows environment.

Saving the RDP Configuration

If you use the same connection frequently, save the settings as an RDP file.

Before connecting:

1. Open the General tab.
2. Confirm the server address.
3. Configure local resources.
4. Klicken:

Save As

This creates a reusable RDP profile that remembers the drive redirection configuration.

Accessing Local Files from the Server

After connecting to the Windows server:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Wählen:

This PC

3. Look for redirected drives.

The redirected local drive may appear with a label similar to:

C on LOCALCOMPUTER

The exact name depends on your local workstation hostname.

Double-click the redirected drive to access local files from within the remote server session.

Copying Files from Local PC to Remote Server

Once local drives are visible inside the remote session, copying files is straightforward.

Verfahren 1: Copy and Paste

From the remote session:

1. Open the redirected local drive.
2. Locate the file on your local computer.
3. Right-click the file and choose:

Copy

4. Navigate to the desired location on the remote server.
5. Right-click and choose:

Paste

The file will be transferred to the server.

Keyboard shortcuts also work:

CTRL + C
CTRL + V

Copying Files from Remote Server to Local PC

To download a file from the server:

1. Locate the file on the remote Windows server.
2. Right-click and select:

Copy

3. Open the redirected local drive.
4. Navigate to the target local folder.
5. Right-click and select:

Paste

The file will be copied from the server to your local computer.

Using File Explorer Tools

Windows File Explorer also provides Copy to and Move to options.

Schritt 1: Select the File

Click the file or folder you want to transfer.

Schritt 2: Open the Home Tab

Wählen:

Home

from the top toolbar.

Schritt 3: Choose Copy or Move

Klicken:

Copy to

oder

Move to

Schritt 4: Choose Destination

Select an existing location or click:

Choose location

Then select the redirected local drive or a server folder.

Understanding Copy vs Move

Copy

Copy creates a duplicate in the destination while keeping the original file in place.

Move

Move transfers the file to the destination and removes it from the original location.

For server administration tasks, Copy is usually safer because it preserves the original file.

Disconnecting from Remote Desktop

After completing your work, close the session properly.

There are two main options:

• Sign out
• Disconnect

Each behaves differently.

Sign Out Method

Signing out fully closes the Windows session and releases resources on the server.

To sign out:

1. Right-click the Start button or press:

Windows + X

2. Wählen:

Shut down or sign out

3. Klicken:

Sign out

Wait for transfers and interactive tasks to finish before signing out; sign-out closes applications in that session.

Disconnect Method

Disconnecting closes the RDP window but leaves the session active on the server.

To disconnect:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Click the Power icon.
3. Wählen:

Disconnect

Disconnect when you intentionally need the session to remain running, subject to server time-limit policies. Redirected-drive transfers may fail when the connection drops; verify completion first.

Leaving disconnected sessions open for long periods can consume server resources.

Troubleshooting RDP File Transfers

Local Drives Do Not Appear

Check that drive redirection is enabled under:

Local Resources → More → Drives

Reconnect after changing the setting.

Clipboard Copy and Paste Does Not Work

Reconnect the RDP session and verify that clipboard redirection is enabled.

You can also restart the clipboard process inside the remote session if needed.

File Transfer Is Slow

RDP is not ideal for large transfers.

For large files, halten:

• SFTP
• SMB file sharing
• Cloud-Speicher
• FTP over TLS

Access Denied Errors

Verify that your Windows user account has permission to access the destination folder.

Try copying the file to:

Desktop
Documents
Downloads

or another user-accessible folder.

Best Practices for RDP File Transfers

Use RDP for Small Transfers

RDP drive redirection is best for small files, scripts, installers, and configuration files.

Avoid Sensitive Files on Shared Machines

If using a shared workstation, be careful when redirecting local drives into a remote server session.

Sign Out When Finished

Signing out releases server resources and reduces the chance of session-related issues.

Use Secure Connections

RDP should be protected with:

• Strong passwords
• Network-level authentication
• Firewall restrictions
• VPN access when possible

Use Dedicated Transfer Tools for Large Files

For frequent or large data transfers, use purpose-built file transfer methods rather than RDP.

Managing Files Efficiently Through Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop file transfer is a convenient method for moving files between a local Windows computer and a remote Windows server when other file transfer services are not yet configured. By enabling local drive redirection before connecting, administrators can access workstation drives directly from the server and copy files using familiar Windows tools.

This method is especially useful during initial server setup, Fehlerbehebung, and small administrative file transfers. For larger or recurring transfers, dedicated file transfer protocols remain a better long-term option.