Drag and drop through Remote Desktop Connection

I use remote desktop on a daily basis and I find that I often need to quickly transfer files between my physical PC and the RDP, or even between different multiple remote sessions. I have network sharing enabled and I understand that it's not exactly slow transferring files by that means, but I'm looking for a way around that.

I'm also aware that there is a copy/paste option available if you enable local resource access to your disk drives.

What I'm looking for is a direct, drag and drop. I heard that Microsoft was planning on enabling this feature with their new version of Windows Server however I'm having trouble finding any documentation.

I run a dual monitor setup so this would be very helpful!

My operating systems are:
Windows 7
Windows Server 2008

grooveDexter

Posted 2010-01-09T21:21:43.860

Reputation: 493

Answers

An RDP session is not a valid Drag source in Windows (yet?), so copy and paste is the fastest way.

I usually hit ctrl-c and ctrl-v for copy and paste anyway, as personally I find it quicker than drag and drop, plus you don't get stuck waiting for imaginary transfers like when you copy something and then hit right-click to try and paste it between sessions.

Copying and pasting in and out of RDP is slower (transfer time-wise) than copying via a (VPN) share or FTP or HTTP, so I'll usually use one of those for large files, which keeps my cut & paste available for other tasks while it's copying.

Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007

Posted 2010-01-09T21:21:43.860

Reputation: 103 763

1Daaaaamn son you're telling me I could have been copy and pasting this entire time? Sheeeeiiiittt. – Robeezy – 2015-07-23T16:25:43.930

Sayig it's not possible isn't an answer without some proof. And the rest of your post was just re-stating my question? I appreciate the effort but I'm not sure why someone would give this response a point up. – grooveDexter – 2010-01-10T12:38:29.280

I'm not sure what 'proof' you'd like, but here's a message from Lionel Chen (MSFT, MS TechNet forums Moderator, Date Oct. 2009): "Drag-and-drop feature is not supported in Windows Server 2008-based Terminal Server, which is a by-design behavior hard-coded in the current version of the Remote Desktop Protocol." Aside from that, drag-n-drop is partly supported in Windows 2008 TS with RemoteApp, but it's only 'between monitors' and not Remote-to-local: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753844(WS.10).aspx - Otherwise, as far as I know, you're stuck with alternatives suggested. Sorry :(

– Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2010-01-12T16:51:35.993

Thanks Techie!, that is exactly what I was looking for. Now I'll stop trying to do it until they release an update. We'll have to edit this answer if that ever happens.. (sigh) – grooveDexter – 2010-01-13T09:38:42.893

No problem, wish I had better news. :) – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2010-01-13T15:15:20.990

Another option is VNC, including TightVNC, which is free, allows you to log into the desktop like RDP, and includes a file transfer button.

CICorp

Posted 2010-01-09T21:21:43.860

Reputation: 11

A way to drag and drop local files to a remote server can be done as such:

Have the remote server host its file explorer as a remote app.
Share your local drive and map it on the remote server.
Open the remote file explorer and navigate to your mapped local drive.
Open the remote file explorer a second time and navigate to the remote server folder you need.

Now you have two normal looking file explorers that can successfully drag and drop between each other without eating up the amount of screen space that an entire remote desktop session would take up.

I have successfully tested this with Windows File Explorer hosted on Windows Server 2012 R2 using built-in remote desktop services. I have also successfully tested this between Windows File Explorer and a third party remote app both hosted on the same aforementioned system.

FYI: I tested drag and drop between direct local file explorer and remote server file explorer as remote app with the aforementioned system... still doesn't work.

AJK

Posted 2010-01-09T21:21:43.860

Reputation: 29