Install Remote Desktop local viewer app (macOS)
Overview
The Remote Desktop feature in PDQ Connect is accessible in the Remote desktop tab on the Device details page for any managed device. The Remote Desktop feature relies on two components: the remote desktop agent, which must be installed on each managed endpoint you wish to remotely connect to, and a local viewer app which must be installed on the administrator's computer. When you launch a remote desktop session from PDQ Connect in your browser, the session will be opened using the local viewer app.
This article explains how to install the local viewer app if you are on a computer running macOS. Instructions for a computer running Windows, along with a detailed walkthrough of the remote desktop functionality, can be found in the main Remote Desktop article.
Install local viewer app
This section presumes that you have installed the remote desktop agent onto an endpoint, and have received a message indicating Agent installed successfully.
To proceed, click the Continue button to proceed to Step 2, and then click Download local viewer to download and install the Connect viewer application onto your computer.
There are two different versions of the PDQ RD Viewer application available for macOS - one for Apple Silicon/macarm64, and the other for Intel processors.
The same link can be used to install either version - the correct installer will automatically be selected and installed:
PDQ Connect RD Viewer (macOS - either processor)
If you would like to directly download the Apple Silicon/macarm64 version of the PDQ RD Viewer application, you may use this link:
PDQ Connect RD Viewer (Apple Silicon/macarm64)
The PDQ Connect RD Agent installer is organization-specific and must be installed directly from the PDQ platform.
The PDQ RD Viewer is not organization-specific and may either be installed from the PDQ platform, or manually using the links above.
After the download completes, open Finder and browse to Downloads.
Locate the file PDQ RD Viewer.dmg, and double-click to mount it. The mounted disk image file will open, displaying its contents.
Inside the mounted .dmg file, double-click the PDQ RD Viewer file. You will be asked to confirm you wish to open the app.
Click Open to proceed. The installer (a bootstrapper) will download additional files.
The installer (ISLLightInstall) will run, and may prompt you to enter your credentials to confirm you wish to install the application. If you receive this prompt, enter your credentials and click OK.
You can confirm that the installation completed successfully by checking the Applications directory in Finder and browsing to the PDQ folder.
Back in Connect, on the Device details tab, you can click Start remote session.
Depending on your browser security settings, you may receive a pop-up asking if you want to open the link in the PDQ RD Viewer Program. The exact appearance and wording of this warning may vary by browser, but click to continue. The PDQ RD Viewer will launch and connect automatically.
