Problem with connecting to a remote PC using the Windows App for iPhone or iPad

Question

Problem with connecting to a remote PC using the Windows App for iPhone or iPad

Nadav Loutati 0

Hi

we are trying to connect to a terminal server on iPhone and iPads but no connection is established, the process is stuck on securing gateway and no notification is coming from the authenticator app.

on most devices, it did work on an older version (11.1.9) but on the new version it is not working (11.2)

iPhone and iPad version is iOS/ iPadOS 26 with the 11.2

thank you

Nadav Loutati

1 answer

Your answer

Answer 1

HarryPhan-2691 7,850 Independent Advisor

Hi Nadav,

The fact that it gets stuck on "securing gateway" and doesn't even trigger the Authenticator app is a big clue. This usually points to a handshake issue between the new Remote Desktop client (v11.2) and your gateway server.

A very common fix for this specific problem is to clear the app's cache. Could you try this on one of the iPhads?

Go to your device's Settings > General > iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage). Find the "Microsoft Remote Desktop" app in the list and tap on it. Then, select "Offload App" and confirm. After that, just tap "Reinstall App" to get it back. This clears the data without losing your saved PCs.

This often resolves these kind of update-related glitches. If that doesn't do the trick, the next step would be to check if your gateway server needs any specific TLS security settings updated.

Let me know if the offload trick works! If this answer helped, please mark it as "Accepted" 🙂

Nadav Loutati 0 Reputation points

2025-09-30T12:57:02.3166667+00:00

Hi and thank you for your answer
I followed your instructions, but unfortunately the problem remains.
HarryPhan-2691 7,850 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-09-30T16:03:40.6133333+00:00

Thanks for giving that a try. Sorry it's still being stubborn.

Since the offload trick didn't work, the issue is likely a bit more specific. The fact that it worked on v11.1.9 but broke on v11.2 is our biggest clue—it often points to a stricter security requirement in the new client that your gateway server isn't quite meeting.

Let's try two more things, focusing on the connection itself:

1. Double-Check the Gateway Address: This sounds simple, but it's a common oversight. Please verify the Gateway address you've entered in the app is exactly what your IT team provided, with no typos. Sometimes it needs the full URL, like gateway.yourcompany.com.

2. Test from a Different Network: To rule out a network-level block, try connecting from a completely different internet connection, like a phone's mobile hotspot. If it works there, the problem is likely a firewall or proxy setting on your office network that needs adjusting for the new app version.

If it still fails, the next step will involve your server team. The most probable cause is that the Remote Desktop Gateway server needs to be checked to ensure it supports modern TLS security protocols (TLS 1.2 is typically the minimum required now). The v11.2 client might be rejecting older, less secure settings that v11.1.9 allowed.

Let me know what you find out!
ItWorks 0 Reputation points

2025-10-01T20:33:44.8133333+00:00

I was looking for where to clear it. Since the change from remote client for Mac to Windows, things are wonky. I could RDP using RDGateway on a PC but not ios devices. I followed what you stated and it worked. Thanks!! Worked on my iphone and worked on an iPad.

Share via

Problem with connecting to a remote PC using the Windows App for iPhone or iPad

1 answer

Your answer