How to use VPN client on macOS ?

VPN Client for Mixed Environment

Hi there.

I recently joined a new company and met new teams. With this change, there are many things I need to adapt to, which takes time—such as setting up a new env.

The Issue

My main desktop environments are macOS and Linux, but my company-provided workstation runs Windows.

If I were working entirely within a Windows environment, everything would be fine. But now, I’m using macOS and Linux at home—and sometimes even other platforms—so I need a good solution for remote access to the Windows workstation.

What I Found

After searching online, I realized this isn’t a new problem for me. About a year ago, I faced a similar issue when my workstation was macOS. Back then, I needed remote access for occasional meetings and code reviews from another PC (like one in a meeting room), so I used RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol).

Now, I’m in a similar situation—except my home PC is macOS, and my office workstation is Windows.

Solution: FreeRDP

FreeRDP is an open-source project that supports RDP connections from macOS/Linux to Windows.

To install it on macOS, run:

brew install freerdp

To connect to your Windows workstation, use:

xfreerdp /v:<IP_ADDRESS> /u:<user@domain.com> /p:<your_password> -f

This allows me to connect to the Windows workstation from macOS using full-screen mode.