Install an agent

The agent runs on the machine you want to reach. These commands install the newest agent release and set it up with a setup code from your portal. Run them at the machine itself. The full guides explain each step: Mac agent, Windows agent, Linux agent.

1. In your portal (for example https://rd.example.com), click Add device, give the machine a name and copy the setup code (rds1_…). It is shown once and works like a password.

2. On the machine, paste the commands for its system:

   macOS

   In Terminal (macOS 15 or later, Apple silicon or Intel):

   v=$(curl -fsSL "https://api.github.com/repos/Thijmen/remoted/releases?per_page=50" \
     | grep -o '"tag_name": *"agent-v[0-9][^"]*"' | head -n 1 | sed 's/.*agent-v//; s/"$//')
   curl -fL -o /tmp/rd-agent.zip \
     "https://github.com/Thijmen/remoted/releases/download/agent-v$v/rd-agent-$v-macos-universal.zip"
   ditto -x -k /tmp/rd-agent.zip /Applications && rm /tmp/rd-agent.zip
   "/Applications/RD Agent.app/Contents/MacOS/rd-agent" setup

   Setup asks for the setup code, then for Screen Recording and Accessibility: enable “RD Agent” in System Settings → Privacy & Security and press Enter. Afterwards restart the agent once so it picks up the permissions:

   launchctl kickstart -k gui/$(id -u)/dev.thijmen.rd.agent

   Windows

   In PowerShell (Windows 10 1703 or later, or Windows 11; no administrator rights needed):

   [Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = 'Tls12'; $ProgressPreference = 'SilentlyContinue'
   $release = Invoke-RestMethod 'https://api.github.com/repos/Thijmen/remoted/releases?per_page=50' |
     Where-Object tag_name -like 'agent-v*' | Select-Object -First 1
   $asset = $release.assets | Where-Object name -like '*-windows-x64-setup.exe'
   Invoke-WebRequest $asset.browser_download_url -OutFile "$env:TEMP\rd-agent-setup.exe"
   Start-Process "$env:TEMP\rd-agent-setup.exe"

   The installer offers the setup on its last page: paste the setup code there. If SmartScreen stops the installer, click More info → Run anyway (it is not code-signed).

   Linux

   In a shell, as the user whose shell you want in the browser (not root), with your setup code in place of <setup code>:

   curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Thijmen/remoted/main/packaging/linux/install.sh | sh -s -- <setup code>

   The portal’s Add device dialog shows this command with the code filled in, under Linux server. To keep the agent running when you log out, and start it at boot:

   sudo loginctl enable-linger "$USER"

   On Linux the agent serves the terminal and files, without a screen.

3. Back in the portal, the machine shows Online within a few seconds. Click Connect (on Linux: Terminal).

Updates

Mac and Windows agents update themselves from the portal (Updates). On Linux, run the install command again without the setup code: it replaces the agent and restarts it.