> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/freerdp/freerdp/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installation

> Install FreeRDP on Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, or iOS using pre-built packages.

Pre-built FreeRDP packages are available for all major platforms. Choose your platform below.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Linux">
    ## Linux

    FreeRDP is packaged in the official repositories of most Linux distributions.

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash Ubuntu / Debian theme={null}
      sudo apt update
      sudo apt install freerdp2-x11
      ```

      ```bash Fedora / RHEL theme={null}
      sudo dnf install freerdp
      ```

      ```bash Arch Linux theme={null}
      sudo pacman -S freerdp
      ```
    </CodeGroup>

    <Note>
      Ubuntu and Debian ship `freerdp2-x11` (FreeRDP 2.x) in their stable repositories. FreeRDP 3.x packages may be available via a PPA or the distribution's backports channel. Check your distribution's documentation for the latest available version.
    </Note>

    ### AppImage and Flatpak

    Portable builds that run on any Linux distribution without system-level installation:

    * **AppImage** — Download from [pub.freerdp.com/releases](https://pub.freerdp.com/releases/). Mark the file executable and run it directly.
    * **Flatpak** — Search for FreeRDP on [Flathub](https://flathub.org/).

    ### What gets installed

    After installation, the following binaries are available on `PATH`:

    | Binary                           | Description                                         |
    | -------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
    | `xfreerdp`                       | X11 RDP client                                      |
    | `sdl2-freerdp` or `sdl3-freerdp` | SDL-based RDP client (may be in a separate package) |
    | `winpr-hash`                     | NTLM hash utility                                   |
    | `winpr-makecert`                 | Certificate generation utility                      |

    <Note>
      The SDL client (`sdl2-freerdp` / `sdl3-freerdp`) is sometimes packaged separately. On Ubuntu/Debian look for `freerdp2-wayland` or a `freerdp3` package. On Fedora it is included in the main `freerdp` package.
    </Note>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="macOS">
    ## macOS

    The easiest way to install FreeRDP on macOS is with [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/).

    ```bash theme={null}
    brew install freerdp
    ```

    This installs the `xfreerdp` command-line client and the SDL-based client alongside the FreeRDP libraries.

    <Note>
      Homebrew installs the latest stable FreeRDP release. Run `brew upgrade freerdp` at any time to update to a newer version.
    </Note>

    ### Verify the installation

    ```bash theme={null}
    xfreerdp --version
    ```

    ### What gets installed

    | Binary                           | Description                                    |
    | -------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
    | `xfreerdp`                       | RDP client (runs via XQuartz or XWayland)      |
    | `sdl2-freerdp` or `sdl3-freerdp` | SDL-based RDP client (native, no X11 required) |
    | `winpr-hash`                     | NTLM hash utility                              |
    | `winpr-makecert`                 | Certificate generation utility                 |

    <Tip>
      On macOS the SDL client (`sdl2-freerdp` / `sdl3-freerdp`) works without XQuartz and is the recommended choice for a native-feeling experience.
    </Tip>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Windows">
    ## Windows

    Pre-built Windows binaries are published at:

    **[pub.freerdp.com/releases](https://pub.freerdp.com/releases/)**

    Download the latest release archive for your architecture (x64 is standard for modern systems), extract it, and add the directory to your `PATH` if you want to run the clients from any terminal.

    <Note>
      The Windows binaries are built with MinGW and include all required DLLs. No installer is provided — simply extract and run.
    </Note>

    ### What gets installed

    | Binary                                   | Description                    |
    | ---------------------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
    | `xfreerdp.exe`                           | RDP client                     |
    | `sdl2-freerdp.exe` or `sdl3-freerdp.exe` | SDL-based RDP client           |
    | `winpr-hash.exe`                         | NTLM hash utility              |
    | `winpr-makecert.exe`                     | Certificate generation utility |

    ### Building from source on Windows

    Building from source on Windows requires a Visual Studio command prompt or a `cmd` environment where `vcvarsall.bat` has been run. See the [Building from source](/building/overview) guide for full instructions.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Android">
    ## Android

    FreeRDP is available for Android through the Google Play Store and as a direct APK download.

    * **Google Play Store** — Search for "FreeRDP" or visit the [FreeRDP page on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freerdp.afreerdp).
    * **APK** — Download directly from [pub.freerdp.com/releases](https://pub.freerdp.com/releases/).

    <Note>
      To install the APK directly, enable "Install from unknown sources" in your Android security settings.
    </Note>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="iOS">
    ## iOS

    FreeRDP is available on the Apple App Store.

    Search for "FreeRDP" on the App Store, or look for it at [apps.apple.com](https://apps.apple.com/).

    <Note>
      The iOS client uses the same underlying libfreerdp as all other platforms, providing full RDP protocol support including NLA authentication.
    </Note>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Verify your installation

After installing on any platform, confirm that the client is accessible by printing the version:

```bash theme={null}
xfreerdp --version
```

Once installed, follow the [Quickstart](/quickstart) to make your first connection.