RustDesk, the free open-source remote desktop application, release new 1.4.4 version few days ago.

The new release of this Teamviewer or AnyDesk alternative app introduced edge scrolling support, when your app window is smaller than the remote screen size.

Previously, it scrolls automatically when you move cursor around the screen. While, the “Scrollbar” mode is available for choice when you want to manually move the bottom or right scrollbar to move around.

In the new release, a new “ScrollEdge” mode is added. With it enabled, you may move cursor to the window edge to move the screen. And, a scroll-bar is available to adjust the edge thickness.

For Linux with Wayland (e.g., Ubuntu 22.04+ and Fedora Workstation), it added support sharing multiple monitor screens since last 1.4.3. In the new release, it improved this feature by supporting multiple scaled monitors with Gnome or KDE Wayland.

RustDesk 1.4.4 also introduced new “Ask for note at the end of connection” option in the General settings page.

With it enabled, it will display a popup dialog where user can enter a note, when disconnects either actively or passively. See this page for more about the feature.

The new version also improve Apple devices support. It now shows proxy settings on iOS, and allows to manage transferred files through Files or iTunes app. And, it updated hwcodec that fixed H265 encoding support on Intel chip Mac computers.

Other changes in the 1.4.4 release include:

• Allow flipping sort order in mobile app’s file transfer
• File transfer auto start on reconnect
• Load custom installed CA root on mobile
• UI costomization for Sciter version
• Insecure TLS option
• Fix cursor icon capture for the Linux Flatpak package.
• Better TLS compatibility on all platforms

Get RustDesk 1.4.4

The official release note, as well as the installer packages for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android, are available in its Github releases via the link below:

For Linux, the “Assets” section provides more packages, e.g., pkg.tar.zst for Arch, .rpm for Fedora/SUSE/RHEL, non-install .appimage, and .flatpak for most Linux that runs in sandbox environment.

If you don’t know which OS type (X86_64, aarch64, or archv7) to choose, open terminal and run uname -m or dpkg --print-architecture command to tell.

And for those who are new to this application, simply install it in both remote and local machines, then type the remote ID to connect, though remember to start the service first in hamburger menu.

It by default uses the public server to initialize the connection, then send data peer-to-peer after connection is established. While, you may see the official docs for setting up self-hosting server.

RustDesk, the popular free open-source remote desktop software, released version 1.4.3 few days ago.

RustDesk is yet another remote desktop solution written in Rust, which works in Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web browser. It features peer-to-peer encrypted connection and self-hosting server support.

RustDesk client in Ubuntu

Like TeamViewer or AnyDesk, simply install the app in both sides of your devices, then you may input the ID to connect to each other. By default, it uses the public server to initialize the connection, but data is typically sent peer-to-peer after the connection is established. While, user may set its own server for faster and more reliable connections.

RustDesk supports VP8, VP9, AV1, and hardware accelerated (if your GPU support it) H264/H265 video codecs, as well as IPv6 p2p connection, UDP hole punching, and more.

The latest 1.4.3 version added virtual mouse along with virtual joystick support when accessing remote desktop from mobile devices. It allows user to control mouse movement by touching and dragging a virtual joystick on screen, and scroll up or down through virtual scroll-buttons.

RustDesk on iPhone, accessing remote Ubuntu desktop with virtual mouse

For Linux Wayland (e.g., Ubuntu 24.04 & higher with default session), it now supports sharing multiple monitor screens (if any). When accessing with remote machine, there’ll be a toggle to switch between the monitors, view all monitor screens in single view, or have multiple RustDesk windows (one monitor screen per window).

In addition to show remote desktop with the original screen size, adaptive to fit app window size, the release added scale custom option with a slider bar, allowing to scale the remote desktop screen by percentage value. It’s useful to scale remote screen to fit app window, while keeping the ratio to prevent distortion.

Other changes in the release include:

• IPv6 prefix-based rate limiting on login failures.
• Move touch mode option from peer option to local option.
• More assign from cli and devices.py.
• Address book api res/ab.py, and audit api res/audits.py.
• Fix high CPU usage on Arch with Wayland.

How to Install RustDesk 1.4.3

The software offers official packages for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android, available to download at its Github releases:

Go to “Assets” sections for more packages, and select download X86_64 for Intel/AMD, AArch64 (ARM64) for RasPi, Snapdragon, or Apple Silicon.

For Linux, run uname -m command to tell if you don’t even know your CPU architecture type. And, see the official docs for setting up self-hosting server.