Virtual desktop service (VDS)
Source: https://www.york.ac.uk/it-services/tools/vds/ Parent: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/support/international/contact-us/
The virtual desktop service (VDS) provides secure access to commonly used Windows applications and University filestores.
For the best experience in terms of speed and functionality, we recommend downloading and installing the client on a Windows or Mac computer.
Key features
- Connect from most devices, including managed University computers, personal Windows, Mac and Linux computers, Chromebooks, tablets and phones.
- Access commonly used software, including ABBYY Finereader, ArcGIS Pro, EndNote, MATLAB, Microsoft 365, NVivo, and SPSS.
- Staff can access University business applications, including Agresso, Kinetics and SITS.
Access instructions
- Log in with your York email address and password. Duo two-factor authentication is required.
- For University-managed devices running Windows, you can install the Remote Desktop client from the Software Center.
- For other devices, you can download and install the client or access the VDS using your web browser.
Related tools
Available to staff and students
You can use this service on University-managed and personal devices.
App and web-based
Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. This service also works in your web browser.
Funded by the University
There isn’t a cost to you for standard use.
Additional information
Software available
When you connect to the VDS, you will have access to the UniDesktop collection of commonly used software.
Staff also have access to a separate collection of specialised business applications.
UniDesktop (available to staff and students)
- ABBYY Finereader
- ACD/ Labs
- Anaconda (Python)
- ArcGIS Pro
- BioEdit
- BlueJ
- ChemDraw
- Chromas
- CLAN
- ClustalX2
- Corel PaintShop Pro
- CorelDraw
- enCIFer
- EndNote
- Equatio
- Eviews
- Firefox
- Gauss
- Gaussian 16w
- GaussView
- GNUPlot
- Google Chrome
- Google Drive
- GPower
- IGV
- ImageJ
- Inkscape
- LyX
- Maple
- Mathematica
- MathType
- Matlab
- Mega11
- Mercury
- MestReNova
- Microfit
- Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc)
- Microsoft Edge
- Notepad++
- Nvivo
- Origin
- OxMetrics
- Panoply
- PS Power
- PuTTY
- PyMol
- QGIS Desktop
- R
- Read & Write
- Reaper
- Refinitive Workspace
- RStudio
- Rtools
- Sibelius
- SigmaPlot
- Snapgene viewer
- SPSS Amos Graphics
- SPSS Statistics
- Staden Package
- StataMP
- StepOne Software
- Texmaker
- TeXworks
- Tinn-R
- Visual Studio Code
- Vu-Bar
- WinSCP
- WITNESS Horizon
- X2Go
- Zotero
Business applications (only available to staff)
- Active Directory Users & Computers
- Agresso
- Agresso Report Engine
- Microsoft Excel
- HYMS Student Support (specific users only)
- Kinetics
- Sage
- SITS
Access instructions
- Log in with your York email address and password. Duo two-factor authentication is required.
- For University-managed devices running Windows, you can install the Remote Desktop client from the Software Center.
- For other devices, you can download and install the client or access the VDS using your web browser.
Related tools
Guides and help
How-to guides and set up
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
- Chromebook
- Web browser client (HTML)
- iOS
- Android
- Accessing and saving your work
- How to log off
Solutions to known error messages:
- "Remote App Disconnected"
- "Something went wrong. We couldn't sign you in." (Error code CAA20004)
- "The username and password used to connect to the remote resource didn't work"
- "The User Account Did Not Work" (Mac)
Search all our guides and help
Accessibility
- View accessibility reports from Microsoft (microsoft.com)
Contact for support
If you're experiencing technical issues and need advice, please contact IT Services.
Service commitments
Your responsibilities and policies
The following policies apply to all IT services provided by the University.
Service performance
Availability
- This is a live service, available 24/7.
- Check the status of this service and any planned maintenance.
Support
- This service is managed by IT Services.
- We are responsible for monitoring, identifying and fixing faults.
- Support is available during our opening hours.
Standards
- Our service performance and standards have been produced in consultation with our customers. We regularly monitor the delivery, performance and availability of facilities and services.
Feedback and complaints
We appreciate feedback as it helps us review and continually improve our service.
Page last reviewed: 23 December 2025