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Working remotely with UniApps and UniDesk

UniApps and UniDesk enables students and academic staff to access software, a University style desktop and print to campus remotely from their own device.

UniApps

UniApps enables you to access a wide range of academic software remotely using Remote Desktop Services (RDS) from your personal device.

Use of UniApps requires you to connect to the University’s Virtual Private Network (VPN).

UniDesk

UniDesk allows you to have a similar experience to using a University campus desktop with software you are familiar with such as Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Adobe Reader, Visio). To access UniDesk you login via Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) from your personal device.

For UniDesk you do not need to connect to the University’s Virtual Private Network (VPN). However, you will need to use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to sign in to UniDesk using your University account.

Available Software

You may not see all software included in the lists below, as some software is restricted to specific courses and groups.

UniApps (RDS)

  • AdminDesk
  • Aspen
  • Bioware
  • MaxTraq
  • Masshunter
  • Comsol for Electric Engineers
  • Gaussian
  • General Desktop
    • Amos 28
    • CCDC CSDS
    • CorelDraw Graphics Suite
    • Eclipse
    • Essay Writer
    • EViews 12
    • Jason
    • ORCAD

UniDesk (AVD)

When using AVD services, we recommend you allow your OneDrive to sync before opening any software.

Users of the AVD service can only open one session at a time. For example, if you have UniDesk open you cannot open Matlab, Ansys or MemoQ.

  • Ansys
  • Matlab
  • MemoQ
  • UniDesk
    • Adobe Reader DC Classic 17.011.30171
    • AdoptOpenJDK 8u252
    • Anaconda3 2021.05_3.8.8
    • Arduino 1.8.15
    • Arena16.00.00003.12226-23
    • ArgusLab 4.0.0.0
    • Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis 2022
    • Balsamiq Wireframes 4.2.7
    • Granta Edupack 2021
    • ClaroRead Pro 9.1.0
    • Cran R R 4.1.0
    • Design Science MathType Fonts 6.9
    • Dynare 4.6.4
    • Geogebra 6.0.646.0
    • Git Git for Windows 2.27.0
    • Google Chrome 91.0.4472.77
    • Haskell Platform 8.6.5
    • Igor Pavlov 7zip 19.00
    • JISC TechDis Voices v2
    • LabChart Reader 8.1.18
    • Maple 2021
    • Microsoft Asian Language Packs 1809 0.0.1.0
    • Microsoft Project
    • Microsoft Visio
    • MicrosoftOffice365ProPlus_SAC-PAC (without Teams or Outlook full client)
    • MiKTeX 4.1
    • MindGenius
    • Minitab 20
    • Mozilla_Firefox-78.11.0esr
    • NotepadPP 7.8.6 Minimalist
    • Nvivo 20.5.1.940
    • OlexSys Olex2 1.2
    • OneDrive
    • OpenDyslexic Fonts 2016
    • Pandoc 2.14.0.3
    • Povray.org Povray 3.7
    • Revit 2023
    • Rstudio 1.4.1717
    • Spectragryph 1.2.15
    • SPSS 28
    • Stata BE 17
    • Systat-SigmaPlot14.5
    • TeXnicCenter 2.02
    • Thomson Reuters Endnote 20.1
    • University of Illinois VMD 1.9.3
    • University of Strathclyde Virtual Organ Bath 2.8
    • University of York WinCoot 0.9.4.1
    • Uri Wilensky NetLogo 6.2.0
    • VLC Player 3.0.14

Logging In

A visual for the steps to log in to UniApps or UniDesk
Steps to log in to UniApps or UniDesk

After opening UniApps or UniDesk you may need to wait approximately 5 to 10 minutes for all apps to load.

Log into both (for best experience)

Using Microsoft Remote Desktop app will give you the best experience as you can add both services to the app and get a smoother experience.

  1. Open the Microsoft Store.
  2. Click the search bar at the top of Microsoft Store and search "Microsoft Remote Desktop".
  3. Press "Download" on the Microsoft Remote Desktop App (the application has an orange icon).
  4. Once downloaded, you can now open the Microsoft Remote Desktop.
  5. Once open, press "Add", then "Workspaces".
  6. Paste the UniApps link in "Feed URL": https://uniapps.bath.ac.uk/rdweb/feed/webfeed.aspx
  7. Press "Subscribe" in the bottom left.
  8. The "User account" section will appear, press the "+" symbol.
  9. Fill out the "Add an account" information and press "Save".
  10. Press "Subscribe". 11 . To add UniDesk repeat the above steps but use this link: https://rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com/api/arm/feeddiscovery

UniApps

This option will be used within your browser and may be slower than using the "Microsoft Remote Desktop" app.

How to login to UniApps:

  1. Before accessing UniApps you will need to connect to the University’s Virtual Private Network (VPN). Follow the guidance on setting up the VPN on your device if you haven't already.
  2. Access UniApps and login using your University email and password.
  3. Choose the RDS you need and wait for it to finish downloading.
  4. Open the RDS you downloaded, press connect and login using your University email and password.

UniDesk

This option will be used within your browser and may be slower than using the "Microsoft Remote Desktop" app.

How to login to UniDesk:

  1. Access UniDesk and type in your authentication code / password.
  2. Choose the AVD you need.
  3. Login to the chosen AVD using your University email and password.

Logging Out

  1. Before logging out of UniDesk or UniApps, save your progress and ensure your OneDrive has finished synchronising. You can find out what the OneDrive icons mean on the Microsoft website.
  2. Once finished using UniApps and UniDesk, you should always sign out of your sessions using the sign out button within the "Start" menu to keep your files safe.
  3. After signing out, you are able to then close UniApps / UniDesk.

You should not close UniApps or UniDesk by clicking the red "X" button on your browser as this will leave the session open for a brief period. This is to allow users who have lost connection to reconnect.