Tally RDP is how you reach TallyPrime when it runs on a Windows server instead of your own PC. On Windows you use the built-in Remote Desktop Connection. On a Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone or Chromebook you use Microsoft's free Windows App. Below: the right app for every device, how Tally and Microsoft license RDP users, and the exact configuration we run.
Tally RDP means running your licensed TallyPrime on a Windows server and operating it over Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol from any device. Only keystrokes, clicks and screen updates cross the internet; your company data never leaves the server. Tally counts each TallyPrime instance opened over RDP as one Tally Virtual User: Silver includes one, Gold ten.
RDP stands for Remote Desktop Protocol, Microsoft's way of operating one Windows computer from another. In Tally terms it means TallyPrime is installed on a Windows machine somewhere else, an office server or a cloud server like ours, and you work on it through a Remote Desktop window.
TallyPrime itself doesn't change: the same Gateway of Tally, the same shortcuts, TDLs, GST returns and e-invoicing. Tally Solutions' help centre says TallyPrime can only be installed on Microsoft Windows, so RDP is also the most direct way to use the full Windows TallyPrime from a Mac, an iPad or a phone.
Nothing is copied or synced to your device. The company data, the licence and the processing all stay on the server; your device only sends input and draws the picture. That is the whole RDP Tally meaning in one line, and it's why a slow laptop or an old phone can still run heavy reports quickly.
If you're new to hosted Tally, our plain-English guide to what Tally on Cloud is covers the bigger picture. RDP is also only one of several ways to work away from the office; the Tally remote access options guide compares it with Tally.NET, VPNs and AnyDesk.
This page is about how you connect. For the server itself (private or dedicated, how many cores and how much memory), see Tally cloud server plans.
Remote Desktop Connection on Windows, or Windows App on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone or Chromebook.
keystrokes + clicksAn encrypted HTTPS tunnel on port 443. Your identity is checked before any session is created.
TLS · 443/tcpTallyPrime 7.1, your licence and your company data together on one private server, hosted in India.
Mumbai regionDaily automated backups with 30-day retention, kept away from the server itself.
restore pointsMicrosoft now ships two different clients, and the newer one doesn't work everywhere. Choose your device to see the right app, the minimum version it needs today and a preview of the connection settings we send you.
Use the built-in Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc). Don't install Windows App on Windows for this: Microsoft's own table shows Windows App on Windows does not connect to Remote Desktop Services and points Windows users to the Remote Desktop app instead.
full address:s:tally-yourco-01 gatewayhostname:s:gateway.example.in gatewayusagemethod:i:1 gatewayprofileusagemethod:i:1 promptcredentialonce:i:1 enablecredsspsupport:i:1 authentication level:i:2 username:s:priya.accounts screen mode id:i:1 dynamic resolution:i:1 redirectprinters:i:1 redirectclipboard:i:1 drivestoredirect:s:* redirectsmartcards:i:1 autoreconnection enabled:i:1
Sample file with placeholder names. gatewayusagemethod 1 forces every connection through the gateway; enablecredsspsupport 1 is what Network Level Authentication needs. Property names follow Microsoft's supported RDP properties list.
Microsoft's free Windows App replaced Microsoft Remote Desktop in 2024. Its Mac App Store listing requires macOS 14 or later. We add the server as a PC, and Microsoft notes that remote PC connections work without signing in to the app, so you don't need a Microsoft work account.
PC name tally-yourco-01 Credentials priya.accounts Gateway gateway.example.in Friendly name TallyPrime (TallyoCloud) Display Windowed · fit to window Folders ~/Documents/Tally Exports Printers on Clipboard on Smart cards on
Sample values. On a Mac, Command acts as the Windows key inside the session; our Tally cloud shortcut keys guide maps the rest.
On iPhone and iPad the app is listed as Windows App Mobile, and the current version needs iOS or iPadOS 26.0 or later. An iPad with a keyboard handles full voucher entry; a phone suits quick look-ups and approvals.
PC name tally-yourco-01 User account priya.accounts Gateway gateway.example.in Friendly name TallyPrime Clipboard on Storage on Printers not supported on iOS / iPadOS
Sample values; field names can differ slightly between app versions. Printing from a tablet: see how to print from Tally on Cloud.
The Google Play listing supports Android 11 and above, plus Chromebooks that can run Play Store apps. It works on budget phones because the server does the heavy lifting. If your Chromebook can't install Play Store apps, talk to us before you subscribe.
PC name tally-yourco-01 User name priya.accounts Gateway gateway.example.in Friendly name TallyPrime Local storage on Clipboard on (text only) Printers not supported on Android / ChromeOS
Sample values; field names can differ slightly between app versions.
Microsoft doesn't make a Remote Desktop client for Linux. Remmina and FreeRDP, packaged by every major distribution, both support Network Level Authentication and Remote Desktop Gateway, so the connection is encrypted the same way. Import the same .rdp file or create a profile with the values shown.
Protocol RDP - Remote Desktop Protocol Server tally-yourco-01 Username priya.accounts Share folder ~/TallyExports Security NLA RD Gateway server gateway.example.in Clipboard on
Sample values. Menu labels vary between Remmina versions.
| Device | App to use | Minimum version | Local printer | Files & folders | DSC / smart card |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Remote Desktop Connection (built in) | Windows 10 or 11 | Easy Print | Drives | Yes |
| Mac | Windows App (Mac App Store) | macOS 14 | Generic driver¹ | Chosen folders | Yes |
| iPhone / iPad | Windows App Mobile (App Store) | iOS / iPadOS 26.0 | No, share a PDF | Storage | No² |
| Android / Chromebook | Windows App (Google Play) | Android 11; Play-Store Chromebooks | No, share a PDF | Storage | No |
| Linux | Remmina or FreeRDP | Current distribution | Depends on client | Shared folder | Test first |
| Web browser | Windows App web version | n/a | Cannot connect to Remote Desktop Services or remote PCs | ||
¹ Microsoft: Windows App on macOS uses the generic Publisher Imagesetter (CUPS) driver; native printer drivers aren't supported. ² Smart-card redirection on iOS and iPadOS is in preview and limited to YubiKey. Sources: Microsoft's Windows App feature comparison (updated Sep 2026) and overview (Jul 2026); App Store and Google Play listings, Oct 2026. Microsoft's getting-started page still shows older minimums; the store listing is what your device checks at install. DSC details: using a DSC token on Tally Cloud.
Tally's own TallyPrime Cloud Access is a different product with its own client. Its FAQ says mobile and tablet devices are not supported, and Mac users work through a browser. See the side-by-side TallyPrime Cloud Access vs Tally on Cloud comparison.
Tally Solutions treats access over RDP, Citrix or a cloud server as virtual usage and meters it with Tally Virtual Users (TVUs). These rules come from Tally's TVU FAQ, and they apply to any RDP setup, ours or your own office server.
Example: a Gold licence with 12 people working over RDP at once needs 2 extra TVUs: 2 × ₹125 = ₹250 a month, billed annually as ₹3,000 plus tax, paid to Tally rather than to us. Silver covers one remote user; for a team, Tally's path is the Gold upgrade.
Tally's TVU is only half the licensing picture. Microsoft licenses Remote Desktop too: each user or device that connects to a Remote Desktop Services session host needs a Remote Desktop Services client access licence (RDS CAL). The 120-day grace period after setup is a technical allowance, not a licence.
A hosting provider can't simply buy retail CALs on your behalf. Hosting for other businesses runs under Microsoft's Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA), which needs a Subscriber Access License (SAL) for every user authorised to connect, reported to Microsoft each month.
Windows 10 and 11 desktops can't be rented out to different customers on shared hardware: Microsoft's desktop-hosting guidance notes there is no SPLA for Windows client operating systems. That's why a compliant Tally RDP server runs Windows Server with the Remote Desktop Session Host role, not a "Windows 11 VPS".
Per-user Microsoft licensing is one reason Tally hosting carries a per-user charge rather than a flat server price, including on our pricing page.
Ask us the same five. Our controls are listed on how we secure Tally on Cloud.
Most RDP break-ins start with a Remote Desktop port left open to the internet and a guessable password. Here is how we set up Windows RDP for Tally instead, and why each setting is there.
$ rdp-policy --show tally-yourco-01 ✓ Port 3389 from internet ...... closed ✓ RD Gateway (HTTPS) ........... 443/tcp ✓ Network Level Authentication . required ✓ Two-step login ............... required ✓ Idle session limit ........... on ✓ Disconnected sessions ........ log off ✓ Printers ..................... Easy Print ✓ Drives / folders ............. on ✓ Clipboard .................... on ✓ Smart cards (DSC) ............ on → Backups: Daily automated backups, 30-day retention
Illustrative summary of our default policy. Printing step by step: printing from Tally on Cloud. Connection problems: our support page has per-device guides.
RDP can show you a whole Windows desktop, or only the TallyPrime window. Both run the same TallyPrime on the same server; the difference is how it sits on your screen.
remoteapplicationmode:i:1 remoteapplicationprogram:s:||TallyPrime remoteapplicationname:s:TallyPrime
A practical rule: RemoteApp on Windows PCs if you like Tally to look local, full desktop everywhere else. Tell us which you prefer when we set up your users; you can switch later without touching your data.
Tally RDP sends pictures, not your data files. A big report runs on the server's processor and only the result is drawn on your screen. What you feel is latency: the round trip from a keypress to the character appearing.
Sources: Microsoft, Remote Desktop Protocol bandwidth requirements; Tally Solutions, TVU FAQ. Above about 150 ms of round trip, most people start to notice lag.
Distances inside India are short. WonderNetwork's public ping tables (October 2026, data centre to data centre, not our own measurements) show about 4 ms from Mumbai to Pune, 19 ms to Bengaluru and 27 ms to New Delhi. Your own figure adds your ISP's last mile and your Wi-Fi, which is usually where the delay comes from.
So "my internet is slow" rarely means you need a bigger server. It usually means a congested Wi-Fi network, a VPN stacked on top of RDP, or a video call sharing the line. Our guide to internet speed for Tally on Cloud has the full numbers, and if TallyPrime is already slow on your office network, read why Tally is slow in network first.
You can switch on Remote Desktop on an office computer and reach TallyPrime from home. For one careful person it can work. Here is what you take on.
| Office PC with Remote Desktop | Managed Tally RDP server (TallyoCloud) | |
|---|---|---|
| Windows edition | Pro or higher to accept connections; Home can't host | Windows Server with Remote Desktop Services |
| Users at once | One remote session; it locks out whoever sits at the PC | Several users, each in their own session |
| Internet exposure | Forwarding port 3389 invites attacks; you need a VPN or gateway | RD Gateway on 443, NLA, two-step login |
| Power and internet cuts | The PC must stay on; an office outage stops everyone | 99.9% uptime target, backed by our SLA |
| Backups | Yours to set up and check | Daily automated backups, 30-day retention, stored off-server |
| Tally licensing | Each RDP session still uses a TVU | Same TVU rules; your licence on your private server |
| Mac and mobile | Possible once you build a secure route | Connection settings for every device, ready on day one |
| Cost | A PC you already own, plus your time and the risk | ₹799 per user per month + GST |
AnyDesk or TeamViewer to an office PC is another route; Tally's TVU FAQ says those tools have no TVU impact, but they still depend on that PC staying on. Our Tally remote access guide compares all five options honestly.
RDP, Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol, lets you control TallyPrime that is installed on another Windows computer or server. Only your keystrokes, mouse clicks and screen updates travel over the internet, while the company data stays on the server. Tally calls this virtual usage and meters it with Tally Virtual Users: Silver includes one, Gold includes ten, and each TallyPrime instance opened over RDP uses one.
On Windows, use the built-in Remote Desktop Connection, because Microsoft's Windows App for Windows does not connect to Remote Desktop Services. On a Mac (macOS 14 or later), iPhone or iPad (iOS or iPadOS 26 or later), Android 11 or later, or a Chromebook with Play Store apps, use Microsoft's free Windows App. On Linux, use Remmina or FreeRDP. We send a ready-made connection file and a guide for each device.
Possibly. Tally counts every TallyPrime instance opened over RDP as one Tally Virtual User (TVU). Silver includes one TVU and Gold includes ten concurrent TVUs. Gold users who need more can buy extra packs from Tally at ₹125 per user per month plus taxes, billed annually. Opening two Tally windows in one session uses two TVUs, so close the ones you don't need.
Yes, but you then run and secure that PC yourself. It needs Windows Pro or higher, must stay switched on, and its RDP port should never face the internet directly, so you also need a VPN or gateway. Windows 10 and 11 allow only one remote session at a time. Tally still counts each RDP session as a Tally Virtual User. A managed server adds a gateway, two-step login, backups and monitoring.
Leaving Remote Desktop port 3389 open to the internet is a well-known entry point for ransomware and password-guessing attacks. Our servers accept connections only through an encrypted Remote Desktop Gateway on port 443, require Network Level Authentication before a session starts, ask every user for a two-step login code and time out idle sessions. That is the main difference from forwarding a port to an office PC.
Less than most people expect. Microsoft estimates an active Excel session over Remote Desktop at roughly 150 to 200 Kbps, and Tally lists 512 Kbps as the minimum for virtual use. Latency matters more than bandwidth: a round trip under about 100 milliseconds feels local, while delays above about 150 milliseconds become noticeable. A stable broadband or 4G connection is usually enough for voucher entry and reports.
From Windows and Mac, yes. Your local printers appear inside the session through Remote Desktop printer redirection, so invoices print on your own printer. On a Mac, Windows App uses a generic driver rather than your printer's own driver. On iPhone, iPad and Android, Windows App does not redirect printers, so export the invoice as a PDF and print or share it from the device.
What you rent: private and dedicated Windows servers, and how to size cores and memory for your team.
Server plansLimits, prices and the mistakes that push TallyPrime into Educational mode over RDP.
Read the TVU guideEvery control behind your server: gateway, two-step login, isolation and backups in India.
Security & backupsRun TallyPrime on any MacBook, iMac or Mac mini with Windows App, with no Parallels or Boot Camp.
Mac guideFull TallyPrime on iPhone, iPad and Android, and what works better on a tablet with a keyboard.
Mobile guideRemmina, FreeRDP and Play Store Chromebooks: genuine Windows TallyPrime without Wine.
Linux & ChromebookBuy your Tally RDP server and we migrate your company data, set up your users and walk everyone through their first login. Want to test first? Try it free for 7 days.