FreeRDP, the open-source implementation of Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol, has released version 3.33. The biggest addition is WebAssembly support, allowing FreeRDP to run directly within a web browser.
Built using Emscripten, the implementation includes WebCodecs support for H.264 and AV1 video decoding, plus Web Audio backends for sound playback and microphone input. Browser clipboard integration is also supported, expanding possibilities for web-based remote desktop clients.
Another important change is experimental UDP support for direct RDP connections without an RD Gateway. The implementation adds client-side UDP multitransport, which can be disabled using the /multitransport:tcp-only option when TCP-only connections are preferred.
FreeRDP 3.33 also improves RemoteApp support in its SDL client. The changes address window positioning, resizing, activation, popup handling, and multiple-monitor configurations. RemoteApp functionality was added to the SDL client on Windows, while the X11 client receives fixes for keyboard handling and a deadlock affecting RemoteApp window repainting.
Moreover, Unicode input through Unix-style named pipes is now supported across all FreeRDP clients on systems with mkfifo functionality. Additional fixes improve keyboard mapping stability under X11 and address specific input issues.
The release also restores experimental Windows shadow server support, allowing further development of remote desktop sharing on Windows. On macOS, file copying and pasting between Finder and remote systems is now supported without requiring FUSE, alongside improvements to clipboard handling.
Other changes include an Apple VideoToolbox H.264 decoder, improved Android client responsiveness and automatic reconnection, better audio handling, and initial infrastructure for translating application messages.
On the security front, FreeRDP 3.33 addresses vulnerabilities documented in 13 GitHub security advisories. The update also contains numerous stability and reliability fixes affecting connection handling, authentication, graphics, device redirection, and other components.
Finally, the developers acknowledge that some minor bugs and regressions remain unresolved and plan a follow-up maintenance release to address them.
For more information, see the announcement.
