The invention discloses a method and device for playing multi-media files for a remote desk, belonging to the field of network communications. The method comprises the following steps: receiving a play command; inspecting the format of the multi-media files indicated by the play command; judging whether the format of the multi-media files complies with a standard preset by a client-side, and when the format of the multi-media files complies with a standard preset by a client-side, establishing a transmission channel; and using the transmission channel to transmit the multi-media files so as to receive and play the multi-media files by the client-side. The device comprises a receiving module, an inspection module, a judgment module, a channel-establishing module and a transmission module. The transmission channel is established in accordance with the inspection result of the format of the multi-media files, and the multi-media files are transmitted by the transmission channel, thus greatly reducing the resource occupancy of a desk server-side, decreasing the data volume at the time of remote play, saving the bandwidth resources, and improving the play performance.