The Windows Remote Desktop Connection tool gives users the ability to connect to a remote Windows PC or server over the internet or on a local network, giving them full access to the tools and software installed on it. This is made possible by Microsoft’s own Remote Desktop Protocol (or RDP for short).
All Windows PCs and servers can use RDP to connect to another Windows device, but only certain versions of Windows allow RDP connections. This proprietary protocol rivals the open-source Virtual Network Computing (VNC) protocol commonly used on Linux and other platforms.
What is RDP?
The Remote Desktop Protocol allows remote users to see and use Windows on a device in another location. Key peripherals like your keyboard and mouse are shared with the remote machine, allowing you to use and control it as if you were sat right in front of it.
For RDP connections to work, you need two components—an RDP server and an RDP client. A typical RDP server is the Windows PC or server you’re connecting to and will control. The client is a PC or mobile device with an RDP client app installed, from which you control the server. Microsoft offers its own client for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, with various third-party options available for Linux and other platforms.
RDP is a Windows-only protocol, and you can only establish remote connections using RDP with Windows PCs and Windows Server installations that support it. Not all versions of Windows do—Windows 10 Home, for instance, can only be used as a client to connect to other Windows Remote Desktops, not the other way around.
You can only establish a single connection to Windows PCs that have remote desktop enabled. To connect multiple users at once, you’ll need a Windows server with the Remote Desktop Services (RDS) component installed and enabled.
If you want to establish RDP connections to a secure enterprise network from a remote location, you’ll also need the Remote Desktop Gateway service installed and configured on a suitable Windows Server installation. This also offers increased security, replacing the need for an internal virtual private network (VPN).
How to enable Remote Desktop connections on Windows
To use RDP to connect to another Windows PC or server, you’ll first need to enable it on the remote server or PC. Thankfully, configuring Windows to enable Remote Desktop is a fairly straightforward process.
To enable Remote Desktop on Windows PCs:
Tips for establishing secure Windows Remote Desktop connections
Any kind of remote desktop solution opens a hole that can potentially be exploited. RDP is no different, and the RDP port (port 3389) is well known and regularly scanned for exploits. If you plan to use Windows Remote Desktop over the internet, you need a strategy in place to secure it.
Enterprise users can use Remote Desktop Gateways to help provide a secure way to connect to an RDP server, but standard Windows users don’t have this luxury. Instead, you’ll need to use some common-sense solutions to establish secure RDP connections. Some tips for establishing a secure RDP connection include:
Connecting to a Remote Desktop on Windows
All Windows PC and Windows Servers have the Remote Desktop Connection tool available as part of the default installation. That includes older versions of Windows such as Windows 7 and 8. If you want to connect to a Windows Remote Desktop using another Windows PC, you can use this tool.
If you’re connecting to another PC on your local network, you’ll need to find the local IP address or hostname first. You can do this by clicking Windows Settings > Network & Internet > View your network properties to view information about your Remote Desktop PC, including the hostname and local IP address.
You’ll need to know the ISP-issued IP address for your internet connection if you’ve accepted the risks and you’re connecting to a Windows Remote Desktop over the internet. Just Google search “what’s my IP” to find it. For secure, enterprise networks, you’ll also need to know the RD gateway address.
To connect to a Windows Remote Desktop on another Windows PC or server:
Connecting to a Windows Remote Desktop on macOS
Microsoft offers its own Remote Desktop app for macOS, which can be installed from the App Store. The interface for the Microsoft Remote Desktop app is similar to the iOS and Android clients offered by Microsoft for mobile users, so many of the steps below will be similar on those platforms.
To connect to a Windows Remote Desktop using the Microsoft Remote Desktop app on macOS:
What are the best RDP Alternatives?
As we’ve mentioned, RDP connections generally require a Windows element, and while third-party RDP servers like xrdp do exist for platforms like Linux, these are generally inferior to other remote connection tools like VNC.
We reviewed the market for remote desktop software like RDP and analyzed the options based on the following criteria:
Some alternative free remote desktop tools, as well as paid options, use other protocols to view and control a remote PC or server. A selection of some of the best alternative tools for remote connections on all major platforms are:
SolarWinds Dameware offers remote support and control tools to enterprise support teams, both in-house and MSPs. It’s cloud-based, but you can install a local version to on-site Windows PCs and servers. It offers multi-factor authentication, and multi-platform support and integrates with SolarWinds Help Desk solutions.
There is a 14-day free trial.
SolarWinds Dameware Download a 14-day Free Trial
ISL Online is a cloud-based remote desktop and support tool for multiple platforms, with on-site installation possible. ISL Online allows you to establish secure RDP connections between your PC and a remote desktop without compromising your network by making changes to your firewall or by using a VPN.
There is a 15-day free trial.
ManageEngine Remote Access Plus is another MSP favorite, with both cloud-based and in-house control options and support for Linux, Windows, and macOS devices.
RemotePC provides encrypted remote desktop access for Windows and macOS, with a free plan available for single PCs.
TeamViewer is a free remote desktop and support tool for consumers, with paid plans for enterprise users and support for all major operating systems.
Chrome Remote Desktop is a quick, lightweight, and free remote desktop solution that you can use from within the Google Chrome browser on major platforms.
Remmina is an open-source remote desktop solution, allowing you to connect using either RDP or VNC, depending on your requirements.
It supports major Linux operating systems and works on embedded platforms like the Raspberry Pi.
Using RDP, VNC or another remote desktop protocol
It doesn’t matter whether you use RDP, VNC, or another remote desktop protocol to connect to a remote PC. A seamless experience is what matters, and for most Windows users, using RDP with the Windows Remote Desktop Connection tool will offer the simplest and smoothest experience for remote working.
That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best option. Other free remote desktop tools like TeamViewer are easy to install and use, while SolarWinds Dameware is great for enterprise users, especially for multiple clients.
Which is your favorite remote desktop tool? Let us know in the comments below.
RDP FAQs
What is needed for RDP access?
In order to use RDP, both the local and remote computer needs to have an RDP module active on it. RDP is built into the Windows operating system; it isn’t available on Linux or macOS. You will need to enable the RDP feature on your computer and on the computer that you want to contact before you can make an RDP connection.
Is RDP a VPN?
RDP and VPN are two different systems. RDP is the Remote Desktop Protocol and it enables you to connect to a remote computer, so its screen, and use the device. VPN standards for “virtual private network” and it is a connection security system. The concept behind a VPN is that it provides the same level of privacy that a connection on a local area network has for connections across the Internet. If you are on your office computer and access a service on a company server on the same network, outsiders can’t see any of the traffic that crosses the LAN because the network is protected from access by outsiders. The VPN cloaks Internet connections in such a way that anyone who intercepts that traffic can’t even see which remote computer you are communicating with.
What is the RDP port number?
The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) operates over TCP port 3389.
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