How to Set Up Remote Desktop on Windows 11

To set up Remote Desktop on Windows 11, sign in to the PC you want to reach, select Start > Settings > System > Remote Desktop, turn on Remote Desktop, and select Confirm. Write down the name shown under PC name, then open Remote Desktop Connection on another computer, type that name, and select Connect. The PC you connect to must run Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education; Windows 11 Home can connect to other PCs but cannot accept Remote Desktop connections.

Applies to: Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education as the PC you connect to; any Windows 11 edition, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android device as the device you connect from. Checked against Microsoft Support and Microsoft Learn on October 7, 2026.

What you need before you start

Remote Desktop involves two devices. The remote PC (sometimes called the host) is the computer you want to control. The client is the device in your hands. Only the remote PC has edition requirements. Microsoft lists these conditions for a connection to work:

• A supported edition on the remote PC. Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions can accept incoming Remote Desktop connections. Windows Home editions cannot, although they work fine as clients.
• An administrator account to change the setting. You must be a member of the Administrators group, or have administrative privileges, to turn Remote Desktop on.
• A password-protected account that is allowed to connect. Administrators on the remote PC can connect automatically. Other accounts have to be added to the allowed list. Microsoft advises giving every account with remote access a strong, unique password.
• A remote PC that is on and reachable. It must be powered on, connected to the network, and not blocked by its firewall.
• A trusted network. Turning on Remote Desktop opens a port on the PC to other devices on your local network, so Microsoft recommends enabling it only on trusted networks such as your home network. If you only ever use the PC in person, leave it off.

Check which edition of Windows 11 you have

1. On the PC you want to connect to, select Start > Settings.
2. Select System > About.
3. Under Windows specifications, read the Edition line. If it says Windows 11 Pro, you can continue. If it says Windows 11 Home, skip to the section on Windows 11 Home below.

Turn on Remote Desktop in Windows 11 Settings

Do this once, on the PC you want to control from somewhere else.

1. Select Start > Settings. The Settings app opens.
2. Select System, then select Remote Desktop. You see a page with a single on/off switch at the top.
3. Turn on Remote Desktop. Windows shows a pop-up asking you to confirm the change.
4. Select Confirm. The switch stays on, and the PC is now ready to accept connections.
5. Find the name under PC name on the same page and write it down exactly. You type this name on the other device to connect.

One of Microsoft’s listed requirements is that Remote Desktop connections are allowed through the remote PC’s firewall. If a connection fails later, the troubleshooting section below shows where to check that.

Choose who can connect

Members of the Administrators group on the remote PC can connect as soon as Remote Desktop is on. If you want a standard account to connect as well, for example a family member’s account, add it to the list:

1. On the remote PC, go back to Start > Settings > System > Remote Desktop.
2. Select Remote Desktop users. A small window lists the accounts that already have access.
3. Select Add, type the username, then select OK. You can add more than one account at a time.

Only add accounts that really need remote access, and remove them from the same window when they no longer do. Each account on that list is another way into the PC, which is why the password advice above matters.

Connect from another Windows PC

The Remote Desktop Connection app is built into Windows, including Windows 11 Home, so there is nothing to install on the client.

1. On the PC you are sitting at, select Start, type Remote Desktop Connection, and open the app.
2. In the Remote Desktop Connection window, enter the PC name you wrote down. You can also enter the remote PC’s IP address instead.
3. Select Connect.
4. Enter the username and password of an account on the remote PC that is allowed to connect, then select OK. The remote PC’s desktop opens in a window, and you can use its apps and files as if you were sitting in front of it.

If the name does not work, the IP address often does. Our guide on how to find the IP address in Windows 11 shows where to look on the remote PC.

Start a connection from a command

Remote Desktop Connection can also be started with the mstsc command, which is handy for shortcuts. Microsoft documents these options, among others:

Command	What it does
mstsc /v:computer1	Connects to the remote computer named computer1. Replace it with your PC name. You can add a port number after a colon.
mstsc /v:computer1 /f	Connects in full-screen mode.
mstsc /v:computer1 /w:1920 /h:1080	Opens the session in a window of the width and height you specify.
mstsc /prompt	Asks for your credentials when you connect.
mstsc /public	Runs in public mode, where passwords and bitmaps are not cached. Useful on a computer that is not yours.

Connection settings you save are stored as .rdp files, by default in your Documents folder.

Connect from a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android device

You do not need a second Windows PC. Microsoft provides client apps for other platforms, and the steps are the same idea each time: install the app, add the PC by name, and select it.

• Mac, iPhone, and iPad: Install Windows App from the Apple App Store, add the name of the remote PC, then select that PC to connect.
• Android: Microsoft Support directs Android users to its Remote Desktop app on Google Play: open it, add the name of the remote PC, and select the PC. Microsoft Learn also lists Windows App for Android and ChromeOS as supporting remote PC connections. If you were hoping to run Windows 11 on the Chromebook itself, see whether Windows 11 can be installed on a Chromebook.
• Web browser: Not an option. Microsoft’s Windows App documentation shows that the web version does not support connections to a remote PC.

Windows App on Windows

Windows App is also available for Windows from the Microsoft Store, but its remote PC feature is listed by Microsoft as a preview, and Microsoft’s guidance is to keep using Remote Desktop Connection for this job. If you want to try it anyway, the documented steps are:

1. Install and open Windows App. It opens on the Devices tab.
2. Select the plus (+) icon in the left navigation.
3. For PC Name, enter the name or IP address of the remote PC. Select Additional settings if you want to set a display name or display options.
4. Select Add, or select Add & Connect to connect right away.
5. On the Devices tab, select Connect on the card for your PC and enter the account for the remote PC when prompted.

Connect from outside your home network

Everything above works when both devices are on the same network. A Remote Desktop connection goes directly from the client to the remote PC, so from a hotel, office, or mobile connection the client has no route to your PC unless you create one. Microsoft describes two options.

• Use a VPN (preferred). A virtual private network connects your device to your home or office network over the internet. Once the VPN is connected, the Remote Desktop client behaves as if it were on the same network, and you connect with the PC name or internal IP address as usual. Nothing on your PC is opened to the public internet.
• Port forwarding on your router (not recommended). Port forwarding maps a port on your router’s public IP address to your PC. Remote Desktop typically uses port 3389. Microsoft warns that this opens your PC to the internet and says it is preferable to use a VPN.

If you still decide to forward a port, Microsoft’s guidance is to set a strong password on the PC, limit which source IP addresses the router will accept if your router supports that, consider a static internal IP address for the PC so the forwarding rule keeps pointing at the right machine, and consider Dynamic DNS, because your internet provider can change your public IP address at any time. The exact router steps differ by model, so use the instructions from your router’s manufacturer.

Keep Network Level Authentication on

Network Level Authentication (NLA) makes the person connecting prove who they are before a remote session is created. Microsoft recommends leaving it enabled for most environments because it reduces the risk of unauthorized access. The only documented reason to turn it off is to connect from an older device or client that does not support NLA, and even then Microsoft frames it as a temporary measure. For a home PC running current client apps, leave it alone.

Stop the remote PC from going to sleep

A PC that is asleep is not reachable, and this is one of the most common reasons a connection that worked yesterday fails today. On the remote PC:

1. Select Start > Settings > System > Power & battery.
2. Select Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts.
3. Change Make my device sleep after to a longer time so the PC stays awake for as long as you need to reach it. Microsoft notes this setting applies both when the device is plugged in and when it is on battery power. Letting the screen turn off is fine; it is sleep that breaks the connection.

For more options, including what happens when you close a laptop lid, see how to stop your computer from sleeping in Windows 11.

If your PC runs Windows 11 Home

The Remote Desktop page in Windows 11 Home cannot be used to accept connections, and there is no supported setting that changes this. You have two legitimate choices:

• Upgrade the remote PC to Windows 11 Pro. Our walkthrough on upgrading from Windows 11 Home to Pro covers the process. After the upgrade, follow the steps at the top of this article.
• Use Quick Assist for one-off help. Quick Assist is a Microsoft app for Windows 11 and Windows 10 that lets someone you trust see or control your screen. The helper opens Quick Assist, selects Help someone, and shares a 6-digit code. You open Quick Assist, type the code in the Code from assistant box, select Submit, and then select Allow to share your screen. Either person selects Leave to end the session. Unlike Remote Desktop, someone has to be at the PC to approve it, so it is for getting help, not for reaching an unattended computer.

If the PC you want to reach runs Windows 10 instead, the settings are in a slightly different place; see how to set up Remote Desktop on Windows 10.

Confirm it works, and turn it off when you are done

The simplest test is to connect from a second device on the same Wi-Fi or wired network before you rely on it from anywhere else. If you see the remote PC’s desktop, the setup is complete. Test the outside-the-house route separately, with your VPN connected, because that depends on your network rather than on Windows.

To undo the change, return to Start > Settings > System > Remote Desktop on the remote PC and turn Remote Desktop off. Microsoft’s advice is that if you only use the PC locally, there is no need to have it enabled, so switching it off between trips is a sensible habit.

Troubleshooting Remote Desktop on Windows 11

The Remote Desktop switch is missing or cannot be turned on

Check the edition first (Settings > System > About). Windows 11 Home cannot host. If the edition is Pro and you still cannot change the setting, make sure you are signed in with an administrator account, because the setting requires administrative privileges.

The setting is controlled by your organization

On work and school PCs, Remote Desktop can be blocked by a Group Policy setting named Allow users to connect remotely by using Remote Desktop Services. When that policy is set to Disabled, the switch in Settings will not override it. Do not try to work around this on a managed device. Ask your IT department, which may also require a specific VPN or gateway for remote access.

The client cannot find or reach the remote PC

• Confirm the remote PC is powered on, awake, and connected to the network.
• Check the spelling of the PC name against the PC name line on the Remote Desktop settings page, or try the IP address instead.
• Make sure both devices are on the same network, or that your VPN is connected if you are away.
• Public and guest networks may not let devices talk to each other. Try from a different network before changing settings on the PC.

The firewall may be blocking the connection

On the remote PC, open the Windows Security app and select Firewall & network protection, then select Allow an app through firewall. Look for the Remote Desktop entry in the list. If it is not allowed, select Change settings (you may be asked for an administrator password), select the checkbox next to it, and select OK. Do not turn the whole firewall off to test; Microsoft’s guidance is to allow only the specific app you need. If you use a third-party security suite, it may have its own firewall with a similar setting.

Your username or password is rejected

Sign in with an account that exists on the remote PC, not on the device you are holding. If the account is not an administrator on the remote PC, it must be on the Remote Desktop users list. Confirm the password works by signing in at the remote PC itself.

Remote Desktop is on, but nothing connects

Microsoft’s general troubleshooting guidance for Remote Desktop lists a few deeper checks. These are aimed at administrators, so only use them if you are comfortable with system tools:

• Services: Two services should be running: Remote Desktop Services and Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector. If either is stopped, start it.
• Port: Remote Desktop should be listening on port 3389, and no other application should be using that port. If someone changed the port in the past, clients must add the new port number after the PC name.
• Registry status: The value fDenyTSConnections under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server shows the state: 0 means Remote Desktop is enabled and 1 means it is disabled. Use the switch in Settings to change the state instead of editing the registry yourself.
• Restart: If everything looks right and it still fails, restart the remote PC and try again.

Frequently asked questions

Does Remote Desktop work on Windows 11 Home?

Only in one direction. A Windows 11 Home PC can connect to another computer with Remote Desktop Connection, but it cannot be the computer that is connected to. Hosting requires Pro, Enterprise, or Education.

Do I need the internet to use Remote Desktop?

No. Two devices on the same home or office network can connect without internet access. You need an internet connection, plus a VPN or port forwarding, only when the client is on a different network.

Is it safe to leave Remote Desktop turned on?

On a trusted home network with strong passwords and Network Level Authentication enabled, it is the configuration Microsoft documents. The risk rises sharply if you forward port 3389 from your router to the PC, because that exposes it to the internet. Use a VPN for outside access and turn Remote Desktop off when you do not need it.

Where do I find my PC name?

It is shown under PC name at Settings > System > Remote Desktop on the remote PC.

Can I connect from my phone?

Yes. Use Windows App on an iPhone or iPad, or Microsoft’s app from Google Play on Android, add the PC name, and select the PC.

What is the difference between Remote Desktop and Quick Assist?

Remote Desktop lets you sign in to your own PC when nobody is sitting at it. Quick Assist is for helping another person: they must be present to enter a code and approve screen sharing. Quick Assist works on Windows 11 Home; hosting Remote Desktop does not.

Microsoft references

• How to use Remote Desktop (Microsoft Support)
• Enable Remote Desktop on your PC (Microsoft Learn)
• Allow access to your PC from outside your PC’s network (Microsoft Learn)
• Get started with Windows App (Microsoft Learn)
• mstsc command reference (Microsoft Learn)
• General Remote Desktop connection troubleshooting (Microsoft Learn)
• Solve PC problems remotely with Quick Assist (Microsoft Support)

Once your first connection works on your home network, set up a VPN before you travel so you can reach the PC without exposing it to the internet.

Related: How to open ports on Windows 11.