Windows 10: Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to Windows 10 PC

How to: Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to Windows 10 PC

How to Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to a Windows 10 PC


You can use the Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc.exe) or connect to and control your Windows 10 PC from a remote device. When you allow remote desktop connections to your PC, you can use another device to connect to your PC and have access to all of your apps, files, and network resources as if you were sitting at your desk.

The Remote Desktop client will not connect to a Windows 10 Home edition PC. See: Supported PCs

Should I enable Remote Desktop?
If you only want to access your PC when you are physically sitting in front of it, you don't need to enable Remote Desktop. Enabling Remote Desktop opens a port on your PC that is visible to your local network. You should only enable Remote Desktop in trusted networks, such as your home. You also don't want to enable Remote Desktop on any PC where access is tightly controlled.

Be aware that when you enable access to Remote Desktop, you are granting anyone in the Administrator's group, as well as any additional users you select through the Select user button, the ability to remotely access their accounts on the computer.

Why allow connections only with Network Level Authentication?
If you want to restrict who can access your PC, choose to allow access only with Network Level Authentication (NLA). When you enable this option, users have to authenticate themselves to the network before they can connect to your PC. Allowing connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with NLA is a more secure authentication method that can help protect your computer from malicious users and software. To learn more about NLA and Remote Desktop, check out Configure NLA for RDS Connections.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable allowing Remote Desktop connections to your Windows 10 PC.

*Warning You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Remote Desktop connections.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to this Computer in Settings
• Option Two: To Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to this Computer in System Remote Settings
• Option Three: To Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to this Computer using a REG file
• Option Four: To Force Always Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to this Computer in Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Five: To Force Always Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to this Computer using a REG file

OPTION ONE [/i] To Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to this Computer in Settings
1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.

2. Do step 3 (disable) or step 4 (enable) below for what you want.


3. To Disable Remote Desktop Connections
A) Click/tap on Remote Desktop on the left side, and turn off Enable Remote Desktop on the right side. (see screenshot below)



B) Click/tap on Confirm, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)




4. To Enable Remote Desktop Connections
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on Remote Desktop on the left side, and turn on Enable Remote Desktop on the right side. (see screenshot below)



B) Click/tap on Confirm. (see screenshot below)



C) You can now view and/or change any Remote Desktop settings if wanted. (see screenshots below)

D) When finished, go to step 5 below.





5. When finished, you can close Settings if you like.





OPTION TWO [/i] To Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to this Computer in System Remote Settings
1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the System icon.

2. Click/tap on the Remote settings link on the left side of the System window. (see screenshot below)



3. Do step 4 (enable) or step 5 (disable) below for what you want.


4. To Enable Remote Desktop Connections
*note This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Allow remote connections to this computer. (see screenshot below)

B) Check (default & recommended) or uncheck Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication for what you want.

C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below.





5. To Disable Remote Desktop Connections
*note This is the default setting, click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below.
A) Select (dot) Don't allow remote connections to this computer. (see screenshot below)




6. When finished, you can close the System Control Panel window if you like.





OPTION THREE [/i] To Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to this Computer using a REG file

*note The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD values in the registry keys below.

(Enable or Disable Remote Desktop)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server

fDenyTSConnections DWORD

0 = Enable
1 = Disable

(Turn On or Off "Network Level Authentication" for Remote Desktop)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp

UserAuthentication DWORD

0 = Off
1 = On


1. Do step 2 (enable with Network Level Authentication), step 3 (enable without Network Level Authentication), or step 4 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Enable Remote Desktop Connections with Network Level Authentication
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Enable_Remote_Desktop_with_Network_Level_Authentication.reg

Download

3. To Enable Remote Desktop Connections without Network Level Authentication
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Enable_Remote_Desktop_without_Network_Level_Authentication.reg

Download

4. To Disable Remote Desktop Connections
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Disable_Remote_Desktop_connections_on_PC.reg

Download
5. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.





OPTION FOUR [/i] To Force Always Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to this Computer in Local Group Policy Editor

*note This option will override and gray out Option One, Option Two, and Option Three above.

The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Five below for this same policy setting.
1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. Navigate to the folder below in the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Connections




3. In the right pane of Connections in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Allow users to connect remotely by using Remote Desktop Services policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (not configured), step 6 (always enabled), or step 7 (always disabled) below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)




5. To Set Default "Not Configured" setting
*note This will allow you to use Option One, Option Two, or Option Three above to enable or disable Remote Desktop.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 4)

6. To Force Always Enable Remote Desktop Connections
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 4)

7. To Force Always Disable Remote Desktop Connections
A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 4)

8. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.





OPTION FIVE [/i] To Force Always Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to this Computer using a REG file

*note This option does the same thing as Option Four, and will override and gray out Option One, Option Two, and Option Three above.

The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services

fDenyTSConnections DWORD

<delete> = Not Configured
0 = Enable
1 = Disable


1. Do step 2 (not configured), step 3 (always enabled), or step 4 (always disabled) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Restore Default "Not Configured" setting
*note This will allow you to use Option One, Option Two, or Option Three above to enable or disable Remote Desktop.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Default_Not_Configured_Remote_Desktop_connections.reg

Download

3. To Force Always Enable Remote Desktop Connections
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Force_Always_Enable_Remote_Desktop_connections.reg

Download

4. To Force Always Disable Remote Desktop Connections
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Force_Always_Disable_Remote_Desktop_connections.reg

Download
5. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to use Remote Desktop Connection to connect to and from your Windows 10 PC
• Enable or Disable Always Prompt for Password upon Remote Desktop Connection to Windows PC
• How to Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows
• How to Add or Remove Remote Desktop Users in Windows
• How to Allow or Prevent Users and Groups to Log on with Remote Desktop in Windows 10
• How to Deny Users and Groups to Log on with Remote Desktop in Windows 10
• Turn On or Off RDC 'Your remote session will be disconnected' Message in Windows
• How to Create Remote Desktop Connection Shortcut for Specific PC in Windows
• How to Delete Saved Credentials of a Remote Desktop Connection in Windows
• How to Remove Computer Entries from Remote Desktop Connection History in Windows 10
• How to Add a Remote Desktop Connection in Remote Desktop app on Windows 10 PC
• How to Remove a Remote Desktop Connection in Remote Desktop app on Windows 10 PC
• How to Change Global Settings in Remote Desktop app on Windows 10 PC
• How to Enable or Disable Remote Assistance Connections in Windows

:)

 

Remote desktop in window 10 cannot access computer having windows 8

No, it's the other way round all editions include the Remote Desktop Client and can connect to any PC with the Remote Desktop Server enabled. Only Pro and above allow you to connect to them.

Enable or Disable Remote Desktop Connections to Windows 10 PC

https://docs.microsoft.com/windows-s...#supported-pcs

maideen5's region is Malaysia, English may not be their first language. As I understand it the OP's problem can be stated as:

• The Windows 10 PC can connect to the remote desktop of a PC running Windows Server 2012, but cannot connect to a Windows 8.1 PC.
• A Windows 7 PC can connect to both, so the Windows 8.1 PC is known to allow incoming connections.

I don't have an 8.1 Pro machine, so I can't test this for myself. @Kari wrote the tutorial on this, perhaps he has a suggestion.

Edit: see post #10

 

Remote Desktop Connection problems


Have you tried Remote Desktop Connection, to connect from your Windows 10 laptop to your Windows 7 desktop? Try it first, post back and tell how it went.

Some additional help because you mentioned you are a remote newbie *Wink. The windows 7 related tutorials from our sister site the Seven Forums:

1. On Windows 7 desktop, set network location to either Home or Work (I recommend Work):
   • Network Location - Set as Home, Work, or Public Network - Windows 7 Help Forums
2. On Windows 7 desktop, allow incoming remote connections:
   • Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) - Network - Windows 7 Help Forums
3. On Windows 7 desktop, find out its IP address:
   • IP Address - Locate and Find for Your Computer - Windows 7 Help Forums
4. On Windows 10 laptop, start the Remote Desktop application and connect to the Windows 7 desktop using the IP address from step 3 above (see Part Three in the tutorial):
   • RDC - Connect Remotely to your Windows 10 PC - Windows 10 Forums
   • Notice that although the tutorial is written for Windows 10, it also applies to Windows 7

Try the above, post back how it went.

 

Remote Desktop can't connect to the remote computer

We suggest that you disable any security program on your computer and check if it resolves the issue.

NOTE: Antivirus software can help protect your computer against viruses and other security threats. In most cases, you shouldn't disable your antivirus software. If you have to temporarily disable it to install other software, you should re-enable it as
soon as you're done. If you're connected to the Internet or a network while your antivirus software is disabled, your computer is vulnerable to attacks.

Then follow the steps below to ensure remote desktop is enabled:

• Click Start.
• Click on File Explorer.
• Right-click This PC.
• Select Properties.
• Click Remote settings in the upper left hand corner.
• Ensure the option Allow remote connection to this computer and
  Allow Remote Assistance connection to this computer is selected.
• Click Apply and OK.
• Reboot the PC for the changes to take effect.

Let us know the result.

 

Using Remote Desktop to connect to Windows 7 PC from Windows 10 PC

Hi,

To isolate your concern, we'll need the following information:

• What exactly the error message are you getting?
• How do you set up Remote Desktop connection?

To check if you are doing it right, make sure Remote Desktop settings is turned on using Windows 10. To check, follow the steps below:

• Press Windows key.
• Type Allow remote access to your computer.
• On the Remote tab,under Remote Assistance, check Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer.
• Under Remote Desktop, check Allow remote connections to this computer.
  
• Click OK.

To check if Remote Desktop is set up on Windows 7, follow the steps below:

• Go to Control Panel.
  
• Click System and Security.
• Click System.
• On the left pane, click Remote settings.
• On the Remote tab, under Remote Assistance, check Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer.
• Under Remote Desktop, check Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop (less secure)
• Click OK.

Afterwards, you may now go ahead and start the Remote Desktop connection.

Let us know how it goes.

 

Remote Desktop missing in Allow Apps Through Firewall on Windows 10

Hi Brian,

To isolate the issue, please provide the following information:

• How did you enable Remote Desktop on your Windows 10 Pro? Please share the steps that you've taken.
  
• Are there any error messages that appear whenever Windows disables Remote Desktop?

Regards.