How To Use Remote Desktop - Microsoft Support

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Use Remote Desktop on your Windows, Android, or iOS device to connect to a Windows 10 PC from afar. Here's how to set up your PC to allow remote connections and then connect to the PC you set up.

Note: While a Remote Desktop server (as in, the PC that you are connecting to) needs to be running a Pro edition of Windows, a client machine (the device you are connecting from) can be running any edition of Windows (Pro or Home), or even a different operating system altogether.

Windows 11Windows 10

1. Set up the PC you want to connect to so it allows remote connections:

   • Make sure you have Windows 11 Pro. To check this, select Start  , and open Settings  . Then, under System , select About , and under Windows specifications, look for Edition. For info on how to get Windows 11 Pro, go to Upgrade Windows Home to Windows Pro.

   • When you're ready, select Start  , and open Settings  . Then, under System , select Remote Desktop, set Remote Desktop to On, and then select Confirm.

   • Make note of the name of this PC under PC name. You'll need this later.

2. Use Remote Desktop to connect to the PC you set up:

   • On your local Windows PC: In the search box on the taskbar, type Remote Desktop Connection, and then select Remote Desktop Connection. In Remote Desktop Connection, type the name of the PC you want to connect to (from Step 1), and then select Connect.

   • On your Windows, macOS or iOS device: Open the Windows app (available for free from Microsoft Store and the Apple App Store), and add the name of the PC that you want to connect to (from Step 1).  Select the remote PC name that you added, and then wait for the connection to complete.

   • On your Android device: Open the Remote Desktop app (available for free from the Google Play Store) and add the name of the PC that you want to connect to (from Step 1).  Select the remote PC name that you added, and then wait for the connection to complete.

1. Set up the PC you want to connect to so it allows remote connections:

   • Make sure you have Windows 10 Pro. To check this, go to Start  > Settings  > System > About and look for Edition. For info on how to get Windows 10 Pro, go to Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro.

   • When you're ready, select Start > Settings  > System > Remote Desktop, and turn on Enable Remote Desktop.

   • Make note of the name of this PC under How to connect to this PC. You'll need this later.

2. Use Remote Desktop to connect to the PC you set up:

   • On your local Windows PC: In the search box on the taskbar, type Remote Desktop Connection, and then select Remote Desktop Connection. In Remote Desktop Connection, type the name of the PC you want to connect to (from Step 1), and then select Connect.

   • On your Windows, macOS or iOS device: Open the Windows app (available for free from Microsoft Store and the Apple App Store), and add the name of the PC that you want to connect to (from Step 1).  Select the remote PC name that you added, and then wait for the connection to complete.

   • On your Android device: Open the Remote Desktop app (available for free from the Google Play Store) and add the name of the PC that you want to connect to (from Step 1).  Select the remote PC name that you added, and then wait for the connection to complete.

Enable Remote Desktop

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