Tutorial: Connect to My Home Computer Using Remote Desktop

Can I connect to my home computer using Remote Desktop?

Though RDP is widely used for remote communication, it is not compatible with all Windows operating systems. For example, if acts as the server side to receive remote control, Windows Home/Standard Edition does not support Remote Desktop. Therefore, as long as your home computer is Windows Professional or higher, you can easily access your home computer from another device via RDP.

How to use Remote Desktop Connection

Here is how to connect to home computer remotely using Remote Desktop Connection.

Part 1. Preparation work on remote PC

Before you start, there are several things you need to complete on your home computer.

1. Enable Remote Desktop

Navigate: Settings > System > Remote Desktop > Turn on Enable Remote Desktop.

2. Allow Remote Desktop through Windows Firewall

Step 1. Open Control Panel, and navigate to System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.

Step 2. On the left pane, select Allow an App or Feature Through Windows Defender Firewall.

Step 3. Locate and tick Remote Desktop, then click OK.

3. Look up the IP address and username

Step 1. Press Win + R, enter “cmd” and press OK.

Step 2. To get the IP address, enter the command "ipconfig" and note down the IPv4 Address.

Step 3. To get the username, enter the command “query user” and note down the username.

4. Forward port on your router (optional)

If you are connecting from outside your network, you need to port forward for RDP. If the two devices are on LAN, you can skip this section to Part 2.

Step 1. Open a web browser, type in your router address, and press Enter.

Step 2. Input the username and password, then click Login. (If you don’t know the login details, check your router’s user manual)

Step 3. When you logged in, click Port Forwarding/Port Triggering on the left pane, and click Add Custom Service.

Step 4. Then enter a name for the service, select "TCP/UDP" or "Both" under Service Type, type in the RDP port number (default 3389), and enter the IP address.

Step 5. Click Apply to save the settings and, if necessary, restart the router.

Part 2. Start a remote session from local PC

Now you can see how to RDP into a computer.

Step 1. Search Remote Desktop Connection in the start menu and click Open.

Step 2. Enter the IP address and username of your home computer, then click Connect.

Step 3. Enter your credentials and click OK.

AnyViewer: Access your home computer with ease

As you can see, Remote Desktop requires a lot of initial setup before starting a connection. Besides, it doesn’t support multiple monitors at all. For many users, it isn’t exactly the prettiest option for remote access. You may need an easier solution, and that’s what we will discuss.

The simplest way to access another computer is to use the excellent remote desktop software AnyViewer, which is incredibly easy to set up and has some very useful functions. You can establish unattended remote access to another computer, quickly share files between computers, view multiple monitors, etc.

It requires downloading AnyViewer on both your home computer and remote computer, but it’s totally worth it!

Here is how AnyViewer works:

Step 1. Start up AnyViewer on home computer, and click Sign up for account registration.

Step 2. Complete the information and click Sign up.

Step 3. Start up AnyViewer on client computer, log in to the same account, and your device will be automaticallyassigned to the account.

Step 4. Go to Device, select your home computer from the list, and click One-click control to start a remote session with that device.

AnyViewer offers several considerate options in a remote session:

Tips:✎...You can upgrade to Professional or Enterprise plan to enjoy more rights!

Note that AnyViewer also has an iOS and Android app, you can conveniently access computer from your phone.

Conclusion

Can I connect to my home computer using Remote Desktop? Yes! We have already introduced how to connect your home computer using Remote Desktop Connection and AnyViewer. They're almost equally good at remote connecting. However, it is more complicated to use RDP if you are away from home, we recommend you try AnyViewer and you won’t regret it.