[4 Ways] How to Enable Remote Desktop on Windows 10 or 11

The necessity of enabling Remote Desktop on Windows 10/11

From Windows XP Pro to the latest Windows 11/10, Remote Desktop (RDP) has been a Windows built-in feature. A Remote Desktop client can connect to computers remotely, and then you can access files & folders and even run apps on the controlled computer (the host computer) from the device that you are using (the client device).

To connect to the remote computer successfully, you should enable Remote Desktop on the host Windows 10/11 computer in advance. Otherwise, you can't connect to the remote computer.

4 tested ways to enable Remote Desktop Windows 10/11

This part is exactly about how to turn on RDP  in Windows 10 / 11 to make the computer accessible using Remote Desktop client app, like Remote Desktop Connection on Windows and RD Client on iOS.

Way 1. Enable Remote Desktop from Settings

Step 1. Search “remote desktop settings” in the search box, and double-click it to open Remote Desktop Settings.

Step 2. Toggle the button to the On position to enable RDP.

Note: Here you can see the PC name of this PC under "Use this PC name to connect from your remote device". Keep it in mind as you'll need it when you use Remote Desktop Connection from another computer to connect to this computer.

Step 3. You'll be asked to confirm whether open the app; click "Confirm" to continue.

Way 2. Allow Remote Desktop from Run windows

Step 1. Press Windows + R to open Run box. Type “sysdm.cpl” in the entry bar and press Enter to open System Properties.

Step 2. In the System Properties window, go to Remote tab, and check ”Allow remote connection to this computer”.

Way 3. Enable Remote Desktop from Command Line

Step 1. In the Search box, input "cmd", right-click the result, and choose "Run as administrator".

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and hit Enter.

▪ reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server" /v fDenyTSConnections /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Way 4. Enable Remote Desktop from Powershell

Step 1. In the search box, input "Powershell", right-click "Windows Powershell" and choose "Run as administrator".

Step 2. In the Windows Powershell window, input the following command and hit Enter.

▪ Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server' -name "fDenyTSConnections" -value 0

Follow-up work after you enable Remote Desktop on Windows 11/10

After you turn on Windows 11/10 RDP, you can access the computer remotely with RD client apps like Remote Desktop Connection. If you don't know the details steps, keep reading!

Step 1. Press Windows + R at the same time and type "mstsc" to launch Remote Desktop Connection on your local computer.

Step 2. Type in the IP address or the computer name of the remote computer that you want to connect and then click "Connect".

Step 3. In the pop-up window, you need to input the user name and the password of the remote computer account that you want to log in to and click "OK".

Notes:

• The steps are for accessing a Windows computer from another Windows computer. To access a Windows computer from an iOS device or an Android device, you need to download the RD client on App Store or Google Play. 
• The steps are suitable for accessing a PC over LAN; to access a computer over the internet via RDP, you need to perform port forwarding or set up a VPN, which can be complicated and time-consuming.
• If you have no idea about how to find out IP address, computer name, user name, press Windows + R, input cmd to open Command Prompt, run  "whoami" and  "ipconfig" command and you can find out what you need.

Further reading: Can't enable Remote Desktop on Windows 11/10 Home

You can enable Remote Desktop on Windows 11 or Windows 10 for remote access when the version is professional or Enterprise. However, we can't set up Remote Desktop on Windows 10/11 Home as the Home version doesn't support the feature. You can see the prompt - Your Home edition of Windows 11(10) doesn't support Remote Desktop. Then, how can we access the Windows 11/10 home since we can't turn on RDP on Windows 11/10 Home? 

Fortunately, you can use AnyViewer, a great alternative to Windows Remote Desktop. It enables you to remotely and securely access Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 Standard, Home, or other editions over the internet/LAN without extra setup. It enables three kinds of connection ways for unattended remote access and attendee access; you can use the proper one in accordance with different situations. Now, click the following button to free download it and see how it works on accessing a remote computer. 

Step 1. Install and run AnyViewer; create an AnyViewer account and log into the same account on all devices.

Step 2.  On the device that you want to start a remote desktop session, click "Device" and locate the computer you want to control. 

Step 3. Click the PC and click "One-click control". Immediately, you can see the desktop of the remote computer and use it without physical access.

Notes:

• If you don't want your computer to be accessed when it is unattended, go to Settings > Unattended and disable both options. 
• To offer one-time remote support, log in to an AnyViewer account only on the PC where you start the remote session and send a remote control request. 
• To access Windows computer from mobile devices like phone, you need to download AnyViewer mobile version.