Set Up Remote Desktop in Windows

September 20, 2012

Here’s a quick guide to setting up Remote Desktop on Windows:

1. Allow Remote Connections

Right click on the My Computer icon > Click Properties > Click on the Remote tab
Check the box that says “Allow Users to Connect Remotely to this Computer”
Add your username to the list of allowed users, then click OK

2. Assign a static IP Address

Control Panel > Network Connections > Right Click your active connection > Click Properties
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and then click Properties
Click the “Use the following IP Address” radio button and put in valid IP info

3. Open a Port in the Router’s Firewall

Browse to your router (usually 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.1.1) and log in
Go to the Port Range Forward tab (Often under “Applications & Gaming”)
Add an entry for Port 3389 using TCP with your static IP like this

4. Set Up Dynamic DNS

Create a free No-IP account with an easy-to-remember name
Download and install the No-IP DUC client and link it to your account
Go to preferences in the DUC client, check “Run as a system service” and restart

You are done!

Jump on a remote machine and run: mstsc /v:mysubdomain.no-ip.org

For connecting from a Mac, download Remote Desktop Connection for Mac for free.