Why am I unable to connect using Remote Desktop on my Windows 10 computer?

Question

I have two computers that came with Windows 8.1. I recently upgraded them to Windows 10. I've been trying to configure the machines for remote access but am having limited/no luck.

The RDP connection fails when specifying either the hostname or the IP of the target machine.

I have tried the following to attempt to solve the issue:

• Checked that the target PC has Remote Desktop enabled. The Allow this computer to be controlled remotely checkbox under This PC -> Properties -> Remote Settings -> Advanced is indeed checked.

• Disabled Windows Firewall in case this is causing connection issues.

• Use a wired, rather than wireless, connection.

• Verified that both machines could ping each other successfully (they could).

• Verified that Remote Desktop is attempting to listen on port 3389 by checking the registry value at Computer\HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-TCP\PortNumber (this value is indeed correct). As it turns out, Remote Desktop is actually NOT listening on this port (or apparently any port). I was able to find this information by running netstat -a | findstr 3389.

• Toggling the Remote Desktop checkbox (see above) and then restarting, per a suggestion I found using Google. I tried this in various ways, including:

• Disabling Remote Desktop and then restarting. Then enabling Remote Desktop and then restarting.

• Disabling Remote Desktop, then enabling it, then restarting.

  None of these cause Remote Desktop to start listening on this port.

• Putting the two computers in a homegroup together, per another suggestion. After doing this, the two computers share files and other resources.

How can I fix this issue with Remote Desktop and allow the target machine to be connected to remotely?

As you can see, I've tried a lot of things to solve this issue. Hopefully I've missed something that somebody can spot!

Solution

Did you add your user to the remote user list?

This PC -> Properties -> Remote Settings -> Advanced -> Select Users ... And select the users.

Also, Did you allow the incoming connections on port 3389 TCP?

Control Panel -> Windows Firewall -> Advanced settings -> Inbound Rules -> New Rule ... And follow the wizard to add the port.

How to add a rule or port to a Windows 10 firewall

Comments

[Ramhound]

How does one add the user to the remote user list in specific detail?

[Roy Calderon]

@Ramhound ? What do you mean? With an administrative account you just go to computer properties, remote access, select users, and add As the pictures shows.

[Ramhound]

I personally know how to do it. Your answer does not explain how to do it. The author might not know how to do it. Anyone with this same question as the author, is not likely to know, how to do it themselves.

[Roy Calderon]

Right, there is more information now ;)

[Luigi Plinge]

The lower box with the "select users" button is not present on my Remote tab... :(

[RalfFriedl]

Why would telnet help, especially without specifying the RDP port?