How to Turn On Windows Remote Desktop
The Pro edition requirement to check first, and how to connect securely from another device.
Remote Desktop lets you control your computer from another device, as if you were sitting in front of it — useful for accessing your home PC from work, or giving remote technical support. First, an important check that many guides leave until the end.
Check this first: for your PC to be able to receive remote connections, you need Windows 11 or 10 in its Pro edition (not Home). Check your edition at Settings → System → About → "Windows specifications". If you have Windows Home, you won't be able to turn on this feature on your machine — you'll still be able to use it as a starting point to connect to ANOTHER computer that has Pro, but not the other way around.
Turning it on (with Windows Pro)
- Settings → System → "Remote Desktop".
- Turn on the switch.
- Note down "This PC's name" — you'll need it to connect afterwards.
Choosing who can connect
By default, only administrator accounts can connect. To give access to another account: inside the Remote Desktop settings → "Remote Desktop users" → "Add".
Connecting from another device
From another Windows PC: search for "Remote Desktop Connection", type the machine name you noted down earlier, and connect. From mobile (Android or iOS): install the official "Microsoft Remote Desktop" app from the corresponding app store, add the machine name the same way.
Warning: turning on Remote Desktop opens a port on your machine, making it accessible from your network. Only turn it on on trusted networks (like your home Wi-Fi), and if you need to connect from outside your network, do it through a VPN instead of opening access directly to the internet.
If you have Windows Home
You can't turn on your PC as a receiver of connections with Windows' own tools. You'll find third-party programs promising to bypass this limitation — keep in mind that some of these methods violate Windows' licensing terms. If you need this feature with Home, the simplest and correct alternative is upgrading the licence to Windows Pro, or using a third-party remote access program specifically designed to work on any edition, instead of forcing the native feature.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Remote Desktop with Windows Home?
You can use your Home PC to connect TO another machine, but you can't make your own Home PC receive connections — that feature requires the Pro edition.
Is it safe to leave Remote Desktop always turned on?
It's safer to only turn it on when you need it, or to keep it restricted to your local network and use a VPN to access it from outside, instead of permanently exposing the port directly to the internet.
Do I need to install anything on the other device to connect?
If it's another Windows PC, the 'Remote Desktop Connection' app already comes included. From mobile (Android or iOS) you need to install the official 'Microsoft Remote Desktop' app, free on both stores.