Windows 11 Pro and certain business editions can accept incoming Remote Desktop connections. Windows 11 Home can use the Remote Desktop client to connect outward, but it does not provide the normal built-in Remote Desktop host feature.
Steps
- Open Settings > System > About and confirm the Windows edition supports Remote Desktop hosting.
- Open Settings > System > Remote Desktop.
- Turn Remote Desktop on and confirm the prompt.
- Note the PC name and review which users are authorized for remote access.
- Keep Network Level Authentication enabled when the available configuration supports it.
- From another device on an authorized network, open Microsoft’s Remote Desktop client and connect to the PC.
- Confirm the connection works before considering any access from outside the local network.
Do not expose RDP directly to the Internet
Forwarding TCP 3389 from a router to a Windows PC creates a high-value attack surface. For remote access from elsewhere, use an organization-approved VPN, secure gateway, or other properly managed solution.
Accounts need strong authentication
Remote-access accounts should have strong credentials and appropriate privileges. Do not create a weak password merely to make Remote Desktop easier to use.
The PC must be reachable
Sleep, firewall rules, network segmentation, VPN requirements, and name resolution can all affect connectivity even when Remote Desktop is enabled.
Managed devices can have stricter policies
Work computers may use Group Policy, Intune, Remote Desktop Gateway, or another support platform. Follow the organization’s remote-access architecture rather than overriding it locally.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.