Setting up Windows Remote Desktop: quick and easy!

Setting up Remote Desktop – quick, easy and secure

To set up a Windows Remote Desktop, only a few simple steps are required. As this is a common method of remote access, it is also particularly secure. However, some requirements are placed on the PC that wants to provide or use this remote access. These include the fact that only certain Windows versions can be remotely controlled via remote desktop:

  • Windows 7: Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate
  • Windows 8: Professional and Enterprise
  • Windows 10: Pro and Enterprise

Microsoft specifies this restriction and therefore it cannot be eliminated by meeting other requirements. For example, a system running Windows 10 Home cannot be used for Remote Desktop.

Activate Remote Desktop

When setting up, it is necessary to first activate the Remote Desktop. Here we refer to the remotely controlled PC as the host PC. The computer using the remote desktop connection is the client. When setting up the Remote Desktop, the activation is done on the host PC. 1: Open the settings either manually or by shortcut [Windows]+[i]. 2: Select the „System“ button. 3: Navigate to „Remote Desktop“ via the menu and set the „Activate Remote Desktop“ switch to „On“. 4: The system displays a warning that must be confirmed. 5: With step 4, the activation is basically complete, as the default settings can usually be retained. If this is not the case, remote access does not work and they must be changed.

Set up cloud access via Windows Remote Desktop on PC

Those who do not want to access the cloud services via app, but via Microsoft Remote Desktop, must set up Remote Desktop. This RDP access takes place via the tools that Microsoft provides for Remote Desktop. It is important to have the necessary licences in advance and to have the access data to hand. 1: In order to be able to set up the Remote Desktop, an environment for remote access is necessary. This is provided by Windows as a remote desktop connection and must be started in the first step. 2: On the user interface that appears, enter the name of the computer and the individual user name. It is easiest to save the login information directly so that it does not have to be entered again and again. However, anyone using a shared PC should refrain from saving for security reasons. 3: Then select the local resources that are to be available for remote access. 4: In the last step, the remote desktop gateway server is stored. This step completes the process and the remote connection can be established. If necessary, the system will ask for the access data again to confirm their correctness, despite previous saving.

Setting up the RDP Client

To use the Windows Remote Desktop, it is necessary to set up the RDP client. Only after successful setup is it possible to connect to the virtual application server. 1: First start the Remote Desktop Client via Microsoft Start. 2: Then the manual configuration is carried out in order to be able to set up the Remote Desktop. This involves making the settings for the Remote Desktop gateway server. 3: Subsequently, it is necessary to start the Remote Desktop Connection in order to connect to the server. When setting up the remote desktop, the name of the target server is also specified. The user name of the terminal server user must also be stored. 4: In the last step, the user is asked again for the login data, which can alternatively be saved. If the user name and password are correct, the Remote Desktop connects. Important: In order to be able to set up the Remote Desktop and establish a connection to the Windows Server 2022 Datacenter, for example, at least the Windows 7 operating system is required. However, it is better to use a newer version such as Windows 8.1 or Windows 10.

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