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In today’s world, connecting to a remote computer has become commonplace, given that many companies have adopted a work-from-home culture. However, this can bring up many technical issues, including common errors such as “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer.”

So, how to fix this error? Well, let’s get a bit into the basics first.

Remote desktop is a convenient feature that allows you to virtually connect to other computers running the Windows operating system. With this feature, you can connect to computers located in any part of the world, provided you have the right credentials [username and password] to connect. Also, a good Internet connection is absolutely essential!

If you have the right credentials and the Internet connection and still face this issue, let’s address them.

Top reasons for ‘remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer’ error

Before you read this section, check if your Internet connection is working fine and if you’re using the right credentials to log in because these are two of the most common causes of this error. Besides these two causes, there are also other reasons for this error.

Windows update

Many times, the Remote Desktop [RDP] functionality may get corrupted after a Windows update or upgrade as one of the newly installed files can interfere with the working of the RDP. You’ll have to manually identify the exact cause and fix it.

Antivirus

Sometimes, antivirus software can block RDP completely or partially, and this leads to the “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer” error. The good news about this error is it is easy to identify. Disable your antivirus and see if you can connect now. If you can, you’ve found the root cause of the problem!

If you have a public network profile or a network group, your computer can block the remote desktop functionality as a protective measure. While this is not an exhaustive list of reasons, these are the most common ones. Now comes the big question — how to fix the “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer” error.

Fixing the ‘remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer’ error

There are many ways to fix this error, so you’ll have to try them one after the other until the problem is fixed. This is true, especially when you don’t know the root cause of the error.

Change your firewall settings

This is one of the easiest solutions to the “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer” error. Turn off your firewall and see if you can connect to the remote computer, and if you can, you’ve identified the cause.

Here are the steps to fix this problem.

Open the start menu and type “Allow an app through Windows firewall.” Alternatively, navigate to Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall > Allowed apps.
Look for a button called “Change Settings” on the right-hand top corner of the page and click it.

You’ll see the list of apps that were allowed or blocked by your firewall. Scroll through the options until you get to “Remote Desktop.” Check the private and public checkboxes.
Close the window and try connecting. If the firewall was the problem, you should be able to connect to the remote computer now.

Check your permissions

You have to be a member of the local Remote Desktop Users group to access a remote machine through RDP. By default, this group is empty and only administrators have the option to add users. So, check with your admin and see if you have the permission to connect via RDP.

Allow remote desktop connections

Remote Desktop Connection [RDC] is the technology that allows your computer to connect to a remote computer over the Internet. You won’t be able to connect if this functionality is blocked.

To check if this is blocked, and to allow in case of blocked connections,

Go to the Start menu and type “Allow Remote Desktop Connections.”
Look for an option called “Change settings to allow remote connections to this computer.”
Click on the “Show settings” link right next to it.
Check the “Allow Remote Assistance Connections to this Computer.” Click Apply and OK.

These steps will enable the RDC on your computer.

Reset your credentials

When you connect to a computer frequently, you’ll save the credentials. However, the same credentials may be used when you connect to a new computer too, and this could cause problems. So, check if you’re using the right credentials for the right computer.

To reset the credentials,

Open the Remote Desktop Connection. You should find it in the Start menu.
Type the IP address of the computer you want to connect to.
If the credentials are already saved, you’ll have the option to edit or delete it.
Make the necessary changes.

This will reset or change your credentials.

Verify the status of RDP services

The “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer” error can be because RDP services are not enabled either on the local or on the remote computer.

Check if the following services are running on both computers.

Remote Desktop Services [TermService].
Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector. Look for UmRdpService.

You can’t connect to a remote computer if the UmRdpService was disabled through a central Group Policy. Start these services if you have admin privileges or request the admin to start them for you. Also, you may have to reboot the machine after this service starts.

Sometimes, Windows won’t allow you to connect to those hosts whose IP address is not saved in your hosts file. So, if you’re connecting to a computer for the first time:

Open the command prompt. Go to Run and type cmd to open it.
Type cd C:/Windows/System32/Drivers/etc. This will list down all the hosts saved on your computer. If you don’t find the IP of the computer you want to connect to, open this file in notepad and manually add the new IP.

To do this, type notepad hosts.
Once the file opens, add the IP address at the end of the file, save, and close it.

Now if you check, you should see the IP hostname in your hosts file.

Check the Group Policy

A possible cause of the “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer” error can be incorrect Group Policy settings.

To verify and change [if needed]:

Open the Run window [Windows key + R] and type gpedit.msc.
Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Connections.
Look for the “Allow users to connect remotely by using Remote Desktop Services” option.
If this setting is disabled, change it to Enabled or Not Configured setting.

Add the RDGClientTransport Key

This is a technical fix, so watch out while doing it.

In this option, you’ll be tweaking the registry key to force the RDP to use RPC/HTTP connections instead of HTTP/UDP connection.

To do this,

Press Windows + R to open run and type Regedit. Press the Enter key.
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Terminal Server Client.
Navigate to the right-hand pane, right-click, and choose New > DWORD [32-bit value].
Name this option as “RDGClientTransport.”
Double-click this newly-created file. Its properties will open, and here, look for an option to set the value data. Enter the value 1. Click OK and close the Windows registry.

Check the RDP listener port

Next, check the RDP listener port. By default, Remote Desktop service will use port 3389 unless you change it. If some other application is using the same port, you won’t be able to connect.

To check the remote desktop port that’s being used:

Type Windows + R and in the dialog box, type Regedit
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > System > CurrentControlSet > Control > Terminal Server > WinStations > RDP-Tcp.
Look at the right-hand pane and check the value of “PortNumber.”
If the value is 0x00000000d3d, it means the default port is configured and its value is 3389.
Change it to 3388 and try connecting to the remote computer in the new port.

Change the network properties

The cause of the connectivity problem could be the network settings as sometimes, Windows may block public networks as a security measure. So, change the settings to private and see if it works.

To do that:

Navigate to Control Panel > Network and Internet.
Open the Status.
Click the “Change Connection Properties” option. Look for this on the right-hand pane.
When this window opens, choose the “Private” radio button, and close.

Try connecting now to see if it works.

Overall, the “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer” is a common error, but it can have many fixes as the cause may vary greatly. Though it can be a little arduous, your best bet is to run through each solution until you find the one that fixes your problem.

Thanks for reading and share with us the fix that worked for you. If you know any other solutions, please share that too with our readers.

Featured image: Shutterstock

by Ivan Jenic

Troubleshooting Expert

Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting. When he's not tackling... Read more

Updated: Mar 3, 2022

Remote Desktop is a very useful feature, which allows us to control our computer from another device.
Some factors can cause Remote Desktop to stop working but read the article below to find plenty of solutions.
We wrote a lot more about Remote Desktop Connection so it would be useful for you to bookmark the page.
If you experienced any other Windows 10 errors you have to check out our Windows 10 errors hub.

Remote Desktop is a very useful Windows 10 feature, which allows us to control our computer from another device.

Of course, it requires an internet connection to work, so if your computer is not properly connected to the internet, you won’t be able to use this feature.

However, even some other factors could cause Remote Desktop to stop working, and we’re going to talk about these issues and solutions for them in this article.

Speaking of issues, many users reported the following problems:

Remote Desktop can’t connect to the remote computer for one of these reasons Windows 10
- Sometimes you might get this error message on your PC. If you encounter this problem, be sure to try all the solutions from this article.
Windows 10 RDP client not working
- Sometimes RDP client won’t work at all on your PC. This can be due to your system configuration. To fix that, make sure that you’re using a private network.
RDP this computer can’t connect to the remote computer
- This is another common problem with RDP. To fix this issue, be sure to check both your antivirus and firewall.
Remote Desktop not working after Windows 10 upgrade
- Sometimes issues with Remote Desktop can occur after installing a Windows update. To fix the issue, simply remove the update and the problem will be fixed.
Unable to connect to remote PC, please verify Remote Desktop is enabled
- This is another common problem with Remote Desktop. However, you should be able to fix the problem using one of our solutions.
Windows 10 Remote Desktop credentials did not work
- If you encounter this error on your PC, you might be able to fix it simply by removing your saved credentials.
Remote Desktop cannot connect error, certificate expired invalid, in the time allotted
- There are various errors that can appear while trying to use the Remote Desktop feature. However, you should be able to fix them using one of our solutions.
Remote Desktop won’t connect over the Internet
- This is another problem related to the Remote Desktop feature. If Remote Desktop can’t connect, be sure to check your firewall and antivirus settings.

The remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer for one of these reasons:

Remote access to the server is not enabled
The remote computer is turned off
The remote computer is not available on the network

These can be caused by a limited network connection, not enough memory, and wrong firewall settings.

So, if you can’t connect to Remote Desktop in Windows 10, make sure your computer doesn’t have any of the above-mentioned issues.

How do I solve problems with Remote Desktop in Windows 10?

1. Check your internet connection

As I said, the Internet is required for Remote Desktop to connect with another device. So, check if everything is okay with your internet connection.

If you determine that you have some problems connecting to the internet, check out our articles about Internet problems and Limited internet connection in Windows 10, and you might find the solution.

2. Check if remote connections are allowed

Go to Search, type remote settings, and open Allow Remote connections to your computer.
Check Allow remote connections to this computer and click OK to save changes.

Just like you need to allow Remote Desktop through the Firewall, you also need to allow remote connections on your computer, if you’re using this feature for the first time.

Remote connections are now enabled, and you should try to connect again. We also noticed another possible issue that could prevent using Remote Desktop.

If the computer you want to connect to remotely is in the Sleep or Hibernate mode, the connection won’t be possible, so check if the computer is ‘awake,’ and then try to connect again.

3. Remove your credentials from Remote Desktop

Press Windows Key + S and enter remote desktop. Click on Remote Desktop Connection from the menu.
When Remote Desktop Connection window opens, go to Advanced tab and click on Settings.
Now click on Delete Credentials.

According to users, sometimes Remote Desktop won’t connect due to problems with your credentials. However, you can fix that issue simply by removing the saved credentials.

After deleting your credentials, check if the problem still persists. Many users reported that this solution fixed the problem for them, so be sure to try it out.

4. Turn off custom scaling

Open the
If custom scaling is turned on, you should see A custom scale factor is set message. Click on Turn off custom scaling and sign out.

If Remote Desktop won’t connect, the problem might be related to custom scaling. Many users use custom scaling on larger monitors, but sometimes this feature can cause problems with Remote Desktop.

Once you sign back in, the scaling should be set to default and all problems with Remote Desktop will be resolved. Many users reported that this solution worked for them, so we strongly recommend you try it out.

Go to Search, type firewall and open Windows Defender Firewall.
Go to Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall.
Click on Change Settings.
Find Remote Desktop, check it, and click OK to save changes.

Windows Firewall is also one of the most common causes of Remote Desktop problems. If Remote Desktop is blocked by Firewall, you won’t be able to connect it with another device.

Now try to connect your computers via Remote Desktop, and it should work.

Remote Desktop is not enabled in Firewall by default, so if you’re running Remote Desktop for the first time, allowing it through Windows Firewall is a must.

In addition to your firewall, it’s important to check if your antivirus isn’t blocking the Remote Desktop feature.

Sometimes antivirus can interfere with your system and prevent this feature from working properly. In some cases, you might have to uninstall your antivirus in order to fix this issue.

If you’re looking for a new antivirus that is compatible with Remote Desktop, we suggest that you consider changing your antivirus software that works great with Windows 10, so it won’t interfere with other processes and apps thus creating problems.

6. Make changes to your registry

Press Windows Key + R and enter regedit. Press Enter or click OK to start
In the left pane, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftTerminal Server Client key. In the right pane, right click the empty space and choose New > DWORD [32-bit] Value. Enter RDGClientTransport as the name of the new DWORD.
Double click newly created RDGClientTransport DWORD to open its properties. Set Value data to 1 and click on OK to save changes.

According to users, you might be able to fix this problem by making one small change to your registry.

After making these changes, check if the problem still persists. This might be a slightly advanced solution, but many users reported that it worked for them, so you might want to try it out.

7. Add the IP address and server name to the hosts file

Several users reported that they were unable to use Remote Desktop due to their host’s file.

According to them, to fix the issue, you need to manually add the IP address and the server name to the host’s file on your PC.

To do that, navigate to This directory and edit the hosts file with Notepad.:

C:WindowsSystem32Driversetc

Keep in mind that the host’s file is a system file, so if you want to modify it, you’ll need administrative privileges.

For more information on how to modify your host’s file and gain administrative privileges, we strongly recommend checking Access denied when editing the host’s file article.

Once you make changes to your host’s file, the issue with Remote Desktop should be resolved.

8. Check if 3389 port is enabled

If Remote Desktop won’t connect, the problem might be your firewall. Your firewall can block certain ports in order to protect your PC, but sometimes your firewall can block certain ports by mistake.

For example, port 3389 is used by Remote Desktop, and if your firewall is blocking this port, you won’t be able to use this feature at all.

If this port is enabled, but the issue still appears, try disabling and enabling your firewall. Sometimes a quick firewall reset can fix the problem, so you might want to try that.

Can’t reset the firewall? Check out this complete guide on how to do that!

9. Change your connection from Public to Private

Click the network icon in the bottom right corner of your
Click on your network connection name.
Select Private as your network profile.

In order to protect your PC, remote connections are disabled if you’re using a public connection. After doing that, the problem with Remote Desktop should be completely resolved.

Also, if none of the solutions worked, you can use Mikogo to solve the connectivity problems. With this remote desktop software, you get complete security and control of your PC.

Remote Desktop not working over VPN

Remote desktop not connecting through VPN cases are more frequent than you can imagine.

While the potential culprits can be diverse ranging from connectivity issues [ports, network adapters, and so on] to communication and protocols, it’s likely that the issue is caused by an incorrect setup.

Whether the VPN disconnects when Remote Desktop is activated or the Remote Desktop fails with VPN connected, getting the two of them to collaborate harmoniously is essential.

Here are some quick tips to consider:

Allow Remote Desktop connections on the server PC
Create a VPN server using your router
Set up a VPN connection on the client PC
Connect to the server PC

If you want to find out how to set up a VPN with Remote Desktop Connection on Windows 10/11, we got your back. So don’t be shy to explore the topic and follow the presented instructions step by step.

That’s about it, we hope at least some of these solutions helped you with connection problems with Remote Desktop in Windows 10.

If you have any comments or questions, just reach out to the comment section below, and we’ll try to assist you further.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Remote Desktop Connection

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