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Sometimes you might find yourself sitting at one computer, but needing the data or facilities on another. Or you may need to help a friend or family member solve a problem. Well, with Remote Desktop Connection in Windows 10 you can access another PC in another room, or even on a Wi-Fi-enabled restaurant. I’ll show you how to set up this useful feature so you can control one PC using another.
Sometimes you might find yourself sitting at one computer, but needing the data or facilities on another. Or you may need to help a friend or family member solve a problem. Well, with Remote Desktop Connection in Windows 10 you can access another PC in another room, or even on a Wi-Fi-enabled restaurant. I’ll show you how to set up this useful feature so you can control one PC using another.
A better question would be "should I use RDC in Windows 10?"
For most people, the answer is probably no. Remote Desktop Connection isn’t exactly easy to set up when compared to services such as VNC, Team Viewer, or - one of our faves - Join.me
These services also offer remote access to PCs. If all you want is to view files on your hard drive, or help out friends and relatives with remote support, then we’d definitely recommend these solutions as friendlier alternatives.
And with cloud storage being so affordable these days, not to mention cross platform, we’d also suggest that keeping your files on one of these services is an easier and more convenient way to access them that leaving your home PC on all the time just so you can get at its files. Even a NAS drive is a better solution.
There's another problem with Remote Desktop Connection. Although all version of Windows 10 can connect to another Windows 10 PC remotely, only Windows 10 Pro allows remote access. So if you have Windows 10 Home edition, then you won’t find any settings to enable Remote Desktop Connection on your PC, but you will still be able to connect to another PC running Windows 10 Pro.
Set up Remote Desktop Connection in Windows 10?
So, you have Windows 10 Pro and you really want to use RDC. Well, we did warn you, but here's how to set it up.
1> First you have to allow remote access to your target PC.
To do this open File Explorer, find This PC and right-click and select Properties > Remote Settings.
2>In the Remote Desktop section make sure that the Allow remote connections to this computer option is selected and untick the Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication, as it can complicate the setup process.
3>You can of course always return to it later to increase the security of your PC. Now click Apply and OK
4>Next, you’ll need to know the IP address of this target computer so that it can be found on the network.
To do this hold down the Windows key and press R. In the box that appears type cmd and press enter. In the terminal windows that appears type ipconfig and press enter.
You’ll see a range of information appear, but the one you want is IPv4 Address. Note this down (it’s a few numbers and full stops) and also write down the Default Gateway IP address.
The IPv4 address will allow you to access the PC on a local network, but if you want to access it from a WAN (ie if you’re at work and want to dial home) then open up a browser and in the address bar type in whatismyipaddress then make a note of the address.
Once you’ve set up the target PC to allow access and have the IP address, you can move to the remote computer.
NOW
On it, open the Start Menu, start typing "Remote Desktop" and select Remote Desktop Connection when it appears in the search results.
Then in the box that appear type the IP address and click Connect. You should be prompted for your username and password, then the PC should be available to you as if you were sitting in front of it.