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To access a Windows PC from another device, the PC you are connecting to must run Windows Pro. On that host, open Start > Settings > System > Remote Desktop, turn Remote Desktop on, confirm the change, and record the displayed PC name. On the client device, open the appropriate Remote Desktop client, enter that PC name, and sign in with an account authorized on the host. Keep Windows Firewall enabled, and treat access from outside your home or office network as a separate networking and security problem.
Understand the host, client, and connection
Remote Desktop uses two devices:
- Host (remote PC): The Windows computer that stays in one location and whose screen and applications you want to use.
- Client: The device in front of you, such as another Windows PC, a Mac, an iPhone, an iPad, or an Android device.
The Windows edition requirement applies to the host, not necessarily to the client. Microsoft says the remote PC must run Windows Pro, while the connecting device can run any Windows edition or a different operating system. Remote Desktop is therefore useful when your main computer is a Pro-edition Windows machine but your travel device is a Mac, phone, or tablet.
The complete process is:
- Check the host’s Windows edition.
- Enable Remote Desktop on the host.
- Record the host’s PC name.
- Open the correct client app on the other device.
- Enter the PC name and sign in.
- Check firewall and network conditions if the connection fails.
Microsoft’s current procedural reference is How to use Remote Desktop. Labels and app availability can change, so compare your screen with Microsoft’s current instructions if your version looks different.
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Check whether the host PC qualifies
Verify the Windows edition
Perform this check on the PC you intend to access remotely:
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- Select Start.
- Open Settings.
- Select System, then About.
- Under Windows specifications, find Edition.
The edition must be Windows Pro for the host to accept Remote Desktop connections according to Microsoft’s support guidance. The connecting device does not have to be Windows Pro.
Do not confuse the host requirement with the client requirement
| Device | What it does | Requirement described by Microsoft |
|---|---|---|
| Host or remote PC | Accepts the Remote Desktop session | Windows Pro |
| Windows client | Starts the session | Can use the Windows Remote Desktop Connection client; the client edition can differ |
| Mac or iPhone/iPad client | Starts the session from Apple’s platform | Use Windows App, available through the relevant app store |
| Android client | Starts the session from Android | Use the Remote Desktop app from Google Play |
If the host is running a Windows edition that cannot act as a Remote Desktop host, changing settings on the client will not solve the problem. You need a qualifying host edition or a different remote-access method; this guide covers Microsoft’s built-in Remote Desktop feature.
Enable Remote Desktop on the Windows host
Turn on the feature
- On the host PC, open Start > Settings.
- Select System.
- Choose Remote Desktop.
- Turn on Remote Desktop.
- Confirm the change when Windows asks.
After Remote Desktop is enabled, the same page displays the host’s PC name. Copy it exactly or write it down. The client uses this name to identify the computer. A typo in the name can look like a network failure even when the host is configured correctly.
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Use the value shown under PC name on the Remote Desktop settings page. Do not substitute a friendly description that you invented yourself. If you later rename the Windows computer, check this page again and update the saved value in your client app.
Confirm who is allowed to sign in
Remote Desktop signs in with a Windows account on the host. Use the account credentials that are authorized for access, and be prepared to provide the account name and password when the client prompts you. If another person administers the PC, organization policy may determine which accounts are permitted.
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Connect from a Windows PC
Use Remote Desktop Connection
- On the client Windows PC, open Start and search for Remote Desktop Connection.
- Open the result with that name.
- In the Computer field, enter the host’s PC name exactly as it appears in the host’s Remote Desktop settings.
- Select Connect.
- When prompted, enter the credentials for an authorized account on the host.
If authentication succeeds and the network can reach the host, a Remote Desktop session opens and you can work with the host’s Windows desktop. The client is only initiating the session; the Windows Pro requirement remains a requirement for the host.
What to check if the Windows client cannot connect
- Recheck every character in the PC name.
- Confirm that Remote Desktop is still turned on at Settings > System > Remote Desktop on the host.
- Confirm that the host is powered on and connected to the network you are trying to use.
- Verify that you are using credentials for an account on the host, not an unrelated account on the client.
- Check Windows Firewall and network-profile restrictions before disabling security controls.
Connect from macOS or iOS
Use Windows App
Microsoft lists Windows App for connecting from macOS and iOS. Install or open it through the Microsoft Store or Apple App Store, as applicable to your device.
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- Open Windows App on the Mac, iPhone, or iPad.
- Choose the option to add a PC or remote connection.
- Enter the host PC name that you recorded from the Windows Remote Desktop settings page.
- Save the entry if the app offers that option.
- Select the PC entry to start the connection.
- Sign in with the authorized Windows account for the host.
The exact arrangement of buttons can vary by Windows App release and device size. The important values are the host PC name and the host account credentials. If the app cannot locate the PC, troubleshoot the network path and name before repeatedly changing sign-in details.
Connect from Android
Use the Remote Desktop app
Microsoft’s support instructions identify the Remote Desktop app for Android and direct users to Google Play.
- Install or open the Remote Desktop app on the Android device.
- Use the add option to create a new PC connection.
- Enter the host PC name from the Windows host.
- Select the saved PC entry.
- Enter the credentials for an account authorized on the host.
On a phone, the desktop is displayed on a small touch screen, so a larger tablet or an external keyboard and mouse may be more comfortable. Those are usability choices, not additional Remote Desktop requirements.
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Connect over a home, office, or outside network
Local-network access
When the client and host are on the same reachable network, the PC name may be sufficient for the client to find the host. The host still needs to be powered on, Remote Desktop must remain enabled, and network security controls must allow the connection.
Access from the internet
Microsoft describes Remote Desktop as usable over a network or the internet, but internet access is not a universal one-click setting. Whether a client outside your home or office can reach the host depends on the router, network addressing, firewall policy, and any organization controls between the two devices. The documented setup does not provide a single router or port-forwarding recipe that is safe and correct for every network.
Do not assume that entering the host’s local PC name from a distant network will work. If the host is on an organization network, contact that network’s administrator for the approved remote-access path rather than changing router or firewall settings yourself.
Why a VPN may be preferable for organization access
Microsoft’s work-from-home guidance describes a VPN as a more secure way to connect to an organization’s network, particularly when using public Wi-Fi. A VPN can put the client inside the organization’s approved network path before Remote Desktop is attempted. It does not replace the Windows Pro requirement or the need to enable Remote Desktop on the host.
For context on Remote Desktop and VPN use when working remotely, see Microsoft’s Advanced alternatives for working remotely. Follow your employer’s VPN and remote-access policy; do not invent a public-access configuration when the organization supplies a managed one.
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Keep Windows Firewall enabled
Why the firewall matters
Windows Firewall filters network traffic and helps block unauthorized access. Microsoft distinguishes domain, private, and public network profiles, with public networks generally requiring stricter controls. A working Remote Desktop setup is not a reason to turn the firewall off.
Microsoft’s Firewall and network protection guidance explains the role of the firewall and network profiles.
Allow an app instead of disabling protection
If Windows reports that an app is blocked, Microsoft recommends allowing the necessary app through the firewall rather than turning off Windows Firewall entirely. This preserves protection for other traffic while addressing the specific block.
When settings are controlled by an administrator
On a managed work or school PC, policy may prevent you from changing firewall settings. If Windows does not let you make the required change, ask the administrator responsible for the computer or network. Repeatedly attempting local changes will not override an organization policy.
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- Return to Settings > System > About and check Windows specifications > Edition on the host.
- Confirm that you are changing settings on the PC you want to access, not on the client.
- If the PC is managed by an organization, ask whether policy controls the feature.
The host-edition check is the first branch because a client can be fully configured and still be unable to connect to a nonqualifying host.
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The client cannot find the PC
- Compare the entered name with the value shown under PC name on the host.
- Make sure both devices have the network path your organization or home network requires.
- If you are away from the host network, determine whether an approved VPN or other managed access method is required.
- Check whether firewall or network-profile rules are blocking the connection.
The sign-in prompt rejects the credentials
- Use an account that exists on the host and is authorized for Remote Desktop access.
- Check that the account name and password are being entered for the host, not for the client device.
- If the PC belongs to an organization, confirm the required account format and access policy with its administrator.
The connection worked locally but not from elsewhere
That result points to a network-path difference rather than proof that Remote Desktop itself is broken. Recheck whether the client is outside the host’s network, whether a VPN is required, and whether the router or organization firewall permits the approved connection method. There is no universal internet-facing configuration in Microsoft’s general setup instructions, so use the network owner’s documented procedure.
A public Wi-Fi connection is involved
Public networks generally have stricter security controls. Avoid disabling Windows Firewall to make a connection work. For organization resources, use the approved VPN or remote-access process, and ask the administrator if policy prevents changes to firewall or network settings.
Windows 10 support status and what it means for this setup
Microsoft states that support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. Under the support policy described by Microsoft, Windows 10 no longer receives free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes. A Windows 10 PC may still display settings or run software, but its support status is a separate security and maintenance concern from whether a particular Remote Desktop connection can be configured.
Before relying on a Windows 10 host for ongoing remote access, review Microsoft’s current support information and your organization’s security requirements. Do not treat a successful connection as evidence that the operating system remains fully supported.
A practical setup checklist
- Host identified: You know which computer will stay at the location you want to reach.
- Edition checked: The host’s Settings > System > About > Windows specifications > Edition entry shows Windows Pro.
- Remote Desktop enabled: The host’s Settings > System > Remote Desktop switch is on and confirmed.
- PC name recorded: You copied the name displayed on the Remote Desktop page.
- Client selected: You are using Remote Desktop Connection on Windows, Windows App on macOS or iOS, or the Remote Desktop app on Android.
- Credentials ready: You can sign in with an authorized account on the host.
- Firewall left on: Any necessary exception is handled as an app allowance rather than disabling Windows Firewall.
- Network path understood: You know whether the client is local to the host, needs an approved VPN, or requires help from a network administrator.
What a successful connection looks like
Success means the client locates the PC identified by the host’s displayed PC name, accepts credentials for an authorized host account, and opens the Windows desktop in a Remote Desktop session. If that sequence stops, diagnose it in order: host edition, Remote Desktop switch, PC name, account authorization, firewall, and network path. Keeping those checks separate prevents a client-app problem from being confused with an unsupported host edition or an unavailable internet route.
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