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To RDP to a Windows server, press Windows+R on your PC, type mstsc and press Enter. In Remote Desktop Connection, enter the server IP (for example 203.0.113.10), click Connect, sign in as Administrator with your password, and accept the certificate warning. If Remote Desktop listens on a custom port, add it after a colon: 203.0.113.10:3390.

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Before you start

  • Find your server IP and Administrator password. On a VPS the IP is on your server page; if the password doesn’t work, use the VNC console to sign in and change it.
  • Wait until Windows has finished installing and has restarted. A new Windows VPS needs several minutes longer than a Linux one.
  • Connecting from a Mac, Linux, iPhone or Android? See Remote Desktop from Mac, Linux and mobile.

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How to connect with Remote Desktop Connection

1

Open Remote Desktop Connection

Press Windows+R, type mstsc and press Enter. Or open Start, type Remote Desktop Connection and open the app.
2

Enter the server address

Type the IP address in Computer, for example 203.0.113.10. For a custom port, add it after a colon, for example 203.0.113.10:3390.
3

Save the user name (optional)

Click Show Options and enter Administrator in User name. Click Save As to store an .rdp file you can double-click next time.
4

Connect and sign in

Click Connect. Enter the password. If Windows offers your PC’s account, choose More choices > Use a different account and type Administrator.
5

Accept the certificate

A new server uses a self-signed certificate, so Windows warns that The identity of the remote computer cannot be verified. Tick Don’t ask me again for connections to this computer and click Yes.

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How to enable Remote Desktop on the server

If Remote Desktop is turned off, you can’t connect with mstsc. Sign in through the VNC console and switch it on with one of these methods.
Open Start > Settings > System > Remote Desktop, set Remote Desktop to On and click Confirm.
Remote Desktop connections must also be allowed through Windows Defender Firewall. If you still can’t connect, open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security > Inbound Rules and check that the Remote Desktop rules are enabled. See open a port in Windows Firewall.
Remote Desktop on the default port is a constant target for password-guessing bots. Use a long, unique Administrator password, keep Network Level Authentication (NLA) on, and read how to protect RDP from brute-force attacks.

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How to check it worked

You see the Windows Server desktop with Server Manager opening. To confirm you are on the right server, open PowerShell and run:

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How to disconnect or sign out

  • Disconnect: close the Remote Desktop window. Your programs keep running on the server.
  • Sign out: in the server’s Start menu, click your user icon and choose Sign out. Programs you started are closed.
  • Ctrl+Alt+Del on the server: press Ctrl+Alt+End inside the Remote Desktop window, for example to change the password.

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Frequently asked questions

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Which port does Remote Desktop use?

TCP port 3389 by default. If it was changed, add the port to the address, for example 203.0.113.10:3390. See change the RDP port.

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I get “Remote Desktop can’t connect to the remote computer”. What now?

Check the IP, that the server has finished booting, and that Remote Desktop and its firewall rule are enabled. Step-by-step checks are in Remote Desktop can’t connect.

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Can I use Remote Desktop to manage Windows without the desktop?

Yes. In the session, open PowerShell as Administrator. Many tasks, such as updates and network settings, are quicker in SConfig, which Microsoft includes in Windows Server 2019, 2022 and 2025.

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Can I copy files over Remote Desktop?

Yes. Copy a file on your PC and paste it into a folder on the server. For larger files, share a local drive under Show Options > Local Resources > More.

VPS and dedicated server guides

Every guide in this section.

First steps on Windows Server

What to do after your first login.

RDP from Mac, Linux and mobile

Windows App, Remmina and FreeRDP.

Protect RDP from brute force

Lock down port 3389.

Remote Desktop can't connect

Troubleshooting checklist.

VNC console

Sign in when RDP doesn’t work.
Checked against Microsoft Learn: Enable Remote Desktop, SConfig and Change the listening port on 4 November 2026. Steps were not tested on a live Windows server for this page; menu names can differ slightly between Windows Server 2019, 2022 and 2025.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: November 2026