09-09-2024, 07:21 PM
Guide to Enabling or Disabling Remote Desktop Connections on a Windows 10 PC
Remote Desktop allows you to connect and control your Windows 10 PC from another device over a network. This feature is useful for accessing your files or performing tasks remotely. However, for security reasons, you may want to disable it if you don’t need remote access. This guide provides detailed steps to enable or disable Remote Desktop connections on a Windows 10 PC.
Method 1: Using the Settings Menu
The simplest and most common way to enable or disable Remote Desktop is through the Windows 10 Settings menu.
Steps to Enable Remote Desktop:
1. Click the Start menu and select Settings (the gear icon).
2. In the Settings window, click on System.
3. In the left sidebar, scroll down and select Remote Desktop.
4. On the Remote Desktop settings page, you will see an option labeled Enable Remote Desktop.
5. Toggle the switch to On.
6. A confirmation prompt will appear. Click Confirm to enable Remote Desktop.
7. You can now access additional settings, such as requiring network-level authentication or configuring PC sleep settings.
8. Take note of your PC name, as you will need it to connect to your PC remotely.
Steps to Disable Remote Desktop:
1. Follow the same steps to navigate to Settings > System > Remote Desktop.
2. Toggle the Enable Remote Desktop switch to Off.
3. Remote Desktop will be disabled, and no one will be able to connect to your PC remotely.
Method 2: Using Control Panel
You can also enable or disable Remote Desktop via the Control Panel, a more traditional method that gives you access to advanced settings.
Steps to Enable Remote Desktop:
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type SystemPropertiesRemote and press Enter. This will open the System Properties window directly on the Remote tab.
3. Under the Remote Desktop section, select Allow remote connections to this computer.
4. Check the box labeled Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (recommended) for enhanced security.
5. Click Apply and then OK.
6. Remote Desktop is now enabled.
Steps to Disable Remote Desktop:
1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R.
2. Type SystemPropertiesRemote and press Enter.
3. In the Remote tab of the System Properties window, select Don’t allow remote connections to this computer.
4. Click Apply, then OK.
5. Remote Desktop will now be disabled.
Method 3: Using PowerShell
For advanced users, PowerShell provides a command-line way to enable or disable Remote Desktop.
Steps to Enable Remote Desktop:
1. Press Windows + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter to enable Remote Desktop:
3. Next, allow Remote Desktop connections through the firewall by running the following command:
4. Remote Desktop will now be enabled.
Steps to Disable Remote Desktop:
1. Open Windows PowerShell (Admin) as shown above.
2. To disable Remote Desktop, type the following command and press Enter:
3. To block Remote Desktop in the firewall, type:
4. Remote Desktop will be disabled after running these commands.
Method 4: Using Group Policy Editor (Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise)
If you are using Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, you can also use the Group Policy Editor to manage Remote Desktop settings.
Steps to Enable Remote Desktop:
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. In the left sidebar, navigate to the following path:
4. In the right-hand pane, double-click on Allow users to connect remotely by using Remote Desktop Services.
5. Select Enabled, then click Apply and OK.
6. Remote Desktop will now be enabled.
Steps to Disable Remote Desktop:
1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor as shown above.
2. Navigate to the same path:
3. Double-click on Allow users to connect remotely by using Remote Desktop Services.
4. Select Disabled, then click Apply and OK.
5. Remote Desktop will be disabled.
Method 5: Enabling Remote Desktop via Windows Firewall
Remote Desktop also requires the necessary firewall rules to be enabled to allow incoming connections.
Steps:
1. Open the Control Panel and select System and Security.
2. Click on Windows Defender Firewall, then select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall from the left panel.
3. In the list of allowed apps, scroll down to Remote Desktop.
4. Ensure that both the Private and Public network boxes are checked to allow Remote Desktop through the firewall.
5. Click OK to save your settings.
Conclusion
Enabling or disabling Remote Desktop on Windows 10 can be done in several ways, including through the Settings menu, Control Panel, PowerShell, Group Policy Editor, or Windows Firewall. Choose the method that best fits your setup to securely manage remote access to your PC. Remember to consider security implications when enabling Remote Desktop, especially on public networks.
Remote Desktop allows you to connect and control your Windows 10 PC from another device over a network. This feature is useful for accessing your files or performing tasks remotely. However, for security reasons, you may want to disable it if you don’t need remote access. This guide provides detailed steps to enable or disable Remote Desktop connections on a Windows 10 PC.
Method 1: Using the Settings Menu
The simplest and most common way to enable or disable Remote Desktop is through the Windows 10 Settings menu.
Steps to Enable Remote Desktop:
1. Click the Start menu and select Settings (the gear icon).
2. In the Settings window, click on System.
3. In the left sidebar, scroll down and select Remote Desktop.
4. On the Remote Desktop settings page, you will see an option labeled Enable Remote Desktop.
5. Toggle the switch to On.
6. A confirmation prompt will appear. Click Confirm to enable Remote Desktop.
7. You can now access additional settings, such as requiring network-level authentication or configuring PC sleep settings.
8. Take note of your PC name, as you will need it to connect to your PC remotely.
Steps to Disable Remote Desktop:
1. Follow the same steps to navigate to Settings > System > Remote Desktop.
2. Toggle the Enable Remote Desktop switch to Off.
3. Remote Desktop will be disabled, and no one will be able to connect to your PC remotely.
Method 2: Using Control Panel
You can also enable or disable Remote Desktop via the Control Panel, a more traditional method that gives you access to advanced settings.
Steps to Enable Remote Desktop:
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type SystemPropertiesRemote and press Enter. This will open the System Properties window directly on the Remote tab.
3. Under the Remote Desktop section, select Allow remote connections to this computer.
4. Check the box labeled Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (recommended) for enhanced security.
5. Click Apply and then OK.
6. Remote Desktop is now enabled.
Steps to Disable Remote Desktop:
1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R.
2. Type SystemPropertiesRemote and press Enter.
3. In the Remote tab of the System Properties window, select Don’t allow remote connections to this computer.
4. Click Apply, then OK.
5. Remote Desktop will now be disabled.
Method 3: Using PowerShell
For advanced users, PowerShell provides a command-line way to enable or disable Remote Desktop.
Steps to Enable Remote Desktop:
1. Press Windows + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter to enable Remote Desktop:
Code:
Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\' -name "fDenyTSConnections" -Value 0Code:
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Remote Desktop"Steps to Disable Remote Desktop:
1. Open Windows PowerShell (Admin) as shown above.
2. To disable Remote Desktop, type the following command and press Enter:
Code:
Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\' -name "fDenyTSConnections" -Value 1Code:
Disable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Remote Desktop"Method 4: Using Group Policy Editor (Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise)
If you are using Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, you can also use the Group Policy Editor to manage Remote Desktop settings.
Steps to Enable Remote Desktop:
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. In the left sidebar, navigate to the following path:
Code:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Connections5. Select Enabled, then click Apply and OK.
6. Remote Desktop will now be enabled.
Steps to Disable Remote Desktop:
1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor as shown above.
2. Navigate to the same path:
Code:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Connections4. Select Disabled, then click Apply and OK.
5. Remote Desktop will be disabled.
Method 5: Enabling Remote Desktop via Windows Firewall
Remote Desktop also requires the necessary firewall rules to be enabled to allow incoming connections.
Steps:
1. Open the Control Panel and select System and Security.
2. Click on Windows Defender Firewall, then select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall from the left panel.
3. In the list of allowed apps, scroll down to Remote Desktop.
4. Ensure that both the Private and Public network boxes are checked to allow Remote Desktop through the firewall.
5. Click OK to save your settings.
Conclusion
Enabling or disabling Remote Desktop on Windows 10 can be done in several ways, including through the Settings menu, Control Panel, PowerShell, Group Policy Editor, or Windows Firewall. Choose the method that best fits your setup to securely manage remote access to your PC. Remember to consider security implications when enabling Remote Desktop, especially on public networks.