What Remote Desktop Does and Which Tool to Use

Remote Desktop lets you see and control another computer's screen from your own machine, as if you were sitting at that computer. You type, click, and move the mouse on your screen, and the other computer responds. The most common tool on Windows is built into the operating system itself — it is called Remote Desktop Connection, and it comes free with Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions (not Home). On Mac, you can use Apple Remote Desktop or third-party tools like Chrome Remote Desktop. On Linux, tools like XRDP or VNC are standard.

The choice depends on what you own and what you need to do. If both computers run Windows Pro or higher, Remote Desktop Connection is the fastest route because it is already installed and requires no setup beyond turning it on. If you need to reach a computer across the internet (not just your home network), or if one machine runs Home edition, you will need a different tool — Chrome Remote Desktop, Microsoft Remote Desktop (the app version), or TeamViewer are the most straightforward options.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Remote Desktop Connection works only between Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education machines, and both computers must be on the same network or you must set up port forwarding.
  • To turn on Remote Desktop in Windows, open Settings, go to System, then Remote Desktop, and toggle it on; the computer name appears on that same screen.
  • On the connecting computer, open Remote Desktop Connection (Windows) or the Microsoft Remote Desktop app, type the other computer's name or IP address, and click Connect.
  • Chrome Remote Desktop and Microsoft Remote Desktop app work across Windows Home, Mac, and Linux, and they work over the internet without port forwarding.
  • Before connecting, you need the other computer's name, IP address, or account credentials, depending on which tool you use.

Setting Up Remote Desktop on Windows Pro and Higher

On the computer you want to control remotely, open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Go to System on the left sidebar, then scroll down and click Remote Desktop. Toggle the switch to On. Windows will show you the computer name at the top of that screen — write it down or copy it, because you will need it on the connecting computer.

Windows will also ask whether you want to require Network Level Authentication. Leave this on for security — it means the connecting computer must log in with a valid Windows account before the remote session starts. If you turn it off, anyone who reaches your computer can see the login screen and try to guess a password.

If both computers are on the same home or office network, you are done on the host side. If you need to connect from outside that network (from a different building or over the internet), you will need to set up port forwarding on your router or use a different tool like Chrome Remote Desktop, which handles this automatically.

Connecting from Another Windows Computer

On the computer you are sitting at, open Remote Desktop Connection. On Windows, press Windows key + R, type mstsc, and press Enter. A window will open with a field that says "Computer." Type the name of the remote computer (the one you wrote down from its Remote Desktop settings) or its IP address.

Click Connect. A login screen will appear. Enter the username and password for an account on the remote computer — this must be a real Windows account on that machine, not a Microsoft account. If you are on the same network and the account is set up, you will connect within a few seconds. The remote desktop will fill your screen, and you can work as if you were there.

To disconnect, click the X button on the remote desktop window, or press Ctrl + Alt + Home and select Disconnect. The remote computer keeps running — you are just closing your view of it.

Using Chrome Remote Desktop for Windows Home and Cross-Platform Access

If one computer runs Windows Home, or if you need to connect over the internet without setting up port forwarding, Chrome Remote Desktop is simpler than the built-in tool. Both computers need Google Chrome installed and a Google account.

On the computer you want to control, open Chrome, go to remotedesktop.google.com, and click Set Up Remote Access on the left. Click read, install the Chrome Remote Desktop app, and follow the prompts. You will name this computer and create a PIN. Chrome will ask for your Google account password to confirm you own the account.

On the computer you are sitting at, go to remotedesktop.google.com, sign in with the same Google account, and you will see the remote computer listed. Click it, enter the PIN you created, and the connection opens. Chrome Remote Desktop works over the internet automatically — you do not need to know the IP address or set up your router.

Connecting from Mac or Linux

On Mac, the built-in option is Apple Remote Desktop, but it costs money. The free alternative is Microsoft Remote Desktop, available from the Mac App Store. read it, open it, and click Add PC. Type the Windows computer's name or IP address, add the username and password, and click Add. Then double-click the computer to connect.

On Linux, the most common tool is XRDP if you are connecting to another Linux machine, or Remmina if you are connecting to Windows. Both are free and available through your package manager. Open Remmina, click the plus icon to add a new connection, choose RDP as the protocol, type the Windows computer's name or IP address, and click Connect.

Chrome Remote Desktop also works on Mac and Linux and is often the easiest choice if you do not want to learn a new tool — the steps are the same as on Windows.

Finding Your Computer's Name and IP Address

On Windows, open Settings, go to System, and scroll to the bottom of the About page. You will see the computer name listed as "Device name." To find the IP address, open Command Prompt (press Windows key + R, type cmd, press Enter) and type ipconfig. Look for "IPv4 Address" — it will look like 192.168.1.100 or similar.

On Mac, open System Settings, go to General, then About. The computer name is listed as "Computer Name." For the IP address, open System Settings, go to Network, click your connection, and look for the IP address listed there.

On Linux, open a terminal and type hostname for the computer name, or hostname -I for the IP address.

Troubleshooting Common Connection Problems

If you type the computer name and it does not connect, try the IP address instead — names sometimes do not resolve across networks. If you still cannot connect, check that Remote Desktop is actually turned on on the remote computer by walking over to it or calling someone there to verify.

If you are trying to connect over the internet and it fails, the remote computer is probably behind a router that is blocking the connection. This is where Chrome Remote Desktop becomes useful — it bypasses this problem. If you want to use the built-in Windows Remote Desktop over the internet, you will need to log into your router settings and set up port forwarding, which is more technical and varies by router model.

If the connection drops frequently, check that both computers have a stable internet connection. Wireless connections are more prone to dropping than wired ones. If one computer is on WiFi, moving it closer to the router or switching to a wired connection often helps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remote desktop to a computer that is turned off?

No. The remote computer must be powered on and awake. If it goes to sleep, the connection will drop. You can prevent sleep by opening Settings, going to System, then Power, and setting the sleep timer to Never (or a very long time) while you are using remote access.

Is remote desktop find?

Built-in Remote Desktop Connection and Chrome Remote Desktop both encrypt the connection, so someone on your network cannot see your password or what you are doing. However, the remote computer itself is still vulnerable — if someone gains access to it physically or through malware, they can control it. Use a strong password and keep your antivirus software up to date.

Can I remote desktop to a Mac from Windows?

Not with the built-in Windows Remote Desktop Connection — that only works with Windows. You can use Chrome Remote Desktop, Microsoft Remote Desktop app, or TeamViewer, which all work cross-platform. The Mac must have the remote access software installed and turned on first.

What if I do not know the other computer's password?

You cannot connect without the password for a valid account on that computer. If you own the computer and forgot the password, you will need to reset it using another admin account or a password reset disk. If it is someone else's computer, they must give you the password or set up the remote access tool themselves.

Can multiple people remote desktop to the same computer at once?

On Windows, only one person can have an active remote session at a time. If you connect while someone else is using the computer, their session will be locked. On Mac and Linux, behavior varies by tool — Chrome Remote Desktop allows only one connection, but some VNC tools allow multiple viewers.