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Quick Answer

Press the Windows key, type Remote Desktop Connection, enter the IP address of your work computer, and click Connect.

How to Connect to a Remote Desktop (RDP) on Windows ​

Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 11
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-05-19

Summary ​

This article shows you how to use the built-in Remote Desktop Connection tool on Windows to connect to another computer remotely. This is commonly used to access your work desktop from home, connect to a shared workstation, or access a server that IT has granted you permission to use. No additional software is required — Remote Desktop is built into Windows.

Prerequisites ​

  • A Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer to connect from (the "client").
  • The remote computer must have Remote Desktop enabled by IT (this is an admin-level setting on the target machine).
  • The computer name or IP address of the remote computer (ask IT if you do not know it — see How to Find Your Computer Name and IP Address).
  • Valid login credentials for the remote computer (your work username and password, or a specific account provided by IT).
  • A network connection to the remote computer — typically requires being on the same network (office LAN) or connected via VPN for remote access from home.

Instructions ​

1. Open Remote Desktop Connection ​

  1. Click Start and type Remote Desktop Connection.
  2. Click the Remote Desktop Connection app that appears in the results.
  3. Alternatively, press Win + R, type mstsc, and press Enter.

2. Connect to the Remote Computer ​

  1. In the Computer field, type the computer name or IP address of the remote machine.
    • Example computer name: DESKTOP-4F7K2R1 or workstation-12.company.local
    • Example IP address: 192.168.1.100
  2. Click Connect.
  3. A login prompt appears. Enter your username and password.
    • If you are connecting to a domain-joined computer, use the format: DOMAIN\username (e.g., COMPANY\jsmith).
    • If prompted with a certificate warning ("The identity of the remote computer cannot be verified"), click Yes to proceed — this is normal for internal connections.
  4. The remote desktop opens in a window on your screen. You are now controlling the remote computer.

3. Adjust Display Settings Before Connecting ​

You can configure the remote session to better fit your screen and workflow.

  1. In the Remote Desktop Connection window, click Show Options (bottom left).
  2. Click the Display tab:
    • Display configuration — Drag the slider to set the resolution. Drag it all the way to the right for Full Screen.
    • Use all my monitors — Check this box if you have multiple monitors and want the remote session to span all of them.
  3. Click the Local Resources tab to configure:
    • Remote audio — Choose whether to play sound on your local computer or the remote one.
    • Keyboard — Choose where special key combinations (like Alt + Tab) are applied — on the local or remote computer.
    • Local devices and resources — Check Printers to use your local printer from the remote session. Check Clipboard to copy and paste between your local and remote computers.
  4. Click Connect to start the session with your configured settings.

Tip: To save these settings for future use, click General > Save As and save the .rdp file to your Desktop. Double-click it next time to connect with the same settings automatically.

4. Work Inside the Remote Desktop Session ​

Once connected, you are interacting with the remote computer as if you were sitting in front of it.

  • Full screen mode — The remote desktop fills your entire screen. A thin blue connection bar appears at the top with the computer name and window controls.
  • Minimize the session — Click the minimize button on the blue connection bar to switch back to your local desktop.
  • Switch between local and remote — Use the blue connection bar at the top, or press Ctrl + Alt + Break to toggle between full screen and windowed mode.
  • Copy and paste — If you enabled clipboard sharing (Step 3), you can copy text and files between your local and remote computers using standard Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V.

5. Disconnect vs. Sign Out ​

There is an important difference between disconnecting and signing out:

ActionWhat Happens
Disconnect (close the RDP window or click X on the connection bar)Your remote session stays active in the background. Programs keep running. You can reconnect later and pick up where you left off.
Sign Out (click Start > Sign out on the remote computer)Your session ends completely. All programs close. The remote computer returns to the login screen.
  • Disconnect when you plan to reconnect soon and want to keep your work open.
  • Sign out when you are done for the day or want to free up the remote machine for others.

DANGER

If the remote computer is shared with other users, always sign out when you are finished. Disconnected sessions consume resources on the remote machine and may prevent others from connecting.

6. Use the Remote Desktop App (Modern Alternative) ​

Windows also offers a newer Remote Desktop app from the Microsoft Store, which provides a more modern interface.

  1. Open the Microsoft Store and search for Microsoft Remote Desktop.
  2. Install the app.
  3. Open it and click + Add > PC.
  4. Enter the PC name (computer name or IP address).
  5. Click Save, then double-click the saved connection to connect.
  6. The app supports features like multiple saved connections, friendly names, and touch-friendly controls.

7. Troubleshooting Connection Issues ​

Cannot Connect at All ​

  1. Verify the computer name or IP address — Ask IT to confirm the correct name. See How to Find Your Computer Name and IP Address.
  2. Check your network — Make sure you are on the same network as the remote computer, or connected via VPN. See How to Troubleshoot VPN Connection Issues (User-Level Steps).
  3. Verify Remote Desktop is enabled — The remote computer must have Remote Desktop turned on, and that switch needs administrator access. Give IT the computer's name and ask them to enable Remote Desktop on it and confirm your account is allowed to connect.

Connected But Screen is Black ​

  1. Wait 15–30 seconds — sometimes the remote session takes time to render.
  2. Press Ctrl + Alt + End (the remote equivalent of Ctrl + Alt + Delete) and select Task Manager to see if the session is responsive.
  3. Disconnect and reconnect.

Session Drops Frequently ​

  1. Check your internet connection stability.
  2. If on VPN, your VPN connection may be dropping. See How to Troubleshoot VPN Connection Issues (User-Level Steps).
  3. Reduce the display resolution in the RDP settings (Step 3) to lower bandwidth requirements.

Troubleshooting ​

TIP

The most common reason users cannot connect via Remote Desktop is that they are not on the right network. If you are working from home, you almost always need to connect to your company's VPN first before Remote Desktop will work.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
"Remote Desktop can't connect to the remote computer"Wrong computer name, Remote Desktop not enabled, or network issueVerify the computer name/IP. Ensure you are on the correct network or VPN. Contact IT to confirm Remote Desktop is enabled.
"Your credentials did not work"Wrong username/password or domain not specifiedUse the format DOMAIN\username. Verify your password is correct. If your password recently changed, use the new one.
Certificate warning ("identity cannot be verified")Self-signed certificate on the remote machineClick Yes to proceed. This is normal for internal connections.
Black screen after connectingSession rendering issue or locked remote sessionWait 30 seconds. Press Ctrl + Alt + End. If it persists, disconnect and reconnect.
Cannot copy/paste between computersClipboard sharing not enabledDisconnect, open RDP settings > Local Resources > check Clipboard, and reconnect.
Session disconnects frequentlyUnstable network or VPN connectionCheck Wi-Fi stability. Reconnect to VPN. Reduce display resolution in RDP settings.
"Another user is currently logged on"Someone else has an active session on the remote PCContact the other user and ask them to sign out, or contact IT to disconnect their session.
Remote Desktop app is missingWindows Home edition does not include RDP client hostingYou can still connect to remote computers from Windows Home. You cannot host a remote session on Home — that requires Pro or Enterprise. Ask IT whether your machine can be upgraded to Pro, or whether they can give you another route in, such as a VPN plus a jump host.