There aren’t any alternative third-party RDP server implementations available on Windows, so you must either use the implementation built-in to Windows or not at all. It’s even available on MacOS, iOS, and Android through their respective app stores. The Remote Desktop Connection client program is available in all editions of Windows including Windows 10 Home and Mobile. You can use the Remote Desktop Connect client to remotely access the desktop of a Windows PC running an RDP server. RDP Wrapper instead makes some minor adjustments to Windows configuration and uses existing Windows components and services to enable remote RDP access. It’ll unlock the RDP server, and provide you with a new app to configure it.Īlternative approaches to enable RDP in the Home edition of Windows often make alterations to Windows components that are difficult to revert and may cause problems later when the system updates through Windows Update. It’s very easy to get set up with RDP Wrapper: just download the latest MSI installer, and run it. Instead, you can use the bundled RDPConf program which comes bundled with RDP Wrapper to manage these settings. RDP Wrapper doesn’t unlock Windows’ user interface for managing the RDP server. Make sure all accounts on your PC have strong passwords to protect it against unauthorized remote logins! It also adds the required rules to the Windows Firewall to allow remote RDP connections to your PC. The RDP Wrapper Library ( rdpwrap) project hot-wires Windows’ built-in RDP server (the Terminal Service) so you can start it even on Windows 10 Home. Instead, you’ll find an error message saying “Your Home edition of Windows 10 doesn’t support Remote Desktop.” However, you won’t find these settings in Windows 10 Home or S editions. Windows 10 editions that officially support the RDP Server feature can turn it on from the user interface in the Windows Settings app or the Windows System dialog: Properties: Remote. Only connect to your RDP server through an encrypted network bridge, e.g.
Configure a restrictive firewall to keep from being accessible from the internet.
Only install an RDP server if you absolutely need one. There have been multiple security issues with Windows RDP servers in recent years. RDP is a common vector for compromising Windows systems. Here’s how you can also enable the RDP server in the Windows 10 Home edition.īefore you set up an RDP server, you should be aware that exposing an RDP server to the internet is incredibly risky. Enabling the remote desktop server normally requires a PC running either the Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise editions. If you look closely at Windows 10 Home, you’ll find most of the components required to run the Microsoft RDP Server already installed as part of the operating system.