How to Use Remote Desktop on Windows

Remote Desktop is an often overlooked feature in Windows. It enables you to access your PC from another machine as though you are right at the front of it. You can open your files, use your applications, get to the root of a problem, or pick up right where you last were when you are out. Also, you may be in charge of several systems, or you just want the ease of access to a main one which isn’t available when away. With Remote Desktop you have an in-and-out way of doing so. By the time that you learn to make the best out of it you will see change in your experience with the Windows systems. Also included is the fact it provides for large-scale and small-scale usage which many may not have known before.

At first what you will need is a Windows version that has Remote Desktop Connection support, which is present in most current versions of Windows as a client. Some editions, though, which are more recent, however, do not support remote control of the computer. After you confirm your version is good you can continue with the feature’s configuration.

Remote Desktop must go through an activation process. Also, it isn’t turned on by default, which is a security measure for your system. Windows prefers to keep things secure until you go in and change that. Once you enable it, Windows will adjust your system’s settings to permit access. Also, at this point you may set it up to use only strong security, which is advised for better safety and peace of mind.

After you turn on Remote Desktop the next step is to make sure your account is enabled for remote access. By default, Windows uses the local account; also, you may add others as required. These users will be able to log in to your machine from anywhere, which is why it is very important that they have strong passwords and low rights. For most people using the main account is over the top; in fact, for access from a personal laptop or a trusted machine that is not the case.

With Remote Desktop turned on, you need the computer’s name or network address. This is what you remote into as your system identifier. Windows gives a clear label for your device, but you can also change your PC name to something easier to remember. If all your devices are on the same local network that is easy, but to connect over the internet you may have to do some extra config through your router. Mostly people use Remote Desktop at home or in the office, which means a local connection is the go-to approach.

Once all is set up you can use the Remote Desktop Connection app. This program is included in Windows, which also means it is your ticket into the remote machine. When you open the app what you see is a very easy-to-use box in which you type the name of the machine you wish to control. Behind that ease of use is a very complex communication which Windows handles for you as it streams your desktop out to your screen securely. Upon a successful connection the remote PC’s login screen will appear as if you were sitting in front of the physical device.

After you sign in you’ll see that the remote PC is just as easy to use as a local one. Your files, applications, and settings will look the same as if you were present. What you do experience may be a bit different performance-wise since it’s based on your network connection. With a solid connection you are able to open applications, work with documents, and navigate the system very well. The remote machine does the processing, which your current device just displays back out to you. Also, this means that even a low-power laptop or tablet can run a powerful Windows desktop from a distance.

Remote Desktop also has a set of useful options which improve performance. For example, you can turn down visual effects or choose which features are shared between devices. If you are using a slow connection for Remote Desktop, performance may improve by reducing image quality. When your network is fast enough try enabling all settings, which in turn will make the remote computer feel very much like you are using it in person.

File access is a feature of Remote Desktop also. You can pick to put in a share of your local drives into the remote session, which in turn will allow you to pass docs in either direction very easily. Also, if you are out of town and need something which is at home, or if you are trying to pass work between machines without a flash drive, this is for you. Also, with remote printing you see the same thing. If the remote computer has a file which you wish to print, you can direct it to a printer nearby through the Remote Desktop session.

Security is a key element in proper Remote Desktop use. It is because it creates remote access to your machine that you must use strong passwords. Simple and common passwords greatly increase the risk of unauthorized access. Also, Windows has a feature which is to require enhanced encryption for connections. By keeping this on, you are sure that the data sent between devices is protected from those that may try to intercept it.

Another point on security is at what point you turn off Remote Desktop. If you only use the feature at times, it may be better to disable it when not in use. In Windows you can turn it on and off easily so that you may leave it off until you really need it. This also decreases the chances of your device being accessed.

Remote Access is a great solution for users that have many computers which they do not wish to go from desk to desk to manage. For instance, we have a person who does video editing on a desktop at the office but travels with a lightweight laptop. They may use Remote Access to send rendering tasks from the desktop to the laptop. Also, students who may have projects saved mainly on one computer at school can use it to access those projects from a different machine. Families can benefit by using it to help out with computer issues which may be easily solved remotely rather than in person, which also saves time in explaining what is wrong over the phone.

Troubleshooting is an integral part of the Remote Desktop experience. As for common problems, your computer may fall asleep, which in turn will drop the connection. What you can do is adjust power options to keep the PC awake when it is plugged in, which in most cases will fix the issue. Also, we see that firewalls, which are very common in today’s security practices, can play a role in dropping the connection. While Windows has its own set of rules which usually does the job, at times third-party security software may require you to make some changes. Also, network instability is something else that we see which can interrupt the session. By using a wired connection instead of wireless on the host PC you will see great improvement in the performance and stability of the connection.

Once you get the hang of Remote Desktop it opens up a new degree of flexibility in what you do with your Windows devices. You are not tied to the physical location of your primary computer. If you are looking to grab a document, see the progress of a long-running task, or continue to work while away, Remote Desktop gives you that access in a few simple steps.

Remote Desktop is a feature that often goes unnoticed in Windows but is in fact a useful add-on that makes your digital life flow better. We put it together, we get in, we secure it, we fix basic issues with it; in the end you have a reliable way to access your PC from any location. It is a mix of convenience and control which, once you use it, you won’t be able to imagine life without it.