The ports that need to be forwarded for Remote Desktop are listed here:
Remote Desktop - PC
- TCP: 3389
- UDP: 3389
Forward Ports for Remote Desktop
You may need to forward ports in your router when you use Remote Desktop. A port forward allows incoming connection requests from the internet to go straight to Remote Desktop.
Routers are not designed to allow incoming network requests. A port forward can overcome this limitation.
Warning: When you forward Remote Desktop to your computer, you are creating an extreme vulnerability risk. Make sure that you have a strong password set on your Windows login and also make sure that all updates are installed. You will also have to open a port in your Windows firewall in order to connect.
Open a Port in Your Windows Firewall
To open a port in your Windows firewall, first, hit the Windows key and type "allow". Next, click on "Allow an app through Windows Firewall". The screenshot below shows you what this step looks like in Windows 10.
Next, you will need to scroll through the list of apps and find Remote Desktop. Check the box next to Remote Desktop to enable it through your firewall.
Before You Forward a Port
Before forwarding a port make sure that you know these things:
- Your router's IP address.
- Your computer's internal IP address.
- A list of TCP and UDP ports that need to be forwarded.
How to Locate Your Router's IP Address
We have free Router Detector software to help you find your router's IP address. The software is part of our Network Utilities suite of tools and it is completely free to use.
If you do not want to run the software, you can follow our Find Your Router IP Address guide.
How To Set Up Port Forwarding for Remote Desktop
We have Network Utilities software that can forward ports for you. With Network Utilities, you can easily forward ports and also un-forward ports quickly so that you can keep your network up to date with the ports that you need forwarded and maximize your network security.
You can also choose to set up port forwards manually. The way to forward a port is:
- Log in to your router.
- Look for the port forwarding section in your router.
- Type your computer's IP address into the correct box in your router.
- Put the TCP and UDP ports for Remote Desktop in the corresponding boxes in your router.
Some routers need to be rebooted in order for the changes to be saved.
You can choose your router from our list to see exactly how to forward ports for Remote Desktop:
List of Routers - Customized for Remote Desktop
Those are the steps for forwarding ports in your router for Remote Desktop.