If you are here reading this article, then you are probably having issues with using Remote Desktop. We’ve put together some working solutions to help you resolve the Remote Desktop not working in Windows 11 PC.
Common Reasons For Remote Desktop not Working in Windows 11
Most time, the Remote Desktop not working in Windows 11 issue can always be traced to not doing the things required to use the features. This includes not enabling the Remote Desktop on the host computer, not having Internet access there, or not entering the proper information. Moreover, it’s possible that Windows Firewall is restricting access to Remote Desktop, which results in an error and stops you from accessing the host computer. You should also be aware that Remote Desktop is no longer compatible with Windows 11 Home; rather, it is only compatible with Windows 11 Pro. Therefore, you won’t be able to use the feature if your host PC has Windows 11 Home.
Fix Remote Desktop Not Working in Windows 11
Before moving towards fixes first, you should make sure the basic things like having the host PC turned on and online, confirming the credentials you are using, and others are done. If you are sure those requirements are in place, but you’re still getting Remote Desktop can’t connect to the remote computer error, here are eight proven fixes you can use to get the feature back to working condition:
1. Make Sure Remote Desktop Is Enabled
Before the Remote Desktop feature can work, you must first enable it on the host PC. But many users find themselves in a situation where the feature isn’t turned on, which leads to the Remote Desktop can’t connect to the remote computer error. Hence, you should follow the steps below to enable Remote Desktop;
- Press Windows + I to open Settings on your computer
- Click on System.
- Navigate to the Remote Desktop option and click on it.
- Make sure the slider in front of the Remote Desktop option is toggled on.
2. Check Windows Firewall Settings
Windows Firewall is a security model built with Windows computers to keep from threats. When you enable the Remote Desktop feature on your Windows computer, it automatically allows it through Windows Firewall. However, there are some cases where the Firewall settings won’t be changed, and you need to do it manually. With doing this, you won’t have access to using Remote Desktop. Here is how to do it:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run command box on your computer. 2. Type control panel and hit Enter.
- On the Control Panel window, click on the View by option and select Category.
- Now, click on System and Security.
- Under the Windows Defender Firewall, tap on Allow an app through Windows Firewall.
- Select Change settings and check the Private and Public boxes for each of the services below. Network discovery, Remote desktop, Remote service management, Routing and remote access, Windows remote management.
- Click on OK to save the changes.
3. Use IP Address Instead Of Hostname
There are times when your hostname won’t work when trying to use Remote Desktop. In this case, it’s recommended that you use the host PC IP address to connect. Here is how to check your PC IP address:
- Type command prompt in Windows Search and open it.
- Type ipconfig in CMD and press Enter.
- In the result, you’ll find your PC IPv6 address which you can use to connect with the desktop instead of using the hostname.
4. Make Sure Remote Assistance and Remote connections Is Allowed In System Properties
Another thing you could do to fix the Remote Desktop not working in Windows 11 is to allow Remote Assistance and Remote connection. Follow the steps below to ensure that:
- Tap on Windows Search and type sysdm.cpl.
- Click on the result to open the System Properties dialogue box.
- Switch to the Remote category under System Properties.
- Check the Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer option under Remote Assistance.
- Also, check the Allow remote connections to this computer box.
- Now, click on OK to save the changes.
4. Add the Remote PC’s IP Address To The Host File
- Open File Explorer, open your C drive and navigate to this folder:
- Right-click on the host file and select Open with option.
- Open the file with Notepad and type the IP address of the remote computer you are trying to connect to at the bottom of the host file.
- Select File at the top-left corner of the Notepad window and tap on Save.
5. Check Remote Desktop services
If other solutions didn’t work, you can check Remote Desktop services and make sure it’s set to Automatic.
- Press Windows + R to open Run command box.
- Type services.msc and hit Enter to open Windows Services.
- Navigate to Remote Desktop Services and double-click it.
- Go to Startup type and change it to Automatic.
- Tap on OK to save the changes
6. Enable Network Discovery
For Remote Desktop to work, you may have to manually enable Network Discovery on both the remote computer and the client computer.
- Open the Control panel on your computer and click on Network and Internet.
- Tap on Network and Sharing Centre, then select Change advanced sharing settings.
- Hit the Turn on network discovery option and select Save changes.
7. Flush DNS and perform SFC scan
The issue may be caused by connectivity issues or corrupt Windows system files. To rule out that possibility, you can perform SFC scan and flush the DNS cache.
Run SFS Scan
- Search for Command Prompt in Windows Search and tap on Run as Administrator to open it.
- Type SFC/scannow and hit Enter.
Flush DNS
- Open Command Prompt.
- Type ipconfig/flushdns and press Enter
8. Disable Windows Hello
For those using Windows Hello PIN, some users have reported having issues with using it to connect with Remote Desktop, and by disabling the function, they were able to fix the issue. You could try this out if you are also using Windows Hello PIN. To disable the function:
- Press Windows + I to open Settings on your computer.
- Click on Accounts and select Sign-in options.
- Tap on Windows Hello PIN and hit the Remove option.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to completely remove the function. After doing this, you can now connect to the Remote Desktop with your password.
Does RDC work on Windows 11?
Windows 11 Pro natively comes with the feature that allows you to connect to a computer remotely over the internet. The feature can be enabled in Windows settings, and we have discussed the steps to do that on the first solution in this article.
How can I remotely access another computer over the internet?
With the Remote Desktop feature being enabled on the host computer (the computer you want to access remotely), you can access the computer remotely by following the steps below:
- Click on Windows Search, type Remote Desktop Connection and open it.
- Enter the credentials prompted on the resulting dialogue box and hit Connect.
Is Microsoft Remote Desktop free?
The Remote Desktop feature on Windows computers is absolutely free to use. You simply have to meet up with requirements needed for it to run, and you can then start enjoying the feature.
Final Words
The Remote Desktop function in Windows 11 is excellent and simple to use. You might run into problems when attempting to connect to a remote desktop, but you can resolve them by following the solutions we’ve covered in this post. Let us know the solution that worked for you in the comment section below.
