10 Fixes: Remote Desktop Can’t Connect To The Remote Computer

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Remote Desktop can't connect

Connecting to a remote computer has become typical in today’s society since many firms have adopted a work-from-home attitude. This, however, can cause a slew of technical complications, including typical errors like “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer.”

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The most common cause of the ‘remote desktop can’t connect to the remote machine’ issue.

Before proceeding, ensure that your Internet connection is operational and that you are logging in with the correct credentials since these are two of the most typical reasons for this problem. Other reasons for this issue exist in addition to these two.

  • Update for Windows
  • Antivirus
  • Profile on the public network

Update for Windows

The Remote Desktop (RDP) capability is frequently broken after a Windows update or upgrade because one of the newly loaded files might interfere with the RDP’s operation. 

You must manually discover and correct the underlying problem.

Antivirus

Antivirus software can sometimes totally or partially block RDP, resulting in the “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer” issue. 

The good news is that this inaccuracy is simple to see. Disable your antivirus and try connecting again. If you can, you have discovered the source of the problem!

Profile on the public network

As a precaution, if you have a public network profile or a networking group, your computer can disable the remote desktop feature. 

While this is not a complete list, it does represent the most prevalent ones. The key concern is resolving the “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote machine” problem.

How to resolve the ‘remote desktop can’t connect to the remote machine’ problem

There are several solutions to this mistake, so try them one by one until the problem is resolved. This is especially true when the fundamental cause of the problem is unknown.

  1. Modify your firewall settings
  2. Examine your permissions
  3. Allow remote desktop access.
  4. Reset your password
  5. Check the status of RDP services.
  6. Include the IP address of the host
  7. Examine the Group Policy
  8. Examine the RDP listener port.
  9. Modify the network characteristics
  10. Change the network parameters.

1. Modify your firewall settings

Remote Desktop

This is one of the simplest fixes for the “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer” bug. Turn off your firewall and see whether you can connect to a remote computer; if so, you have found the problem.

Here are the procedures to resolve this issue.

  1. Click “Allow an app across Windows firewall” on the start menu. Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall > Allowed programs are another option.
  2. Look for the “Change Settings” button in the upper right-hand corner of the page and click it.
  3. You will see a list of apps that your firewall has authorized or prohibited. Continue to scroll through the choices until you reach “Remote Desktop.” Check the boxes for private and public.
  4. Close the window and try again. You should now be able to connect to the remote computer if the firewall is the issue.

2. Examine your permissions

Private

To access a remote system through RDP, you must be a local Remote Desktop Users group member. This group is empty by default, and only administrators can add people. Check with your administrator to verify whether you can connect using RDP.

3. Allow remote desktop access.

Distant Desktop Connection (RDC) technology connects your computer to a remote computer through the Internet. If this capability is disabled, you will be unable to connect.

To see if this is blocked and to allow if it is,

  1. Enter “Allow Remote Desktop Connections” into the Start menu.
  2. Search for the option “Change settings to allow remote access to this machine.”
  3. Right next to it, click the “Show settings” option.
  4. Check the box next to “Allow Remote Assistance Connections to this Computer.” Click Apply and then OK.

These procedures will enable your computer’s RDC.

4. Reset your password

When you log in to a computer regularly, the credentials are saved. However, the same credentials may be used while connecting to a different computer, which may cause issues. Check to see sure you are using the correct credentials for the correct machine.

To re-establish the credentials,

  1. Connect to the remote desktop. It should be on the Start menu.
  2. Enter the IP address of the machine to which you wish to connect.
  3. You can change or remove the credentials if they have already been stored.
  4. Make the required adjustments.
  5. This will either reset or change your ID/Passwords credentials.

5. Check the status of RDP services.

The “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote computer” error message might occur if RDP services are not enabled on either the local or remote computer.

Examine if the following services are running on both machines;

  • Remote Desktop Services (RDS) (TermService).
  • UserMode Port Redirector for Remote Desktop Services (UmRdpService).

You cannot connect to a remote machine if a centralized Group Policy has disabled the UmRdpService. Start these services if you have admin access, or ask the admin to do so. You may also need to restart the system once this service starts.

6. Include the IP address of the host

Include the IP address of the host

Windows will sometimes refuse to connect to hosts whose IP addresses are not preserved in your host’s file. So, if this is your first time connecting to a computer:

  1. Start a command prompt. To open it, go to Run and type- cmd.
  2. cd C:/Windows/System32/Drivers/et cetera. This will display a list of all the hosts on your computer. 
  3. If you cannot discover the machine you wish to connect to, open this file in the notepad and manually enter the new IP address.
  4. To do so, enter notepad hosts.
  5. Once the file is opened, put the IP address at the end, save, and shut it.

If you look in your host file, you should see the IP hostname.

7. Examine the Group Policy

Incorrect Group Policy settings might be the source of the “remote desktop can’t connect to the remote machine” problem.

To check and modify (if necessary):

  1. Type gpedit.msc into the Run window (Windows key + R).
  2. Connections may be found by going to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Connections.
  3. Look for the option “Allow users to connect remotely using Remote Desktop Services.”
  4. If this setting is currently disabled, modify it to Enabled or Not Configured.
  5. Insert the RDGClientTransport Key.

This is a technical repair, so proceed with caution.

In this option, you will modify the registry entry to require RDP to use RPC/HTTP connections rather than HTTP/UDP connections.

To accomplish this,

  1. Open Run; pressing Windows + R and type Regedit. Enter the Enter key.
  2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Terminal Server Client
  3. Go to the right-hand pane, right-click, and select New > DWORD (32-bit value).
  4. This option should be called “RDGClientTransport.”
  5. Double-click the just produced file. Its characteristics will be displayed, and an opportunity to set the value data here will be checked. 
  6. Enter the number 1. 
  7. Close the Windows registry by clicking OK.

8. Examine the RDP listener port.

Check the RDP listener port next. Unless you modify it, the Remote Desktop service will utilize port 3389 by default. You will be unable to connect if another program utilizes the same port.

To verify the remote desktop port, do the following:

  1. Press Windows + R, and then in the dialogue box, type in regedit
  2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > System > CurrentControlSet > Control > Terminal Server > WinStations > RDP-Tcp
  3. Examine the value of “PortNumber” in the right-hand window.
  4. If the value is 0x00000000d3d, it indicates that the default port is set to 3389.
  5. Please change it to 3388 and connect to the distant computer with the new port.

9. Modify the network characteristics

The root of the connectivity issue might be the network settings since Windows occasionally block public networks as a security measure. So, adjust the privacy settings to private and see whether it works.

To accomplish this:

  1. Go to the Control Panel > Network and Internet tab.
  2. Launch the Status.
  3. Select “Change Connection Properties” from the drop-down menu. Look for it in the right panel.
  4. Select the “Private” radio option when this window opens.
  5. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CONTROL > TERMINAL SERVER > WINSTATIONS > RDP-Tcp

–Examine the “PortNumber” value in the right-hand pane.

  • If the value is 0x00000000d3d, that means the default port is 3389.
  • Please change it to 3388 and use the new port to connect to the remote computer.

10. Change the network parameters.

Because Windows may periodically restrict public networks as a security measure, the network settings might be the source of the connectivity problem. So, change the privacy settings to private and test it out.

To achieve this:

  1. Navigate to Control Panel > Network & Internet.
  2. Start the Status.
  3. From the drop-down option, choose “Change Connection Properties.” Look in the right pane for it.
  4. When this window opens, select the “Private” radio button.

Conclusion

The “remote desktop can’t connect to the distant computer” issue is common, but several remedies exist because the causes can differ widely. Your best strategy is to try each method out until you discover the one that solves your issue, even if it can be a little laborious.