Microsoft has an built-in remote access program which allows you to view and interact with one computer using a simple program (Remote Desktop Connection) on another computer anywhere on the Internet or Local Area Network (LAN).
To enable Windows built-in Remote Desktop, right click on My Computer, select Properties and click on the Remote tab.
Check on the box where it says “Allow users to connect remotely to this computer” and your computer will start listening for remote access connections on the default port 3389.
It is possible to change the remote desktop default port 3389 to other port. This is a better security measure because it will stop anyone from the network or internet directly trying connecting to you using remote desktop. Remote Desktop Connection also by default connect to Windows using port 3389 and there is no options where you can state what port you want to use.
This is how you can change the listening port of your remote desktop and also how can you connect to a remote desktop that’s on a different port using Remote Desktop Connection.
1. Start Registry Editor. Go to Start -> Run -> type regedit and click OK
2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\TerminalServer\WinStations\
RDP-Tcp\PortNumber
3. On the Edit menu, click Modify, and then click Decimal.
4. Type the new port number, and then click OK.
5. Quit Registry Editor and restart is NOT required.
To use Remote Desktop Connection to connect to a listening computer on different port.
Remote Desktop Connection tool is usually located in Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Communications -> Remote Desktop Connection.
Run it, enter the computer name if it’s on Local Area Network (LAN) or IP Address if on internet.
Clicking on the connect button will connect to the designated computer on default port 3389. To connect to a different port, enter a column and port after the computer name or IP address. The below picture is connecting to a computer name “pc” on port 3333.
Related posts:
Event Viewer has logs for Remote Desktop Connections.
Terminal Services.
Start > Run > eventvwr.msc
Where we find a Log for Remote Desktop conection accessing. plz send mail
thanks in advance
thanx Good Tip
Ray, Sorry to be thick here but how do you determine what the \”computer name\” is? Is this the name given to the PC when the platform (XP etc) is first installed and as appears on the General Tab of System Properties ?
[...] Nearly 5 months ago, I posted a tip on how to change the listening port of Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection. This tip involves changing some values in your registry. Beginners can find it hard to mess with their Registry because one wrong modification, you won’t be able to boot up your Windows. [...]
Nick, I tested it and no restart required.
ps.. Restart is required. (XP Professional Machines)
Restart required to reinitialise the port to the changed port value.
Only way to get it to work without restarting is by restarting the service that controls remote desktop connection.
Cool Tip, Good security measure as you have stated.