Applies to Windows 8, Windows RT

What types of Remote Desktop connections should I allow?

Remote Desktop Connection is a technology that allows you to sit at a PC and connect to another PC in a different location (the remote PC). Before you or someone else can connect to the remote PC, you need to choose the appropriate connection setting on the remote PC. The following info will help you decide which setting to choose.

  1. Open System by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering System in the search box, tapping or clicking Settings, and then tapping or clicking System.

  2. Click Remote settings. Administrator permission required You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

  3. Pick one of the following:

    • To prevent anyone from connecting to your PC using Remote Desktop or RemoteApp and Desktop Connections, pick Don’t allow remote connections to this computer.

    • If you don't know which version of Remote Desktop Connection other people are using, pick Allow remote connections to this computer.

      If you know that the people who will connect to your PC are running Windows 7 or Windows 8 on their PCs, check the Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (recommended) box. These versions of Windows use Network Level Authentication, which is an authentication method that completes user authentication before you establish a full connection and the sign-in screen appears. This can help protect the remote PC from hackers and malware.

To see if your computer is running a version of Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication

  1. Open Remote Desktop Connection by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering mstsc in the search box, tapping or clicking Apps, and then tapping or clicking mstsc.

  2. Tap or click the icon in the upper-left corner of the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box, and then tap or click About.

    Remote Desktop Connection dialog box Remote Desktop Connection dialog box

  3. In the About Remote Desktop Connection dialog box, look for "Network Level Authentication supported."