Remote Desktop Connection is a built-in Windows program that lets you see and control another computer over a network as if you were sitting in front of it. Your keyboard and mouse actions are sent to the remote PC, and its screen is sent back to you.
If you’ve noticed the name in your Start menu or in an error message and wondered what it is, this guide explains what Remote Desktop Connection does, how it works, who uses it, how safe it is, and how it compares with other remote access tools. When you’re ready to try it, our guide on how to connect with Remote Desktop in Windows 11 walks you through the setup, and if a connection fails, see Remote Desktop can’t connect to the remote computer.
In short: Remote Desktop Connection (also called mstsc, after its file name mstsc.exe) is Microsoft’s free client for the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). It lets one Windows device control another PC from a different room, building, or city.
What Does Remote Desktop Connection Do?
Remote Desktop Connection gives you a window onto another computer’s desktop. Inside that window you can open apps, edit files, change settings, and run programs on the remote PC exactly as you would locally.
The important point is that everything runs on the remote computer, not on yours. Your device only displays the screen and sends your input. That’s why you can use a modest laptop to work on a powerful desktop, or reach files and software on a PC you left at home or at the office.
During a session you can also share some of your local resources with the remote PC. Depending on the settings, this can include the clipboard, so you can copy and paste between the two computers, local drives, printers, and audio.
How Remote Desktop Connection Works
Every Remote Desktop session involves two computers:
- The client is the device you’re sitting at. It runs Remote Desktop Connection or a compatible app.
- The host is the computer you want to control. It must be switched on, reachable on the network, and set up to accept incoming connections.
The two communicate using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which Microsoft developed to send screen images one way and keyboard and mouse input the other. RDP normally listens on TCP port 3389, and newer versions can also use UDP on the same port to make the session feel smoother. Before the session starts, you sign in with an account on the host PC, and by default Windows uses Network Level Authentication to check your credentials first.
When you connect to a Windows PC this way, the computer’s own screen locks. Windows client editions allow only one active session at a time, so you and someone sitting at the host can’t both use it simultaneously.
What You Need to Use Remote Desktop Connection
To make a connection, you need a few things in place:
- A supported Windows edition on the host. The PC you want to control must run Windows 11 or Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. Windows Home can connect out to other computers but can’t be connected to. If you’re unsure which one you have, our comparison of Windows 11 Pro vs Home explains the difference.
- Remote Desktop switched on at the host. It’s off by default and is enabled in Settings under System.
- A network path between the two computers. That means the same home or office network, or a VPN into it.
- An account with a password on the host. A Windows Hello PIN won’t work for Remote Desktop sign-in.
- The host awake and online. A sleeping or powered-off PC can’t accept connections.
The exact click-by-click process is covered in our connection guide.
Common Uses for Remote Desktop Connection
People use Remote Desktop Connection in a few typical ways:
- Working from home. Employees connect to their office PC to use work software and files without carrying that computer around.
- IT support and administration. Technicians manage servers and staff computers without visiting each one.
- Reaching your own PC while away. You can open a file, start a download, or run a program on your home computer from a laptop elsewhere.
- Using a more powerful machine. Heavy tasks such as large spreadsheets or design software can run on a strong desktop while you work from a lightweight device.
- Accessing cloud and virtual desktops. Many business virtual desktops, including cloud PC services, rely on RDP behind the scenes.
If you only need to reach files on another PC rather than control it, a lighter option is to set up shared folders in Windows 11, which doesn’t need a full remote session.
Remote Desktop Connection vs. Other Remote Tools
Remote Desktop Connection is one of several ways to reach another computer. The right choice depends on what you’re trying to do.
| Tool | Best for | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc) | Controlling your own Windows PC or a work PC | Built into Windows and free, but the host must run Pro, Enterprise, or Education |
| Windows App | Reaching Windows PCs, cloud PCs, and virtual desktops from Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android | Microsoft’s newer app that replaced the older Remote Desktop apps |
| Quick Assist | Helping a friend or relative with a problem | Session-based and requires the person being helped to approve the connection |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | Simple personal access, including Windows Home PCs | Free Google service that works through the Chrome browser |
| Third-party tools such as TeamViewer or AnyDesk | Cross-platform support and quick one-off sessions | Usually connect through the provider’s servers and may require a paid licence for business use |
In short, use Remote Desktop Connection when you regularly need full control of a Windows PC you own or manage. Use a session-based tool when you’re helping someone else once.
What Happened to the Remote Desktop App?
If you’ve searched for Remote Desktop apps recently, you may have noticed some confusion over the names. Microsoft retired the separate Remote Desktop app from the Microsoft Store on May 27, 2025, and replaced it with the Windows App. The Windows App is now Microsoft’s main app for connecting to cloud PCs and virtual desktops, and it is also what you use on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android.
This doesn’t affect the classic Remote Desktop Connection program (mstsc). It remains part of Windows, which is why guides still tell you to press Windows + R and type mstsc.
Is Remote Desktop Connection Safe?
Remote Desktop Connection is secure when it’s set up carefully, but it gives full control of a computer, so mistakes can be costly. The main risks come from how it’s exposed, not from the tool itself:
- Opening port 3389 to the internet. This is the most common way attackers find Remote Desktop PCs. Avoid forwarding this port on your router.
- Weak or reused passwords. Anyone who guesses the password gets full access.
- Outdated Windows. Remote Desktop flaws are patched through Windows updates, so unpatched PCs are more exposed.
To reduce the risk:
- Keep Network Level Authentication turned on.
- Use a strong, unique password for every account that can connect.
- Reach your network through a VPN rather than exposing Remote Desktop to the internet.
- Install Windows updates promptly.
- Add only people who genuinely need access to the Remote Desktop users list.
- Turn Remote Desktop off on any PC that doesn’t need it.
Limitations to Know About
- Home editions can’t be hosts. Only Pro, Enterprise, and Education can accept connections.
- It depends on your connection. Slow or unstable internet makes the screen laggy, and video, gaming, and graphics work don’t suit it.
- The host must stay available. If the remote PC sleeps, restarts, or loses its network, the session ends.
- One person at a time. Connecting locks the screen of anyone using the host in person.
What to Do When Remote Desktop Connection Doesn’t Work
The most common problem is the message that Remote Desktop can’t connect to the remote computer. It usually comes down to the host being asleep or offline, Remote Desktop being switched off, a firewall blocking the connection, or a wrong computer name or password. Our troubleshooting guide, Remote Desktop can’t connect to the remote computer, takes you through each check in order. If the problem seems to be your network itself, resetting network settings in Windows 11 can also help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Remote Desktop Connection in simple terms?
It’s a free Windows tool that shows you another computer’s screen and lets you control it with your own keyboard and mouse, as though you were sitting at it.
Is Remote Desktop Connection the same as RDP?
Not exactly. RDP is the Remote Desktop Protocol, the technology that carries the connection. Remote Desktop Connection is the Windows program that uses that protocol.
Is Remote Desktop Connection free?
Yes. It’s included with Windows at no extra cost. You only need a Windows edition that can act as a host, such as Pro.
Can I use Remote Desktop Connection on Windows 11 Home?
You can use a Home PC to connect to another computer, but you can’t connect to a Home PC. For that you’d need to upgrade to Pro or use another tool, such as Chrome Remote Desktop.
Does Remote Desktop Connection work over the internet?
Yes, but you should reach the host through a VPN or your organisation’s secure remote access setup instead of opening port 3389 to the internet.
Can I use Remote Desktop Connection from a Mac or a phone?
Yes. Install Microsoft’s Windows App on your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android device and add the PC you want to reach.
Can two people use the same PC through Remote Desktop at once?
Not on a standard Windows PC. Windows client editions allow one active session, so connecting remotely locks the screen for anyone using the computer in person.
Remote Desktop Connection is a simple, free way to control a Windows PC from somewhere else. It works well for working from home, supporting colleagues, and reaching your own computer while you’re away, as long as the host runs a supported edition and you connect through a secure route. To get started, follow our guide to connecting with Remote Desktop in Windows 11, and keep the Remote Desktop troubleshooting guide handy in case a connection fails.
