RDP Not Working on Windows 11? Here’s How to Fix It

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) allows you to connect to and control your Windows 11 computer from another device. However, sometimes RDP stops working. This guide provides comprehensive troubleshooting steps to get RDP working again.

1. Basic Checks

Before diving into complex solutions, let’s rule out simple issues:

• Internet Connection: Ensure both your local and remote computers have a stable internet connection. A poor connection can disrupt the RDP session.
• Firewall: Windows Firewall might be blocking RDP connections. We’ll address this in a later section.
• RDP Enabled: Verify that Remote Desktop is enabled on the target Windows 11 machine.
• Correct IP Address/Hostname: Double-check that you are using the correct IP address or hostname of the remote computer.
• Credentials: Make sure you’re using the correct username and password for the remote computer.
• Reboot: A simple reboot of both the local and remote computers can often resolve temporary glitches.

2. Enable Remote Desktop on Windows 11

RDP must be explicitly enabled on the Windows 11 machine you want to connect to. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings: Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
2. System: Click on “System” in the left sidebar.
3. Remote Desktop: Find and click on “Remote Desktop”.
4. Enable Remote Desktop: Toggle the “Remote Desktop” switch to the “On” position. You might see a warning about firewall configuration; proceed to the next step.
5. Confirm: Confirm your choice. Windows 11 will automatically configure the firewall to allow RDP connections.

3. Windows Firewall Configuration

Even if you enabled Remote Desktop, the Windows Firewall might still be blocking connections. Here’s how to ensure RDP is allowed through the firewall:

1. Open Control Panel: Search for “Control Panel” in the Start menu and open it.
2. Windows Defender Firewall: Click on “Windows Defender Firewall”.
3. Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall: Click on this option in the left pane.
4. Change settings: Click the “Change settings” button (you might need administrator privileges).
5. Remote Desktop: Scroll through the list of apps and features and ensure that “Remote Desktop” is checked for both “Private” and “Public” networks. If you see two “Remote Desktop” entries, enable both.
6. OK: Click “OK” to save the changes.

4. Check Network Level Authentication (NLA)

NLA is a security feature that requires users to authenticate before establishing a Remote Desktop connection. While it enhances security, it can sometimes cause compatibility issues.

1. System Properties: Search for “System” in the Start menu and click on “System (Control Panel)”. Alternatively, press Win + Pause/Break.
2. Remote Settings: Click on “Remote settings” in the left pane.
3. Remote Desktop: In the “Remote Desktop” section, uncheck the box that says “Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (recommended)”.
4. Apply and OK: Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.

Security Consideration: Disabling NLA reduces security. Only do this if you are on a trusted network and understand the risks. After troubleshooting, consider re-enabling NLA.

5. Verify RDP Service is Running

The Remote Desktop Services service must be running on the target computer for RDP to work.

1. Open Services: Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Remote Desktop Services: Scroll down and find “Remote Desktop Services”.
3. Status: Check the “Status” column. If it’s not “Running,” right-click on “Remote Desktop Services” and select “Start”.
4. Startup Type: Right-click on “Remote Desktop Services” and select “Properties”. In the “Startup type” dropdown, choose “Automatic”. This ensures the service starts automatically when the computer boots.
5. Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector: Repeat steps 2-4 for this service as well.

6. Group Policy Settings (Advanced)

In some cases, Group Policy settings might be preventing RDP connections. This is more common in domain environments.

1. Open Group Policy Editor: Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. (This tool is not available on Windows 11 Home edition).
2. Navigate: Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Connections.
3. Allow users to connect remotely by using Remote Desktop Services: Ensure this policy is either “Not Configured” or “Enabled”. If it’s “Disabled,” double-click on it, select “Enabled,” and click “Apply” and “OK.”
4. Limit number of connections: If set to a low number (or 0), increase it to allow more simultaneous RDP sessions. “Not Configured” usually allows for the default maximum number of connections.

7. Network Adapter Configuration

Sometimes, the network adapter’s settings can interfere with RDP. Try disabling TCP Chimney Offload, Receive Side Scaling (RSS), and NetDMA.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Search for “cmd” in the Start menu, right-click on “Command Prompt,” and select “Run as administrator”.
2. Disable TCP Chimney Offload: Type netsh int tcp set global chimney=disabled and press Enter.
3. Disable Receive Side Scaling (RSS): Type netsh int tcp set global rss=disabled and press Enter.
4. Disable NetDMA: Type netsh int tcp set global netdma=disabled and press Enter.
5. Reboot: Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

8. Check Event ViewerThe Event Viewer can provide clues about why RDP is failing.1. Open Event Viewer: Search for “Event Viewer” in the Start menu and open it.2. Windows Logs: Expand “Windows Logs” in the left pane.3. Application and System: Check both the “Application” and “System” logs for errors or warnings related to Remote Desktop Services. Look for events with a source of “TermService” or “RemoteDesktopServices-RdpCoreTS”.By systematically working through these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve most RDP issues on Windows 11. If problems persist, consult the Microsoft support website or your IT administrator.