How To Fix RemotePC Not Connecting

Lee Stanton June 5, 2023

Have you ever been away from your work computer and needed to access some files stored on it? You’ve installed RemotePC, so you’ve got nothing to worry about, right? But what if you can’t connect? What options do you have?

You may experience connectivity issues at the worst possible time. As with all technology, glitches and problems will occur occasionally. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll discuss how to connect to your remote desktop from different versions of Windows after you’ve updated your OS. We’ll also touch on several other common issues.

Remote Desktop Not Connecting to Windows 11

If you’re having problems with Remote Desktop not connecting when using Windows 11, there are a few things you should check. Remote Desktop connection errors could arise due to configuration issues. The problem could be resolved by making a few quick adjustments. To learn more, follow the suggestions listed below:

Ensure That Remote Desktop Is Enabled in Settings

The first thing you should do is check to ensure that Remote Desktop is enabled. Here’s how to check:

Click “Start” from the taskbar. Select “Settings.”
Find and click “Remote Desktop” from the “System” tab.
Ensure that “Remote Desktop” is toggled to the on position.
Once it’s set to the on position, tap “Confirm.”

Check to See if Remote Desktop Is Enabled in System Properties

You’ll need to have Remote Desktop enabled in your system properties for it to be able to connect. To do so, follow the steps below:

Select the “Magnifying Glass” icon on the bottom of the screen, and type in “Control Panel.”
Click “Control Panel.” From within the Control Panel, tap “System and Security.”
Locate and select “Allow remote access.”
In the pop-up window, make sure that “All Remote Assistance connections to this computer” is selected.
Click “Apply” and then “Ok.”

Check Your Firewall Settings

If you’re still having trouble connecting, your firewall settings could be the culprit. Ensuring that connections can bypass your firewall is necessary for Remote Desktop to work properly. Follow the steps below to check your firewall settings:

Use the “Magnifying Glass” icon on the bottom of the screen and type in “Firewall.”
Select “Windows Defender Firewall.”
From the options on the left side, choose “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.”
Press the “Change Settings” button.
Here you’ll see a list of apps that were blocked or allowed by your firewall. Locate “Remote Desktop.”
Put checkmarks in both boxes, “Private” and “Public.”
Tap “OK.”

Remote Desktop Not Connecting to Windows 10

There are a few things that could cause connectivity issues when using Remote Desktop with Windows 10. Listed below are a few suggestions to remedy the problem.

Check Your Firewall Settings

Your firewall could be the cause of not being able to connect with Remote Desktop. A quick check and perhaps an adjustment to the settings may be all that’s needed. To do this, follow the steps below:

Using the “Magnifying Glass” icon, type in “Firewall.”
Choose “Windows Defender Firewall.”
From the options on the left, click “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.”
You’ll see a list of apps that your firewall has either allowed or blocked. Look for “Remote Desktop.”
Ensure that there’s a checkmark to “Private.”
Click “Apply” and “OK” to save this setting.

Improper System Settings

Your connectivity problem could be related to an improper setting in your system settings. To check, follow these steps:

Use the “Magnifying Glass” icon and search for “Settings.”
Select “Update & Security” and choose “For developers.”
Locate “Change settings to allow remote connections to this computer” and tap “Show settings.”
Ensure that there’s a checkmark in the box next to “Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer.”
Click “OK.”

Remote Desktop Not Connecting to Windows 7

There are a few things that could cause connectivity issues when running Windows 7. Listed below are some of the things you should check that could be the problem.

Ensure That Remote Connections Are Allowed

You can check to makes sure your remote connections are permitted by going to the system properties and taking a look. To do so, follow these steps:

Click “Start” from the taskbar.
Select “Computer.”
Find and select “Remote” menu from the “System” tab at the top. Check that “Enable Remote Desktop” is toggled to the on position.
Once you have it set to the on position, tap “Ok.”

Take a Look at Your Firewall

Your connectivity issues could be caused by your firewall blocking the connection. To check your firewall settings, follow the instructions below:

Click “Start” from the taskbar on the bottom of the screen, and select Computer.
Press “Windows Firewall.”
From the left side menu, click on “Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall.”
Hit the “Change Settings” button.
Here you’ll see a list of apps that were allowed by your firewall. Find “Remote Desktop.”
Ensure there are checkmarks in both boxes, “Private” and “Public.”
Tap “OK.”

Remote Desktop Not Connecting After Windows Update

Sometimes you’ll have issues connecting with Remote Desktop after a Windows update. The update could have made some changes to various settings. Try some of the following solutions to resolve the problem.

Allow Remote Connections

Following a Windows update, it’s a good idea to check to see if any changes were made to allowable connections. Follow these steps to check for changes:

Tap “Start” from the “Taskbar” and choose “Settings.”
Choose “Computer.”
Select the “Remote” tab from the system properties.
Locate “Remote Assistance.” Ensure that the box next to “Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer” is selected.
Click “Apply” to save your changes.

Check Your Firewall Settings

It’s possible that your firewall settings could have been changed when you updated Windows. This could be the cause of your connectivity problem. To see how to check, follow these instructions:

Tap “Start” from the “Taskbar” and choose “Settings.”
Choose “Computer.”
From the left side menu, click “Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall.”
You’ll see a list of allowed apps. Search for “Remote Desktop.”
Ensure that the boxes are checked for both “Public” and “Private.”
Tap “Apply” and “OK” to save your changes.

Check Remote Desktop Dependency Services

Checking to ensure that your Remote Desktop Dependency services aren’t disabled could help you to get Remote Desktop operating again. To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

Hold down “Windows+R” and type in “services.msc” and tap “OK.”
Scroll down and make sure that each one that begins with the word “Remote” either says “Manual” or “Automatic.”
If any are listed as “Disabled,” you’ll need to enable them in “Settings.”

Remote Desktop Not Connecting Mac

Remote Desktop connectivity issues while using a Mac could be caused by problems within the Microsoft Remote Desktop app for Mac. You’ll need to close and reopen it. Here’s how to do so.

On the bottom of your Mac, click on the Microsoft Remote Desktop app icon.
Right-click on the icon and select “Quit.”
If it remains open, tap on it to open the app.
Click on the “Apple” icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
Select “Force Quit” to close the app.
Relaunch the Microsoft Remote Desktop app.

Remote Desktop Not Connecting Through VPN

Sometimes you’ll experience connection errors when using a VPN. Listed below are the steps you can take to get it working again.

Disable Proxy Settings

Press “Windows+R” to open a command box.
In the window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and tap “OK.”
Select the “Connections” tab.
Click on “LAN Settings.”
Ensure that “Use a proxy server for your LAN” doesn’t have a checkmark in the box next to it.
Tap “OK.”

Most Remote Desktop Connectivity Issues Can Be Solved by Checking Your Settings

By checking some simple settings on your computer, you should be able to connect and get your work done. Sometimes the issue is as simple as a firewall setting or allowing remote connections. Although it’s frustrating when you can’t connect with Remote Desktop, with just a few clicks or taps, you can be up and running again.

Have you had issues with RemotePC not connecting? Did you use the methods we outlined in this article? Let us know in the comments section below.