

You can also skip the VPN and expose the Remote Desktop server directly to the Internet by setting your router to forward Remote Desktop traffic to the PC being accessed. Option Two: Expose Remote Desktop Directly to the Internet Setting up a VPN is by far the more secure option when it comes to making Remote Desktop accessible over the internet, and with the right tools, it’s pretty simple to achieve. RELATED: How to Set Up Your Own Home VPN Server We’ve covered a number of ways to set up your own home VPN server, including a way to create a VPN server in Windows without any extra software or services. This will allow you to access Remote Desktop and other services normally only exposed on your local network. Instead, when you’re away from home, you can connect to the VPN, and your computer will act like it’s part of the same local network as the computer at home, running the Remote Desktop server. If you create a virtual private network ( VPN), you won’t have to expose the Remote Desktop server directly to the Internet. RELATED: What Is a VPN, and Why Would I Need One? RELATED: Remote Desktop Roundup: TeamViewer vs.

Before you get started, enable Remote Desktop on the PC you want to access and make sure you can reach it from other computers on your local network. If you’re using Remote Desktop, getting it set up for access over the internet isn’t too difficult, but you will have to jump through a couple of hoops. Home versions of Windows only have the remote desktop client for letting you connect to machines, but you need one of the pricier editions in order to connect to your PC.

However, if you have a Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate edition of Windows, you already have the full Windows Remote Desktop installed. We’ve covered several solutions for accessing your desktop remotely over the Internet.
