RDP ports: find and change port - how it works

With the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) you can access and control third-party Windows PCs. To do this, you have to enable the correct ports in your router. In this article we reveal which port RDP uses by default, how you enable it and how you change the port manually.

Remote Desktop Protocol: This is the standard port

In order for RDP to be able to access the external Windows computer, port 3389 must have been released there (in the network of the target PC).

• Our detailed instructions for port sharing explains how this works in the router. In addition, you must still open the port in your firewall if you use one.
• But be careful: the standard port of RDP is often used by malware. If you open it in your system, this can create a security risk. Therefore, you should either close the port immediately after remote access or change it directly.

Change RDP port under Windows

The RDP port cannot be easily changed via the Windows program interface, but there is at least one parameter in the registry. The port can be changed relatively quickly via this.

1. To do this, press the key combination [Windows] + [R] so that the Run dialog opens.
2. Enter the "regedit" command there and confirm with [Enter]. Under certain circumstances you may have to allow the registry to be started with "Yes" via the user account control.
3. In the new window navigate to the path "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE> SYSTEM> CurrentControlSet> Control> Terminal Server> WinStations> RDP-Tcp".
4. In the right pane, double-tap the "PortNumber" entry. A small window opens.
5. Set the "Base" to the "Decimal" entry at the bottom right.
6. Enter the desired port under "Value".
7. Save your changes with "OK" and restart your computer. Windows is now using the new port for the remote connection.

On the next page, we will show you how to set up the remote desktop connection correctly so that you can use remote access perfectly.