To connect remotely, the Windows PC you want to control must run a Pro edition of Windows with Remote Desktop enabled. On that host, open Settings > System > Remote Desktop, switch the feature on, and record the PC name. From the other device, open the client Microsoft specifies for its operating system, enter that PC name, choose the PC, and sign in.
Understand which device is the host
Remote Desktop uses two roles:
- Host: the Windows PC you want to access and control.
- Client: the Windows computer, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android device you use to connect.
The edition requirement applies to the host, not the client. Microsoft’s current instructions require the host PC to run Windows Pro. A connecting Windows PC can run Windows Home or Pro, and the client can also use another operating system. The official workflow is described for Windows 11 and Windows 10; see the Windows 10 support note later in this guide. Microsoft’s Remote Desktop instructions are the reference for the current labels and apps.
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Check the requirements before you start
Use this short checklist on the PC you want to access:
- It has a Windows Pro edition.
- You can open Windows Settings and reach the Remote Desktop page.
- You can note the computer’s PC name exactly as Windows displays it.
- You know which device and operating system will act as the client.
If the host is not running Windows Pro, the documented Remote Desktop host setup does not meet Microsoft’s stated prerequisite. Do not confuse that with the client: the connecting Windows PC does not need to be Pro merely because the host does.
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How to check the host edition
- On the PC you want to access, open Settings.
- Select System, then About.
- Find the Windows edition and confirm that it says Pro.
This check should be done on the host, not on the device from which you plan to connect. If you are checking a Windows laptop that will only be the client, its edition is not the host requirement.
Enable Remote Desktop on the Windows host
Once the host edition is confirmed, turn on the feature and capture the name that the client will use.
- Open Settings on the host PC.
- Go to System > Remote Desktop.
- Turn Remote Desktop on.
- Confirm the change when Windows asks.
- Record the PC name shown on this page. You will enter this name in the client app.
The PC name is the identifier used in the documented connection flow. Copy it carefully, including any hyphens or other characters Windows shows. A name copied from a different computer will point the client at the wrong host.
Choose the right client for your device
The next step depends on the operating system of the device in your hands.
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| Client device | Microsoft-named client | What you enter or select |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Remote Desktop Connection | Enter the host PC name, choose Connect, and sign in. |
| Mac | Windows App | Add the host PC name, then select the PC. |
| iPhone or iPad | Windows App | Add the host PC name, then select the PC. |
| Android device | Remote Desktop app | Add the host PC name, then select the PC. |
The app names above are the names in Microsoft’s instructions. They are not interchangeable labels: Windows uses the built-in Remote Desktop Connection search result, while macOS and iOS use Windows App, and Android uses the Remote Desktop app.
Connect from another Windows PC
A Windows client can be Home or Pro. The client edition does not have to match the host edition.
- On the client Windows PC, search for Remote Desktop Connection.
- Open the matching app.
- Enter the host’s PC name in the connection field.
- Select Connect.
- Sign in when prompted.
The PC name in step 3 must be the name recorded from Settings > System > Remote Desktop on the host. If you have several Windows PCs, label your notes with the host’s purpose or physical location so you do not enter another computer’s name.
Connect from a Mac, iPhone, or iPad
Microsoft directs macOS and iOS users to Windows App. The flow is the same at a high level, although the app’s controls can be arranged differently on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad.
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- Open Windows App on the Mac, iPhone, or iPad.
- Use the option to add a PC.
- Enter the host PC name you recorded from Windows.
- Save or add the entry as the app requests.
- Select the added PC.
- Sign in when prompted.
Do not enter the name of the Apple device itself. The entry you add represents the Windows host, so use the host’s PC name from its Remote Desktop settings.
Connect from Android
On Android, Microsoft identifies the client as the Remote Desktop app.
- Open the Remote Desktop app.
- Choose the option to add a PC.
- Enter the Windows host’s PC name.
- Add the PC entry.
- Select the PC you added.
- Sign in when prompted.
As with the other clients, the important value is the host PC name, not the Android device name and not the name of a different Windows computer.
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What to verify when the connection does not start
Before changing anything else, walk through the documented prerequisites in order. This avoids troubleshooting the client when the host setup is the actual problem.
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1. Confirm that you checked the correct Windows PC
Open Settings > System > About on the computer you intend to control. Its edition must be Windows Pro. Checking the edition on the client does not establish that the host qualifies.
2. Confirm that Remote Desktop is enabled on the host
Return to Settings > System > Remote Desktop on the host and verify that Remote Desktop is on. If it is off, enable it and confirm the change before trying the client again.
3. Confirm the PC name
Compare the name entered in the client with the PC name displayed in the host’s Remote Desktop settings. A single character copied incorrectly can prevent the client from identifying the intended computer.
4. Confirm that you opened the client for your platform
- Windows: Remote Desktop Connection.
- macOS or iOS: Windows App.
- Android: Remote Desktop app.
5. Confirm that you completed sign-in
After selecting or connecting to the host, complete the sign-in prompt. Enabling Remote Desktop and adding a PC entry are setup steps; the session still requires authentication when the client asks for it.
These checks cover the host edition, the enabled feature, the identifier, the client choice, and the sign-in stage described by Microsoft. They do not establish a solution for every network or policy-related failure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Network and scope limitations
The basic instructions above tell you how to enable the host and add it to a client by PC name. They do not, by themselves, specify how to expose a computer over the public internet, configure a router or firewall, or decide whether a VPN is needed for a particular network. Those conditions depend on the network environment and are outside the connection steps documented here. Do not assume that entering a PC name alone answers those separate access questions.
Windows 10 support status
Microsoft’s instructions cover Windows 10 and Windows 11, but Microsoft says Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. That is a support-status date; it does not mean that an existing Windows 10 PC automatically stopped working on that day. If you are configuring a Windows 10 host or client after that date, distinguish the continued operation of the installed software from Microsoft’s ended support period.
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A complete connection checklist
- On the intended host, open Settings > System > About and verify Windows Pro.
- Open Settings > System > Remote Desktop.
- Turn Remote Desktop on and confirm the change.
- Write down the host PC name exactly.
- On the client, open the platform-appropriate app.
- Enter or add the host PC name.
- Select Connect on Windows, or select the added PC on macOS, iOS, or Android.
- Sign in when prompted.
If you can complete all eight steps but still cannot establish a session, the remaining cause is not identified by these basic instructions. At that point, record the exact message shown by the client and consult the support guidance for the specific network, account, or Windows configuration involved rather than changing unrelated settings at random.
What this method does—and does not—require
- Required on the host: Windows Pro, Remote Desktop enabled, and the host PC name.
- Not required on the client: a matching Windows Pro edition when the client is another Windows PC.
- Supported client categories in these instructions: Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices using Microsoft’s named clients.
- Not specified here: a particular router, cable, physical accessory, third-party remote-access service, public-internet configuration, or universal VPN setup.
For the authoritative labels and the current Microsoft workflow, use Microsoft’s “How to use Remote Desktop” support article.
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