Frequently Asked Question
Virtualization Station: Modify and Change Remote Desktop Listening Port
Last Updated 7 years ago
Remote Desktop is a multi-channel protocol that allows a user to remote access or connect to a computer which has enabled Remote Desktop server or Remote Desktop Services from another remote computer, through Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN) or Internet by using Remote Desktop Connection client program. Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) server application can be found pre-installed on Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE), Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC 2005 Edition, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Business Edition, and equivalent editions of later Windows OS such as Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012 and so on.
By default, Remote Desktop is using port 3389 TCP (UDP to stream audio redirection) as the listening port for any incoming Remote Desktop connections. Although Remote Desktop Services server is using the default listening port of 3389 TCP and UDP, it’s possible to modify or change the listening port of Remote Desktop to another port. It’s especially useful when the remote computer is behind firewall which doesn’t allow incoming and outgoing connections other than standard ports (Windows Firewall in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later will automatically configure and open required ports when user enable Remote Desktop to allow Remote Desktop connections to the computer, if “Don’t Allow Exceptions” is not selected. Else, user will need to manually open the Remote Desktop port in Internet Connection Firewall on Windows XP SP 1 or earlier), or users unable to configure the port forwarding for Remote Desktop if they’re behind firewall or router’s NAT.
How to Change the Listening Port for Remote Desktop
Microsoft has a Knowledge Base article KB306759 that details how to modify and change the Remote Desktop listening port by changing registry value.
Kindly remember to open a new port in the Windows Firewall.
(port 3389 TCP, for video; UDP, to stream audio redirection)
How to:
Now, try the Remote Desktop Connection:
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By default, Remote Desktop is using port 3389 TCP (UDP to stream audio redirection) as the listening port for any incoming Remote Desktop connections. Although Remote Desktop Services server is using the default listening port of 3389 TCP and UDP, it’s possible to modify or change the listening port of Remote Desktop to another port. It’s especially useful when the remote computer is behind firewall which doesn’t allow incoming and outgoing connections other than standard ports (Windows Firewall in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later will automatically configure and open required ports when user enable Remote Desktop to allow Remote Desktop connections to the computer, if “Don’t Allow Exceptions” is not selected. Else, user will need to manually open the Remote Desktop port in Internet Connection Firewall on Windows XP SP 1 or earlier), or users unable to configure the port forwarding for Remote Desktop if they’re behind firewall or router’s NAT.
How to Change the Listening Port for Remote Desktop
Microsoft has a Knowledge Base article KB306759 that details how to modify and change the Remote Desktop listening port by changing registry value.
- Start Registry Editor by clicking on Start -> Run, and type in regedit in the Run text box, and then press Enter or click OK.
- Navigate to the following registry branch/subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp
- Locate the registry entry PortNumber in the right pane.
- Right click on PortNumber and choose Modify (or select PortNumber, then click on Edit menu and select Modify).
- On the Edit DWORD Value window, click on Decimal.
- Type in the new port number on the Value Data text box.
- Click OK when done.
Kindly remember to open a new port in the Windows Firewall.
(port 3389 TCP, for video; UDP, to stream audio redirection)
How to:
- Open Windows Firewall by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type firewall, and then click Windows Firewall.
- In the left pane, click Advanced settings. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
- In the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security dialog box, in the left pane, click Inbound Rules, and then, in the right pane, click New Rule.
- Follow the instructions in the New Inbound Rule wizard.
- Then Restart.
Now, try the Remote Desktop Connection:
- Computer: e.g.192.168.2.222:3390 *(computer IP/name follow by your;s RDP predefined port)
- Account/User name: example: e.g. window7-pc\alex.tin *(computer name follow by your computer user account)
- Password: cannot be blank *(computer user account)
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