How to connect to a Windows VPS with Remote Desktop
Open Remote Desktop Connection, type your server's IP address, then sign in as Administrator with the password from your order. It takes about a minute. If the connection fails, the cause is almost always a wrong IP, a wrong password or a blocked port 3389.
By VPSRely Editorial, Editorial team. Published . 5 min read.
What you need first
Collect three things from your account and welcome message.
- The server's IP address
- The username, normally Administrator
- The password set for your server
From a Windows computer
Press the Windows key, type mstsc and press Enter. In the Computer box, paste the server IP address and click Connect.
When Windows asks for credentials, enter Administrator and the password. If a certificate warning appears the first time, it is normal for a new server; tick the box to stop asking about that server and continue.
From a Mac or Linux computer
On a Mac, install the Microsoft Remote Desktop app from the App Store, add a PC with the server IP, and sign in with the same details.
On Linux, use a client such as Remmina, or run xfreerdp /v:SERVER-IP /u:Administrator from a terminal and enter the password when prompted.
If it will not connect
Work through these in order.
- Check the IP address for a typo
- Retype the password; it is case sensitive
- Make sure your own network allows outbound traffic on port 3389, since some office and public networks block it
- Check the server is running in your control panel and reboot it if not
Secure it after the first login
Change the Administrator password, run Windows Update, and keep the Windows firewall on. RDP is a common target for password guessing, so use a long password and consider limiting port 3389 to your own IP address. Microsoft documents the client options in its Remote Desktop documentation.
Pick a size with enough memory first. Windows needs more than Linux, as the Windows VPS page explains.