Why cant I see Remote Desktop in System Properties?

How to Fix: Remote Desktop Missing [settings via System Properties]

Not long ago RDP Wrapper was developed to make it possible to use concurrent [multiple] Remote Desktop connections for regular Windows desktop users. For example: if you try and use Remote Desktop to connect to a Windows PC while someone is currently using that PC, the local user would get disconnected in order to allow the remote connection.

On the other hand, RDP Wrapper works by allowing concurrent Remote Desktop sessions and won't disconnect the current local user [providing you're attempting to login with a different user name] - plus you can have as many remote connections to a Windows PC as you want. This is similar to how Remote Desktop works on Windows Server. I have been using RDP Wrapper for years on my home "server" computer [which isn't running Windows Server] - and I can tell you it is incredibly useful.

Related: How to Fix: RDP Wrapper Not Listening

With that out of the way - the most important point in all of this is that RDP Wrapper also enables the Remote Desktop service on Windows Home PC's. In other words, you don't need to own a Pro version of Windows so that you can use the Remote Desktop service on your Windows Home machine [in order to allow Remote Desktop connections coming into the machine]. This also means you'll be able to use Remote Desktop service to connect to your wife's PC, as per the original question. Whew - that was a lot of explaining!

1. You Can't Connect to the Remote Computer

First, check your network settings. Do both computers have a network connection? It is always the easiest connection issue that sneaks under the radar!

If both computers have a network connection, you can move on. The Windows Remote Desktop Connection requires either an IP address or a name for the console you are attempting to view.

Make sure you have the correct IP address for the remote computer. On the remote computer, you canvisitwhatismyip and copy down the address. If you are not with the remote computer, you must ask someone at the location to do this for you, then send over the IP address.

Similarly, to find out the computer name of the remote device, head to Start Menu > Control Panel > Systemand view the computer name and workgroup.

2. Remote Connections Not Allowed

You might find that remote connections are disabled on the terminal you are trying to reach. You can alter this setting on the same System page as above. To the right of the computer name and workgroup, select Change Settings to open the System Properties menu. Select the Remote tab.

Windows 10 offers the same Remote Desktop Connection options as older Windows versions. Under Remote Desktop, there are two options:

• Allow remote connections to this computer
• Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication [recommended]

Once you allow remote connections, you also have the option of only accepting remote connections using Network Level Authentication. As stated on Microsoft Community, Network Level Authentication is "an authentication method that completes user authentication before you establish a full Remote Desktop connection and the logon screen appears."

It provides an additional layer of security from malicious software and users while using fewer resources in the process. However, if you struggle to create a remote desktop connection after switching Network Level Authentication on, try turning it off.

You can check if your version of Remote Desktop supports Network Level Authentication by clicking the top-left of the dialog box and select About.

Windows 10

1. Go to your Start menu and type Allow Remote Access to your Computer into the Search box.
2. Click on the result from the Control Panel.
3. In the System Properties dialogue box, in the Remote tab, under Remote Desktop select the Allow remote connections to this computer radio button and the Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication check box and click OK.
4. Click on your Settings cog, System > Power & Sleep. Make sure the Sleep option is is set to Never.
5. Still in Settings, go to About and note down the device name [e.g. Joe_Bloggs_PC]. You will need this to access your computer remotely.

Why Is Remote Desktop Not Working?

Usually, setting up RDP on Windows 10 is pretty straightforward. Depending on whether the connection is through a local network or through the Internet, you only need to enable a few settings and you’re home and hosed.

Just to refresh your memory, here are the quick methods to initiate an RDP on a local network, and over the web.

RDP over local network:

• Launch the Control Panel and click System and Security.
• Select System on the System and Security screen.
• Click “Advanced system settings” on the left pane.
• Switch to the Remote tab in the System Properties dialog.
• Under Remote Desktop, tick “Allow remote connections to this computer”.
• Select the “Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication” checkbox to connect remotely through a local network.
• Click the OK, Apply, and OK buttons successively to save your modifications.

RDP over Internet connection:

• Launch the Remote Desktop app on Windows 10. Get it from the Microsoft Store if it isn’t already installed.
• Click the Add [+] button and select Desktop.
• Under the PC Name section, enter the TCP/IP address of the client computer or its local IP address if it is within a private network.
• Click the + button next to User Account and enter the username and password for the client PC.
• If you wish, click the + button next to “Display name” and specify the various settings.
• Click Save to add the remote computer.
• When you want to connect to the client PC remotely, select it from the Saved Desktops section and click Connect.

Of course, the “Allow remote connections to this computer” option in System Properties must be enabled for remote connection to work over the Internet or a local network.

However, there has been lots of complaint lately that the option to enable RDP on the computer is both greyed out and disabled. This means that users are unable to enable the option and start Remote Desktop. If you are one of the affected users, you can use the steps below to fix the Remote Desktop option greyed out issue on Windows 10.

How to Fix Remote Desktop Connection Not Working?

There are plenty of reasons for failing to connect to a remote desktop – expired certificates, blocked firewalls, issues on the client – the list goes on. Here we’ll look at how to fix one common cause of insufficient permissions. Please refer to other sections in this article for more fixes.

To assign permissions to users to access the remote desktop from the remote server, do the following:

1. Enter GPEdit.msc command in the Windows run prompt.
   
2. Open Group Policy Object Editor.
3. Through the console tree go to: “Computer Configuration” > “Windows Settings” > “Security Settings” > “Local Policies” > “User Rights Assignment”.
   
4. Double-click “Allow log on through Remote Desktop Services”.
   
5. Add the group then click “OK”.