How to Use Remote Desktop on Windows Server 2016

How can I use Remote Desktop on Windows Server 2016？

“I am a Windows Server 2016 user and want to use Remote Desktop to perform Windows Server Remote Connection. The majority of remote connection tutorials currently focus on Windows systems like Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, with few exceptions for Windows Servers. I’m not sure whether there’s a difference in how things work. How can I use Remote Desktop Windows Server 2016?”

Detailed steps to use Remote Desktop on Windows Server 2016

Actually, the operation steps of the Remote Desktop Connection of Windows Servers like 2012 R2/2016/2019/2022 are similar to any other Windows version. Here, I’ll take Windows Server 2016 as an example, teaching you how to easily use Remote Desktop on Windows Server 2016.

The first stage: Enable Remote Desktop on Window Server 2016

To use Remote Desktop on Windows Server 2016, the first thing you need to do is to enable Remote Desktop on Window Server. Here, we provide you with two methods.

Method 1. Enable RDP on Windows Server 2016 via the Graphical User Interface

Step 1. Click the Start in the lower-left corner, find and click Server Manager in the expanded menu.

Step 2. On the left pane, select the Local Server tab; on the right pane, locate the Remote Desktop column and click the Disable button next to it.

Step 3. Press Win + R and then type in “sysdm.cpl” to open System Properties. Find the Remote tab in the System Properties window, and tick Allow remote connections to this computer.

Note: You’ll need to disable Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (recommended) if you are using a Linux operating system.

Step 4. A warning window of Remote Desktop Connection will pop up automatically, then click OK. This pop-up window is mainly used to inform the user to enable the required firewall rules in the Server to allow the network to connect to the Server remotely.

Step 5. Then you can see that Remote Desktop is switched to Enabled on the Local Server tab, which means that the WindowsServer remote connection is enabled.

Method 2. Enable Remote Desktop on Windows Server 2016 via Windows PowerShell

Step 1. Press Win + R and then type in “PowerShell.exe” to open the PowerShell window.

Step 2. Enter Set-ItemProperty -Path’HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\

Terminal Server’ -name “fDenyTSConnections” -value 0 to enable Remote Desktop Registry value.

Step 3. Then enter Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup “Remote Desktop” to set up the Windows firewall to allow Remote Desktop Connection.

If you want to confirm whether the Remote Desktop Connection has been opened, you can open the Server Manager, find Remote Desktop in the Local Service, and see if the status is switched to Enabled.

The second stage: Access Windows Server using Remote Desktop

After enabling Remote Desktop on Windows Server 2016 via the Graphical User Interface or Windows PowerShell, the next step is to realize remote control Windows Server 2016.

Step 1. On the Windows Server 2016, search for Remote Desktop Connection in the search box, and then click to open Remote Desktop Connection.

Step 2. Enter the IP address and user name of the account that you want to login in the Remote Desktop Connection interface to achieve connection.

Step 3. In the pop-up Windows Security window, enter the corresponding password of the remote computer and click OK.

Step 4. In the authentication pop-up window, directly click Yes to successfully establish a remote connection.

Actually, Windows Remote Desktop Connection is not the only choice for Windows Server remote connection, and you may encounter issues like the remote session was disconnected License Servers. Actually, you can try remote desktop alternative AnyViewer, a third-party free remote desktop software for Windows, which is even more convenient than Windows Remote Desktop Connection.

Free remote connection software for Windows Server 2016: AnyViewer

AnyViewer is perfectly compatible with multiple Windows Servers, including Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012 R2. AnyViewer is pretty easy to use compared with Windows Remote Desktop. It requires no IP address or user name. You can easily achieve remote connection by sending a control request or inputting a security code.

Methods 1. Send a control request to realize remote connection on Windows Server 2016

Step 1. On both Windows Servers 2016 computers, launch AnyViewer. Input the device ID of the computer being controlled in the Partner ID box of the controller one, then click Connect.

Step 2. Select Send a control request to your partner from the pop-up box and click OK.

Step 3. To complete the connection, click Allow on the computer being controlled.

Methods 2. Input security code to realize remote connection on Windows Server 2016

There are two types of security codes:

• A permanent security code is set by you in advance.
• A temporary security code is automatically generated and will change every time.

Step 1. Click Settings > Recipient and then tick the third option to set up a permanent security code on the computer being controlled.

Step 2. Return to the main interface, you could see the Temporary Security Code.

Step 3. On the controller computer, input the device ID of the other side and click Connect. Choose Input security code, then enter either its permanent security code or temporary security code and click OK.  

Conclusion

If you are planning to use Remote Desktop on Windows Server 2016, Remote Desktop Connection is not your only choice. You can use AnyViewer, a free yet professional remote control solution. With it, you can easily realize remote connection, no matter you are using a Windows Server 2016 or any other Windows Servers.