How to Change the RDP Port Number to a Non-Default Value in Windows 11, 10 or Server

What is RDP?

RDP stands for Remote Desktop Protocol, which is a protocol developed by Microsoft that allows users to remotely connect to and control another computer over a network or the internet. With RDP, users can access a remote computer’s desktop, applications, files, and network resources as if they were sitting in front of the remote computer.

RDP is often used for remote support, remote administration, and telecommuting, as it allows users to work from anywhere without physically being present at the computer they need to use. RDP is built into Windows operating systems, so users can use the built-in Remote Desktop client to connect to other Windows computers that have RDP enabled.

To use RDP, the remote computer must be configured to allow incoming remote connections, and the user must have the proper credentials to authenticate and establish a connection. RDP is encrypted to provide secure remote access, and it supports multiple concurrent sessions, so multiple users can connect to the same remote computer simultaneously.

The Default RDP Port

By default, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) uses port 3389 to communicate with remote computers. However, you can change the port number to a non-default value for security reasons.

How to Change the RDP Port Number to a Non-Default Value

Here’s how to change the RDP port number to a non-default value:

1. Open the Registry Editor by pressing the Windows key + R, typing “regedit” in the Run dialog box, and pressing Enter.
2. Navigate to the following location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp
3. Look for the PortNumber value and double-click on it to open the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value dialog box.
4. Choose the Decimal base and enter the new port number you want to use.
5. Click OK to save the changes and close the dialog box.
6. Close the Registry Editor.

Now, RDP will use the new port number you specified to communicate with remote computers. Note that you will need to configure your firewall to allow traffic on the new port, and users will need to specify the new port number when connecting to your computer using RDP.

For example, if you changed the port number to 3390, users will need to enter “computername:3390” instead of “computername” when connecting to your computer using RDP.