How to change RDP port on Windows 11

Remote Desktop Protocol (RPD), or Remote Desktop, has been a feature built into Windows since the release of Windows XP Pro, and is important to the user experience on the operating system. Remote Desktop allows users to easily connect and control a computer or another Windows device remotely, extremely convenient.

On Windows 11, the default RDP port is 3389. But in some situations, you may want to change this port, for example to improve security, so how? Find out below.

When should I change my system's RDP port number?

Port '3389' is basically the universal default port for Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol. This means that malicious actors who want to try to penetrate the victim's system through the Remote Desktop protocol will know exactly where to look, especially in the case of the Remote Desktop host machine with an open Internet connection. Therefore if you change this port, the hacker will definitely have more difficulty in performing his malicious behavior.

In fact, some security experts criticize changing port 3389 as a "security through obfuscation" behavior, which is 'fire-fighting', 'snare', and does not help in the long run. However, changing the RPD port number in combination with other security measures such as using a VPN, creating secure passwords, and running new updates helps to protect the system more comprehensively.

Alternatively, you can also change the RDP port number in case the firewall blocks port 3389. At this point, using a different port that the firewall doesn't block may allow a connection to be established with your computer using RDP. .

Change RDP port number on Windows 11

To change the RDP port number, you will need to make a small edit in the Windows Registry. First, sign in to Windows 11 with an administrator account on your PC.

( Warning: Registry Editor is a powerful tool. Abuse of it can make your system unstable or even inoperable. However, if you follow the instructions exactly, you can do it. If you haven't used Registry Editor before, consider reading about how to use it before you start. It's also a good idea to back up the Registry (and important data on the system) before make any changes).

Open the Start menu and enter the keyword ' regedit '. In the results that appear below, click on the ' Registry Editor ' icon.

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When the Registry Editor opens, use the sidebar to browse to the key below, or you can paste it into the Registry Editor address bar near the top of the window:

KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Control/Terminal Server/WinStations/RDP-Tcp

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Once you have located the appropriate ' RCP-Tcp ' key, browse through the list of values ​​on the right half of the window and select ' PortNumber ' by double clicking on its name.

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In the ' Edit DWORD Value ' box that opens, select the ' Decimal ' option in the ' Base ' section so that a standard port number can be entered. Then use the ' Value Data ' text input box to enter the new port number you want to use for RDP. For example, to use port ' 1337 ' for RDP, enter 1337 in the box. Finally, click ' OK ' to save the changes.

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(If you later change your mind and want to change Windows 11's RDP port to default, enter ' 3389 ' as the port number in this step).

Close Registry Editor, and then restart your computer.

You have now successfully changed the RDP port number. Remember to specify the new port while connecting remotely through the Remote Desktop application. Just remember to include the new port number when you connect with a colon after the IP address, such as 192.168.1.100:1337 .

David Pac

Update 28 July 2022