How to Set Up Remote Desktop on Raspberry Pi for Windows

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

If you own a Raspberry Pi, you might not want to clutter your workspace with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Fortunately, you can remotely access your Raspberry Pi from a Windows laptop or desktop with a few simple steps, making it easier to manage your device without needing physical peripherals.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of enabling remote desktop access to your Raspberry Pi using XRDP and Samba.

Steps to Enable Remote Desktop on Raspberry Pi

1. Install XRDP on your Raspberry Pi:
   Open a terminal on your Raspberry Pi and run the following command to install the XRDP package: sudo apt-get -y install xrdp
2. Install Samba for hostname resolution:
   Run the following command to install Samba, which will allow you to connect using your Raspberry Pi’s hostname: sudo apt-get -y install samba

Once these steps are complete, your Raspberry Pi is ready to accept remote desktop connections.

Connecting from Windows

Now that your Raspberry Pi is set up, it’s time to connect from your Windows device.

1. Open the Remote Desktop Connection tool on your Windows laptop or desktop.
2. In the Computer field, enter either the IP address or hostname of your Raspberry Pi.
3. Click Connect to initiate the remote session.
4. When prompted for credentials, enter the default login information for your Raspberry Pi:
   • Username: pi
   • Password: raspberry

Give it a moment to establish the connection, and you should now have full remote desktop access to your Raspberry Pi from your Windows computer.

Troubleshooting

• If you encounter connection issues, ensure that your Raspberry Pi is connected to the same network as your Windows device.
• Double-check your IP address or hostname for accuracy.
• If you’ve changed the default password for your Raspberry Pi, make sure to use the new password.

Comments

If you have any questions or need help setting up remote desktop on your Raspberry Pi, feel free to leave a comment below. We’re happy to assist!