How to Change the RDP Port on Windows 11?

If you want to access your Windows 11 PC remotely, you can do so using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which is included with the Pro and Enterprise editions of Microsoft’s operating system. Although the default RDP port is 3389, you may want to change it at times. This is how.

When Do I Need to Change My RDP Port Number?

Because port “3389” is the universal default port for Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol, malicious actors who want to compromise your system via Remote Desktop will know exactly where to look, especially if your Remote Desktop host PC is connected to the Internet. If you change this port, it may be slightly more difficult for unauthorized users to gain access to the machine.

While some security experts call this type of port number change “security by obscurity,” it may still be prudent to change the port number in addition to other security measures such as using a VPN, creating a secure password, and running updates to help protect your machine.

How to Change the RDP Port Number in Windows 11?

When you use the Remote Desktop connection to connect to a remote computer (either a Windows client or a Windows Server), the Remote Desktop feature on your computer “hears” the connection via a listening port (RDP uses the 3389 port by default).

On Windows computers, you can change the listening port by editing the registry. This article will teach you how to change the RDP port used for remote desktop access.

Please keep in mind that ports 1-1023 are known ports and should not be used when selecting a non-standard RDP port, whereas port 49152-65535 is a dynamic or private port that is not in use by any service or application.

Caution: The Registry Editor is an extremely useful tool. Misusing it can cause your system to become unstable or even inoperable. Still, this is a very simple registry hack, and as long as you follow the instructions exactly, you should be fine. If you’ve never used the Registry Editor before, read up on how to use it before proceeding. Before making any changes, we also recommend backing up the Registry (and your computer).

Step 1: To launch the Registry Editor, open the Start menu and type “Regedit.” In the results that appear below, click the “Registry Editor” icon.

Step 2: When “Registry Editor” opens, follow the below path, or copy and 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

Step 3: When you’ve found the correct “RCP-Tcp” key, browse the list of values in the right half of the window and double-click “PortNumber” to select it.

Select the “Decimal” option under “Base” in the “Edit DWORD Value” box that appears to enter a standard port number. Then, in the “Value Data” text entry box, enter the new RDP port number you want to use. For example, to use RDP port “1337,” enter 1337 in the box. Finally, press the “OK” button to save the changes.

Now, close the Registry Editor, and restart your computer.

Note: You may always change the Windows 11 RDP port back to the default value, by entering “3389” as the port number in this step.