Remote Desktop tutorial - How to use Remmina to connect from Linux to a remote Windows PC

Last update: 09-11-2024

Remote desktop connections can be incredibly useful to streamline a multiple computer work setup. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up a remote desktop connection from Linux to Windows using Remmina, a popular remote desktop client for Linux.

Prerequisites

• A Windows PC and a Linux machine on the same WiFi network
• Administrative access on both machines
• The Windows machine must run Windows Pro, Enterprise or Education - it won't work with Windows Home edition.
  • To find out which version of Windows you run, run winver from the windows search box

Step 1: Configure Windows for Remote Desktop

1. On your Windows PC, from the Windows start menu, open "Remote desktop settings":
2. Turn on "Remote desktop":
3. Restart your Windows PC to apply the changes.
4. Open the Windows terminal (right-click on the Windows start menu and choose "Terminal"):
5. In the terminal, type ipconfig and note down your IPv4 address:

6. To find your display resolution, right-click on an empty spot on the desktop and choose "Display settings":

   
7. Write down your display resolution for later use.

Step 2: Install and Configure Remmina on Linux

1. Open a terminal on your Linux machine and run the following commands to install Remmina:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install remmina

2. Launch Remmina after installation.
3. Add a new connection profile by clicking the plus icon in the top-right corner:
4. Configure the new connection:
   • Name the connection
   • In the "Server" field, enter the IP address of your Windows PC
   • For "Resolution," choose "Custom" and enter the resolution of your Windows PC, or select "Use client resolution" to match your Linux display
5. Click "Save and connect"
6. Enter your Windows username and password when prompted:

Using Your Remote Desktop Connection

Once connected, you can control your Windows PC from your Linux machine. To toggle full-screen mode, press 'F' while holding the right Ctrl key.

With these steps, you've successfully set up a remote desktop connection from your Linux machine to your Windows PC. This setup allows you to access your Windows environment conveniently from your Linux system, enhancing your productivity and flexibility.