--- title: "How to connect to a Windows VPS over RDP | StreetHosting" description: "Connect to your Windows VPS over RDP from Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iPhone. Steps for each system, plus saving the connection and the clipboard." url: "https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp" type: "page" language: "en-US" --- VPS · 4 min · Beginner Published on Jul 22, 2026 · Updated on Jul 22, 2026 # Connect to a Windows VPS over RDP You have the IP, username and password. Now you need to open the remote desktop. Here is how to do it on each operating system, phones included. By [Equipe StreetHosting](https://streethosting.com.br/en/autores#equipe-streethosting) · StreetHosting infrastructure and support team [Windows and RDP](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/topics/windows) [Linux administration](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/topics/linux) [Getting started](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/topics/getting-started) Summarize with: [](https://chat.openai.com/?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Fconnect-to-windows-vps-rdp.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "ChatGPT") [](https://claude.ai/new?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Fconnect-to-windows-vps-rdp.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. 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"Perplexity") Share: [](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=How%20to%20connect%20to%20a%20Windows%20VPS%20over%20RDP&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Fconnect-to-windows-vps-rdp "Share on X") [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Fconnect-to-windows-vps-rdp "Share on Facebook") [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Fconnect-to-windows-vps-rdp "Share on LinkedIn") [](https://wa.me/?text=How%20to%20connect%20to%20a%20Windows%20VPS%20over%20RDP%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Fconnect-to-windows-vps-rdp "Share on WhatsApp") For agents: Copy as Markdown [.md](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp.md) [Previous How to create a Windows VPS with RDP access](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/create-windows-vps-rdp) [Next RDP won't connect to a Windows VPS: how to fix it](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/rdp-not-connecting-to-windows-vps) In this guide 6 sections * [Connecting from Windows](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#do-windows) * [macOS, Linux and phones](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#outros-sistemas) * [What shows up on the first connection](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#primeira-conexao) * [Clipboard and files](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#recursos-da-sessao) * [Good habits](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#boas-praticas) * [Next steps](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#proximos-passos) Quick answer To **connect to a Windows VPS over RDP**, open Remote Desktop Connection on Windows, the official Microsoft app on macOS, Android and iPhone, or Remmina on Linux. Enter the VPS IP, the `Administrator` username and the password from the control panel. Accept the certificate warning the first time and the server desktop opens on your screen. ## Connecting from Windows[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#do-windows) The RDP client comes preinstalled on every current edition of Windows, so there is nothing to download. It is called Remote Desktop Connection. 1. Press the Windows and R keys, type `mstsc` and confirm. 2. In the computer field, type your VPS IP and click connect. 3. Enter the username `Administrator` and the password shown in the service control panel. 4. Accept the certificate warning on the first connection. 5. Done: the server desktop opens in a window. Click show options and then save as to store a connection file. From then on, double-clicking that file opens the VPS with all the preferences you configured. ## macOS, Linux and phones[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#outros-sistemas) ### macOS Install the official Microsoft remote desktop app from the App Store. Add a new PC, put the VPS IP in the address field, save the account with the username and password, and click the card it creates to connect. ### Linux The most used clients are Remmina, which has a graphical interface and ships by default on many distributions, and FreeRDP, which runs from the command line. In Remmina, create an RDP connection, enter the IP, username and password, and save. ### Android and iPhone Microsoft publishes an official remote desktop app in both stores. The flow is the same: add a PC, enter the IP and save the credentials. It works as emergency access, for restarting a service or checking something when you are away from your computer. | System | Recommended client | Needs installing | | ------------------ | ------------------------- | ----------------------------- | | Windows | Remote Desktop Connection | No, it is built in | | macOS | Official Microsoft app | Yes, from the App Store | | Linux | Remmina or FreeRDP | Yes, from the package manager | | Android and iPhone | Official Microsoft app | Yes, from the store | ## What shows up on the first connection[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#primeira-conexao) On the first connection the client shows a warning saying it could not verify the identity of the remote computer. That happens because Windows Server uses a certificate it generated itself, which no certificate authority signed. It is expected and does not indicate a problem. Only accept this warning when the IP you typed really is your VPS. Confirm the address in the control panel before checking the option to stop asking again, so you do not save trust in the wrong server. ## Clipboard and files[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#recursos-da-sessao) The RDP session can share resources from your computer with the server. The two most useful are the clipboard, which lets you copy and paste text between the machines, and folder mapping, which saves you from using FTP to move files. * Open the client options before connecting and go to the local resources tab. * Check the clipboard option so you can copy and paste between the two machines. * Under more device options, choose the drive or local folder that should appear inside the VPS. * Inside the server, that folder shows up in the file explorer as a network drive. If copy and paste stops working in the middle of a session, the usual culprit is the server's clipboard process. Restarting the session fixes it most of the time. ## Good habits[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#boas-praticas) * Close the session from the sign out menu instead of just closing the window * Save a connection file so you do not retype the IP and username * Lower the visual quality when your internet is unstable * Avoid saving the password on shared computers * Keep Windows Update current inside the VPS Closing the window only disconnects and leaves the session open on the server, using up memory. Signing out properly frees the resources and avoids piling up abandoned sessions, which matters most on VPS plans with little RAM. ## Next steps[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#proximos-passos) If the connection did not open, go straight to [fixing the RDP error when it won't connect](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/rdp-not-connecting-to-windows-vps). If you have not installed the system yet, start with [creating a Windows VPS with RDP access](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/create-windows-vps-rdp). And to keep access secure, see [protecting RDP from attacks](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/secure-rdp-windows-vps). In this guide * [Connecting from Windows](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#do-windows) * [macOS, Linux and phones](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#outros-sistemas) * [What shows up on the first connection](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#primeira-conexao) * [Clipboard and files](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#recursos-da-sessao) * [Good habits](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#boas-praticas) * [Next steps](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/connect-to-windows-vps-rdp#proximos-passos) ## Frequently asked questions Do I need to install anything on Windows to use RDP? No. Windows already includes Remote Desktop Connection. Just open the Start menu and search for remote desktop, or press the Windows and R keys and run mstsc. Can I access the Windows VPS from my phone? Yes. Microsoft publishes an official remote desktop app for Android and iPhone. The small screen limits the experience, but it works well for restarting a program or checking something urgently. Do I need to type the port along with the IP? Only if the RDP port was changed. With the default port 3389, just enter the IP. When the port is different, the format is the IP followed by a colon and the port number. How do I copy files from my computer to the VPS? In the RDP client options, on the local resources tab, check the drive or folder you want to share. It shows up inside the VPS as a network drive, and you copy files normally through the file explorer. Next step See VPS plans Root VPS in Brazil with NVMe and Anti-DDoS. [See VPS plans](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps) [See Ryzen VPS Ryzen 9 9950X VPS in São Paulo with root access, NVMe and gamer Anti-DDoS.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps/ryzen) [See Xeon VPS Xeon VPS for steady workloads, automation and long-running projects.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps/xeon) ## Related guides [VPS Beginner How to create a Windows VPS with RDP access From the approved order to the first Windows screen open on your own computer. Learn how to install Windows Server on the VPS from the control panel and get your RDP login details. 4 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/create-windows-vps-rdp) [VPS Intermediate RDP won't connect to a Windows VPS: how to fix it The screen keeps loading and then drops, or you get a credentials error. Before opening a ticket, follow the checking order that solves most cases. 4 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/rdp-not-connecting-to-windows-vps) [VPS Intermediate VPS graphical console: access your Windows VPS when RDP fails You locked yourself out with the firewall, or forgot the port you changed. The panel console shows the machine's screen by another route and saves the day. 3 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/windows-vps-console-without-rdp) [← Back to the Guide Center](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides)