Changing the default Remote Desktop port on a Windows machine is useful for several purposes. You may need the default port 3389 free for another application, or you may want to prevent scanning bots from brute-forcing your server automatically when RDP is detected.
Changing the default Windows Remote Desktop port from 3389 to another must be reported to Hostway support. Also make sure that any firewall used should to be configured with the new port as connections to it may not be allowed.
Changing the RDP port can be done through the Windows Registry Editor. It is used to view and change settings in the system registry, which contains information about how your computer runs. The registry value for all Windows servers is the same, but beginning with Windows 2012, the Registry Editor has to be started in a different way.
Note: If you have Windows server up to version 2008 skip steps 2 and 3. If you have Windows server 2012 skip step 1.
Change the default RDP port on Windows 2008 and Windows 2012
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To start Registry Editor on Windows Server versions up through 2008, click on the Start button, then choose Run... , type “regedit” and start the application. |
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On Windows Server 2012, move your mouse to the bottom-right corner to expand search options.
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Click on the magnifying glass and type “regedit” and click on the cube icon on the left side.
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Once the Registry Editor is opened, expand the registry and go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > System > CurrentControlSet > Control > TerminalServer > WinStations > RDP-Tcp. Locate the sub-key called “PortNumber”. Right-click on it, and click Modify. |
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A new Edit DWORD value window will appear. Choose Base option “Decimal” and change Remote Desktop Port number in the “Value data:” field. In this example we use a random port 9833.
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Once you are ready, click OK, close the Registry Editor and reboot your server in order the change to take effect. |
