This article demonstrates how to enable the Remote Desktop using Windows Graphical User Interface (GUI) on a server running Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2016.
It applies to:
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2008 R2
- Windows Server 2012
- Windows Server 2012 R2
- Windows Server 2016
Enableing Remote Desktop
- Open the System Properties:
- For Windows Server 2012 to Windows Server 2016:
- At the desktop, press Windows Key + X to open the Quick Access Menu then select System
![HOW11945_en_US__1Start](https://supportkb.dell.com/img/ka02R000000p4UcQAI/ka02R000000p4UcQAI_en_US_1.jpeg)
- For Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2008 R2:
- Open Server Manager. To open Server Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.
- In Computer Information, click Configure Remote Desktop:
![HOW11945_en_US__2System](https://supportkb.dell.com/img/ka02R000000p4UcQAI/ka02R000000p4UcQAI_en_US_2.jpeg)
- In the System Properties dialog box, under Remote Desktop, click one of the following options:
- Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop (less secure) - Use this option if you do not know the version of Remote Desktop Connection that will be used to connect to this server.
- Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (more secure).
- Review the information in the Remote Desktop dialog box, and then click OK twice.