Windows Remote Desktop: From Start to Connection

✅ Two Windows computers (Windows 10/11 supported; older versions lack security updates and are not recommended)
✅ Both on the same network (or mutually accessible)
✅ Know the target computer's IP address
✅ Have the target computer's login account and password

Open Windows Settings (Shortcut: Win + I) → Navigate to "System → Remote Desktop"
 
 Toggle "Enable Remote Desktop" → Set to "On" → Click "Confirm" when prompted

Open Control Panel → Navigate to "System and Security → Windows Firewall → Allow an app through Windows Firewall"

Scroll down to Remote Desktop and ensure it's allowed. For personal computers, this is typically configured automatically when enabling Remote Desktop.

# Open Command Prompt on the host computer and run ipconfig
# Locate this line:
IPv4 Address . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.3 ← Note this IP

# Open Command Prompt on the host computer and run whoami to see current user
# Display format: "Computer Name\User Name" (for domain-joined computers: "Domain Name\User Name")
# Example: desktop-win11\xiaoyeapp

Method 1: Windows key → Type "Remote" → Click "Remote Desktop Connection"
Method 2: Win + R → Type "mstsc" → Press Enter

Computer: Enter IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.100) or computer name (e.g., desktop-11)
User Name: Enter the host computer's account (e.g., xiaoyeapp). 
For reliability, use the full format shown above (e.g., "desktop-win11\xiaoyeapp") if unsure about the host environment (domain-joined, etc.)
Click "Connect"

Method 1: Check "Don't ask me again for connections to this computer" to bypass warning in future connections
Method 2: Import the certificate to local root certificate store (requires connecting using the host computer name, not IP address)