How to change the listening port for Remote Desktop

This article was previously published under Q306759

Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

INTRODUCTION

This article describes how to change the port that Remote Desktop listens on.

Note The Remote Desktop Connection Client for the Mac supports only port 3389. 3389 is the default port.

MORE INFORMATION

You can use the Remote Desktop feature in Microsoft Windows XP Professional to connect to your computer from another remote computer.

Warning The Remote Assistance feature in Microsoft Windows XP may not work correctly if you change the listening port.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307711 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307711/) Remote Assistance invitation file does not contain correct port number

To change the port that Remote Desktop listens on, follow these steps.

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1.	Start Registry Editor.
2.	Locate and then click the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\TerminalServer\WinStations\RDP-Tcp\PortNumber
3.	On the Edit menu, click Modify, and then click Decimal.
4.	Type the new port number, and then click OK.
5.	Quit Registry Editor.

Note When you try to connect to this computer by using the Remote Desktop connection, you must type the new port.

304304 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304304/) How to configure the Remote Desktop client to connect to a specific port when you use Windows XP