Last Updated on July 2, 2026
Being able to remotely connect to another computer over the network or internet is very helpful when doing things such as working from home or another location or even providing assistance to someone else who is having trouble with their computer.
As you probably know, Windows comes with its own remote access software called Remote Desktop (RDP) which works great for connecting to other computers over the network or with a VPN connection. But it is not supported when it comes to connecting to computers running the Home edition of Windows. In this article, we will be showing you how to connect to a Windows Home edition PC using Remote Desktop by using a third party app to make it possible.
If you were to do a search for Remote Desktop in the settings on a Windows Home edition PC, you would see a red warning message. It plainly states that Your Home edition of Windows doesn’t support Remote Desktop. Microsoft intentionally locks this feature behind the more expensive Pro version.
To connect to a Windows Home Edition PC using Remote Desktop, we will be using a program called Thinstuff XP/VS Terminal Server which can be downloaded here. This app offers a free 14 day trial and if you like it, you can purchase the software to use as often as needed. They have several editions as well so you should be able to find one that suits your needs.
You will then install the software on the Windows Home edition PC using the server installation option.
Installing the Thinstuff RDP Server
1. Download the Thinstuff Software
To connect to a Windows Home Edition PC using Remote Desktop, we will be using a program called Thinstuff XP/VS Terminal Server. This app offers a free 14 day trial and if you like it, you can purchase the software to use as often as needed. They have several editions as well so you should be able to find one that suits your exact networking needs. Thinstuff can be downloaded here.
2. Run the Server Installation
You will then install the software directly on the Windows Home edition PC that you want to connect to remotely. Launch the setup wizard from your downloads folder. Make sure you select the server installation option rather than the workstation client option.
3. Choose the Evaluation Version
If you are simply trying out the Thinstuff software, you can choose the specific version that you want to test out on the next screen. You might want to refer to their official website to see which version will work the best for you. Try that specific version first in case you end up purchasing a license later.
You will then need to reboot the computer once the installation is complete.
4. Reboot Your Computer
You will then need to reboot the computer once the installation is complete. This allows the software to hook into the core Windows networking services. Each time you log onto your computer, you will be shown a message about the trial period. It will ask you if you want to purchase a license. If you are still testing the software, simply click on the No button.
Configuring the Thinstuff Admin Console
1. View Active Connections
When you open the Thinstuff admin console, you will see the name of the computer it is installed on in the left pane. In our specific example, it is labeled Win11-Home. You will then see the active user account that you are currently logged in with displayed in the right pane.
2. Adjust Server Options
If you want to change any of the specific server settings, you can do so from the Options menu at the top of the window. For example, you can allow logins with a blank password if your local account does not have one configured. You can also restrict users to a single remote session.
Connecting to the Home Edition PC
1. Find the Host IP Address
To connect to a Windows Home edition PC using Remote Desktop, you will need to obtain the IP address of the Home edition computer itself. Open a command prompt on the host machine. Type ipconfig and press enter to get the IPv4 address of the Windows Home edition PC.
2. Launch the Standard RDP Client
Now you can open the standard Remote Desktop client from another Windows based PC running any edition of Windows. Enter the IP address of the Windows Home edition computer that you just found. Then click on the Connect button to initiate the session.
3. Enter Your Login Credentials
You will then need to enter the username and password for an account that has access to that PC. Type them into the Windows Security credentials box that pops up on your screen. Click OK to authenticate the connection.
4. Accept the Security Certificate
The first time you connect to that PC remotely, you will receive a yellow warning banner. It will say the identity of the remote computer cannot be verified and ask if you still want to connect. This is completely normal for local network connections. You can simply check the box that says don’t ask me again for connections to this computer and then click the Yes button.
5. Access the Remote Desktop
Then you should connect directly to the Windows Home edition computer running the Thinstuff software. You should then see the full desktop of that computer appear in a window on your screen. You can now control the Home edition PC exactly as if it were a Pro edition machine.
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