Share your desktop remotely¶
You can enable remote desktop sharing on your system. This way, you or other people will be able to view or control your desktop from another computer in real time. The desktop sharing works over the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).
We’ll refer to the system that shares its desktop as the server. We’ll call the system that accesses the shared desktop remotely the client.
What you’ll need
Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS or later with GNOME on the server.
If you want to share your desktop outside of your local network, you need access to your router’s configuration, the ability to configure a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or reach out to your network administrator.
Allow another person to view your screen¶
With the Desktop Sharing feature, another person using a different computer can view your screen while you’re using your computer. Optionally, you can allow the other person to control your environment. You must be logged in before the other person can connect.
The resolution of the shared screen is determined by your user session on the server. Therefore, the screen might look too small, too large or blurry due to scaling on the client.
To allow this access, go to .
Allow logging into your account from another computer¶
With the Remote Login feature, you or another person can log into your account from another, remote computer. You must be logged out before the remote user can connect. If you are already logged in at the time, they get the option to terminate your running session and log in remotely instead. The connecting user has full control over your environment.
The resolution of the shared screen is determined by the window on the client. Therefore, the screen is always the right size and looks sharp.
To allow this access, go to .
Find the access credentials¶
When you connect from a remote client, you have to know the remote desktop user name and password, the host name of the server and the port number that provides RDP access.
User name and password¶
In , note down the user name and password.
These are different from your regular user credentials, and they only work for the remote desktop sharing. You can change them here without affecting how you log in.
Host name on the local network¶
To point the client to the location of your server, you need either the server host name or its IP address.
If the server and client are both on the same network, for example on your home Wi-Fi, you can use the host name that you find in . You might need to add the .local suffix at the end when entering it on the client.
Alternatively, you can use the IPv4 address of the server. Display your local IPv4 address:
If you’re using wired network, go to .
If you’re on Wi-Fi, go to .
$ [...]
2: wlp0s20f3: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> [...]
inet 192.168.0.91/24 [...]
[...]
Here, your IPv4 address is 192.168.0.91.
Warning
The local IPv4 address might change when you reboot the server or reconnect to the network.
Host name on a public network¶
If you’re sharing the desktop between different networks, for example between your office and your home Wi-Fi, you need a public IPv4 or IPv6 address for the server.
You might have to configure port forwarding in your router’s configuration, or set up access to the server through a VPN.
Important
With port forwarding, you open up your system to the world. This is a security risk because attackers might try to break into your system.
If you only want to share the desktop with a private group of people, use the VPN instead.
Check with your internet provider or your network administrator.
Port number¶
By default, Desktop Sharing and Remote Login both use the 3389 port on your system. However, if you enable them both at the same time, Desktop Sharing switches to port 3390, while Remote Login keeps port 3389. You can then choose the connection type to use at the remote client by setting the port number.
Open RDP ports in your firewall¶
If the firewall is active, allow RDP connections to your system:
If the Firewall (gufw) application is installed, open it and go to the Rules tab.
Click Add a rule… (+). Switch to the Simple tab. Enter the following configuration:
Policy: Allow
Direction: In
Protocol: TCP
Port: 3389:3390
Click Add to confirm.
$ $ Connect from a client¶
To connect to this system from a remote client, use an application that supports RDP. Enter the credentials that you’ve noted down.
On Ubuntu, you can use the Remmina application. See Access a remote desktop.