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I habitually use RDP to access my desktop, but have enountered some problems after moving and setting up my computer on a new network.
When using the RDP app on my android phone (on 4G so not same network), I am able to connect to the computer. However, when I try to connect with either of my laptops, it stays at "Initiating remote connection" without opening the login prompt.
I used portqry to check if port 3389 is open for RDP. When I do this on the computer I try to remote into is comes back as "listening", but when I try with the laptop on an other network it comes back as "filtered"
This made me think there is a firewall issue, but the strange thing is that I can successfully connect with my my phone. I have tried connecting with my laptop while going online using the same phone as a mobile hotspot, but it still doesn't work. Therefore it seems to me that the problem must be on the laptops I try connect with.
I haven't had the experience that I am able to connect with some devices, but not others. Do any of you have suggestions for what I could try?
My desktop that I am trying to remote into is running Win 10 pro The laptops run Win 10 pro and Win 7 Pro The phone is running Android (only device I have been able to connect)
Things I have tried so far based on google search
made sure I have remote desktop enabled and setup port forwarding on the local network (this should be correctly set up given I can connect with my phone)
use mstsc programs located in both System 32 and SysWOW64
EDIT: The issue turned out to be the firewall on the laptops I was trying to use to connect with (two different work laptops)
Jon
Posted 2016-12-22T10:14:06.490
Reputation: 31
Do you have your port forwarding rule setup to allow any IP addresses to come in through port 3389 or only from specific IP address(es). – n8te – 2016-12-22T10:52:03.623
The Router is Cisco EPC3940 ADL – Jon – 2016-12-22T10:55:52.387
As far as I can see in my router settings there is no restriction on which IP addresses can connect. Under port forwarding I have only entered the port to open and which local IP address it should be forwarded to. – Jon – 2016-12-22T10:57:03.140
How about the firewall on the destination PC? Is port 3389 open for all incoming connections, or only specific IP address(es)? That "filtered" you got back from portqry is telling you that either a firewall is blocking it or a router rule. It doesn't sound like your port forwarding could be the problem on the router. Sounds like a firewall is blocking you. – n8te – 2016-12-22T11:01:07.983
If I were you I would try turn off the firewall real quick on the destination PC and try to RDP in. If it's still blocked, try turning off your firewall on the laptop and then try to RDP in. Just one by one start eliminating what could be the possible cause. – n8te – 2016-12-22T11:04:56.893
I just find it very puzzling that I am able to connect with the phone. Is it possible that it is blocked by the firewall on the laptop? It is a work computer, so I don't have full control over the firewall settings on it, but I thought I'd be ok for outgoing connections – Jon – 2016-12-22T11:06:07.937
It is possible that it is being blocked on the laptop's firewall, especially being a work computer. It's hard to say how tightly locked down your employer has it setup. – n8te – 2016-12-22T11:08:23.617
Jon, what IP adress or hostname are you using internally to connect to the pc? Keep in mind that you CANNOT use the external ip or hostname from inside the network to connect to any of the pc's. You will need to use the ip address or hostname from the pc itself to connect to it. Are you doing that? – LPChip – 2016-12-22T11:09:58.627
@n8te no, if that was the case, the android phone could not get access either. Sounds like a NAT issue. I know Cisco's don't do loopback connections, so an internal connection should be done to the internal ip address, not external. This is the most logical case. – LPChip – 2016-12-22T11:11:25.910
Hi, I borrowed a computer from my friend (a regular, non-work computer) and it worked! Seems that the work firewall is the likely culprit then – Jon – 2016-12-22T11:12:52.690
@LPChip - Yeah, I hear ya. But he didn't mention anything about trying to access it from within the local network so I was assuming all connections were being attempted externally. – n8te – 2016-12-22T11:14:07.650
@Jon, I very much doubt that. If it were a firewall problem it would not work in any case. It can be a DNS issue or the connection could be made wrong though. – LPChip – 2016-12-22T11:15:07.123
Thanks for the help, made some more tests and confirmed that it is the firewalls on the laptops I had been trying. I didn't realise that it could be the outgoing firewall, the two laptops I had tried have different setups, but apparently both block outgoing RDP connections. – Jon – 2016-12-22T11:24:15.677
@LPChip seems to be the firewall on the work computers i.e. the computer I am trying to connect with, rather than firewall on the computer that I am trying to RPD into. I didn't really consider that possibility at first. I doubt I will be able to change these firewall settings, so I still have a problem, but at least I think I know the cause – Jon – 2016-12-22T11:30:46.413