How to Enable Ubuntu Remote Desktop

Remote desktop allows you to manage your system remotely. It accesses your files, applications, and settings from anywhere. This is useful for system administrators who need to perform maintenance tasks and developers who want to work on their projects from different locations. Enabling remote desktops allows you to ensure seamless connectivity and control over your Ubuntu machine. 

In this tutorial, we will demonstrate the step-by-step instructions to enable the Ubuntu remote desktop.

Enabling Ubuntu Remote Desktop

Enabling Ubuntu Remote Desktop allows you to access and control your system remotely, making it easier to troubleshoot issues, collaborate with others, and maintain your system without being physically present.

To enable the Ubuntu remote desktop, follow the below steps:

Step 1: Update Ubuntu Repository

Before diving into the setup, it is always a good practice to ensure the Ubuntu system is up to date:

sudo apt update

It updates the Ubuntu package lists and upgrades all installed packages to their most recent versions:

Step 2: Install Remote Desktop Software

Ubuntu comes with built-in support for remote desktop access using VNC (Virtual Network Computing). However, you might need to install additional software to enhance functionality. One popular choice is xrdp. It allows you to use the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to connect to your Ubuntu machine.

To install xrdp, run the following command:

sudo apt install xrdp

Once the installation is done, you can start the xrdp service with the following command:

sudo systemctl start xrdp

To enable XRDP, run the command below:

sudo systemctl enable xrdp

Step 3: Configure Remote Desktop Settings

Next, you need to configure the remote desktop settings. To do so, open the “Settings” application on the Ubuntu machine and navigate to the “System” section. Then, press the “Remote Desktop” option:

It navigates to the new window. Here, toggle the “Desktop Sharing” and “Remote Control” switches. They enable you to allow remote control of your screen:

In the “Desktop Sharing” settings, you can configure various options, such as allowing connections only from users with a password and setting a password for remote access.

Step 4: Configure Firewall Settings

If you have a firewall enabled on your Ubuntu machine, you need to allow incoming connections for the remote desktop service. By default, xrdp uses port 3389. To allow connections on this port, execute the below command:

sudo ufw allow 3389/tcp

It opens port 3389 for TCP connections and allows remote desktop clients to connect to your machine:

To enable the Ubuntu remote desktop, you must know the machine’s IP address. For this, use the below command: 

ip a

Finally, log out from the machine after all configuration:

Step 5: Connect to Your Ubuntu Machine

Once the configuration is set up, you can now connect to your Ubuntu machine from another computer. If you are using a Windows machine, you can use the built-in Remote Desktop Connection application. After launching, simply enter the IP address of your Ubuntu machine:

Now, you need to enter the credentials such as username and password:

Finally, you access the Ubuntu Remote Desktop and verify the IP address from Settings:

Conclusion

Enabling Ubuntu Remote Desktop provides a convenient way to manage your system remotely, whether you’re troubleshooting issues, collaborating with others, or performing maintenance tasks. By following the simple steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily set up remote desktop access using tools like XRDP and configure necessary firewall settings. This setup ensures seamless connectivity and control over your Ubuntu machine from anywhere, making it a powerful solution for system administrators and developers alike.

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