How to access Ubuntu through your Windows PC remotely

We all know how easy it is to access Windows remotely from another PC. Of course, we’ve covered that before ourselves. But did you know that you can now access your Ubuntu right from Windows this way?

In this article, we’ll explain the best ways to access your Ubuntu from Windows PC remotely. So let’s jump right in.

How to remotely access Ubuntu on Windows

Accessing your Ubuntu from Windows is straightforward. All you need is a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), and some critical information beforehand, such as the IP address of your computer, enable the port forwarding, and install SSH.

We’ll discuss all the steps individually, so everything is clear. So let’s get started with finding the IP address.

1. Finding the IP address

To set up remote access to your Ubuntu on Windows, you first need to get your Ubuntu computer’s IP address. You’ll need it later when you make use of RDP.

Head to your Ubuntu machine, press the Ctrl + Alt + T shortcut and open the Terminal, type in the following command, and hit Enter:

ifconfig

From here, look for “net addr” against your current connection. If you’re using Ethernet, for instance, look up eth0. Similarly, if you’re on WiFi, look up wlan0.

If this method doesn’t work, you can find the network connection icon, right-click on it, and select Connection Information.

2. Turn on Port Forwarding

To enable a computer on another network, you also need to enable port forwarding on the router. Start by typing in the following command in your Terminal and hit Enter:

ip r | grep default

Note down the IP address from here, and open it in your browser to display the router’s admin. When you’re done with that, here’s what you should do:

• Look for the Port Forwarding settings.
• Create a New Rule labeled Remote Desktop.
• Set the Internal Port number to 3389.
• Enter the External Port number to be 3390.
• Enter the IP address of your Ubuntu.
• Click Save.

3. Set up access using SSH

To enable remote access to the Ubuntu command line, it’s also essential that you install SSH on your Ubuntu. Launch your terminal on Ubuntu, type in the following command, and hit Enter:

sudo apt install openssh-server

That’s it. SSH will be installed. We can move to set up the RDP on your PC.





Remotely access your Ubuntu on Windows by Remote Desktop Protocol

RDP, or Remote Desktop Protocol in full, is a unique Windows protocol designed by Microsoft to help you connect with other computers remotely. On top of this, it also provides a simple GUI, which makes the whole experience much easier than it would’ve been otherwise.

To start with RDP, head to your Ubuntu and install the xrdp tool on Ubuntu. Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T and hit Enter:

sudo apt install xrdp

From there, type in the following code and hit Enter again:

sudo systemctl enable xrdp

The tool will be installed in a few minutes. As soon as the installation is finished, launch the application. Now, head to the Start menu search bar, type in ‘rdp,’ and click on Remote Desktop Connection.

After the app is launched, follow the steps below:

1. Head to the Computer field and type in your IP address.
2. Click on Show Options and add the Username for Ubuntu PC.
3. Finally, click on Save.
4. Select Connect to establish your connection.

As soon you click on Connect, you’ll most probably get asked for a password; enter it, and you’ll be inside in no time.

Access Ubuntu through your Windows remotely

With the RDP on your PC, you can connect and access your Ubuntu straight from your Windows. And the method of accessing it isn’t incomplete in any way. Be it playing, copying, or deleting your files, you can manage to do anything you’d otherwise want to do on your Ubuntu physically.