How to Enable Remote Desktop on Ubuntu 24 (XRDP Install)
In today’s tutorial, I’m going to show you how to enable remote desktop on Ubuntu Desktop 24 using XRDP, an open-source implementation of the Windows RDP protocol.
Note that this guide is for Ubuntu Desktop. If you're using Ubuntu Server, click the link below for the VNC Server installation guide.
How to Install VNC on Ubuntu Server 24How to Install XRDP
To enable remote desktop on Ubuntu 24, install xrdp package. In the terminal, type:
sudo apt install xrdpOnce the installation is complete, run the following command to check XRDP service:
sudo systemctl status xrdp
By default, XRDP should be running and set to start automatically at system reboot. If not, you can run the following two commands to start XRDP and enable it at boot:
sudo systemctl start xrdp
sudo systemctl enable xrdpXRDP Configuration
The main XRDP configuration file, xrdp.ini, is located in the /etc/xrdp/ directory.
In the xrdp.ini file, you’ll find the port configuration. The default port is 3389. If your computer is behind a firewall, you need to open this port to allow remote desktop access.
Also you will find the XRDP log file in the /var/log/ directory.
Connect to Ubuntu Remote Desktop from Windows
From a Windows computer, you can use the built-in "Remote Desktop Connection" app to start a new remote desktop connection.
XRDP Does Not Allow Simultaneous Local and Remote Login with the Same User
One thing to keep in mind is that XRDP doesn’t allow you to log in to both the local and remote desktop at the same time with the same user.
For example, if you want to log in as user1 remotely, you need to log out user1 from the local session.
If you want to log in to both the local and remote desktop at the same time, you either need to use two separate user accounts or another remote desktop software like NoMachine.
Also, when you end your remote desktop session, don't just close the RDP client. You should log out from the user. Otherwise, you may have trouble logging into the local session with the same user.
Limitations of XRDP
Here are some limitations of XRDP:
- Can't log in to both local and remote desktop at the same time with the same user.
- The local session for the user must be logged out before connecting to the remote desktop.
- Not ideal for desktop sharing.
- A bit slow to start.
Alternatives to XRDP
Here’s a list of some good remote desktop software for Ubuntu Desktop. Click on the link for the installation guide.
- NoMachine
- AnyDesk
- Chrome Remote Desktop
- TeamViewer