Cannot remotely connect to a Windows server that responds to ping

If your Windows server responds to ping but refuses Remote Desktop connections, the problem is almost always one of three things: a wrong password, a stopped Remote Desktop Services, or a firewall blocking port 3389.

Problem description

Your Windows server responds to ping from your local computer, but Remote Desktop connections fail. The Remote Desktop Connection client shows an error similar to "Remote Desktop can't connect to the remote computer for one of these reasons."

Possible causes

Because the server is reachable on the network, the block is happening at the authentication or service layer:

• The password for the Windows server is incorrect.

• Remote Desktop Services is not running on the Windows server.

• A firewall is blocking port 3389. This could be the firewall in the Simple Application Server console or Windows Defender Firewall on the server itself.

Match your situation to one of the solutions below.

Solutions

Solution 1: Reset the server password

If the Remote Desktop Connection client shows an authentication error, the server password is likely wrong. Reset it from the Simple Application Server console. For details, see Manage server passwords.

Solution 2: Start Remote Desktop Services

If Remote Desktop Services has stopped, the server will reject all RDP connections regardless of password or firewall settings. Start the service and verify it is running. For steps, see Check the remote desktop service.

Solution 3: Open port 3389 in the firewall

The default RDP port is 3389. Check both firewall layers — the console-level firewall and the Windows Defender Firewall on the server.

• Console firewall: Verify that port 3389 is open in the firewall rules for your server. For details, see Manage firewalls.

• Windows Defender Firewall: Because RDP is unavailable, use VNC to access the server first, then check the firewall from inside Windows.

  1. Connect to the server via VNC from the Simple Application Server console. For steps, see Connect to a Windows server by using VNC.

  2. On the taskbar, click Start > Control Panel.

  3. In the All Control Panel Items window, set View by to Small icons, then click Windows Defender Firewall.

  4. In the Windows Defender Firewall window, click Advanced settings.

  5. Make sure the firewall is enabled on all three profiles.

     1. In the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security console, click Windows Firewall Properties.

     2. On each of the Domain Profile, Private Profile, and Public Profile tabs, select On (recommended), then click Apply.

        The firewall must be on for all three profiles.

  6. In the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security console, click Inbound Rules. In the right pane, scroll down, right-click Remote Desktop - User Mode (TCP-In), then select Enable Rule.

For more troubleshooting options, see Remote Connection FAQ.