Connecting to Your Windows Server via Remote Desktop
Required Credentials
After ordering a Windows Server plan, you'll receive three pieces of information in your welcome email: the server IP address, the Administrator username, and a temporary password. You'll be prompted to change this password on first login. If you haven't received your credentials within the expected delivery time, check your spam folder or contact support via Discord.
Connecting from Windows
Press Windows+R to open the Run dialog. Type 'mstsc' and press Enter to launch Remote Desktop Connection. Enter your server IP address in the Computer field and click Connect. When prompted, enter the Administrator username and password. Check 'Remember me' to save credentials for faster future connections. For better performance, go to the Experience tab and select 'LAN (10 Mbps or higher)' as your connection speed.
Connecting from macOS
Download Microsoft Remote Desktop from the Mac App Store (free). Open the app and click 'Add PC'. Enter your server IP address in the PC Name field. Add your Administrator account under User Account. Configure display resolution to match your monitor. Under the Devices & Audio tab, enable clipboard sharing to copy-paste between your Mac and the server. Click Add, then double-click the connection to launch.
Connecting from Linux
Install a Remote Desktop client: 'sudo apt install freerdp2-x11' (Ubuntu/Debian) or 'sudo dnf install freerdp' (Fedora). Connect using: 'xfreerdp /v:SERVER_IP /u:Administrator /p:PASSWORD +clipboard /dynamic-resolution'. The +clipboard flag enables copy-paste sharing. For a better experience, install Remmina (GUI RDP client) with 'sudo apt install remmina remmina-plugin-rdp'.
First-Time Setup Tasks
After connecting, complete these essential setup steps: 1) Change the temporary password immediately — Windows will prompt you. 2) Check for Windows Updates and install them. 3) Configure Windows Firewall to allow only the ports your applications need. 4) Set the timezone correctly. 5) Disable unnecessary startup programs. 6) Create a system restore point before installing game servers or other software. 7) Configure automatic Windows Updates to install during off-peak hours.
Performance Optimization
For the best Remote Desktop experience: disable visual effects (System Properties > Advanced > Performance > Adjust for best performance), turn off desktop background and screensavers, set display color depth to 16-bit instead of 32-bit if bandwidth is limited, and close unnecessary applications. For game server hosting, install your server software directly on the Windows machine and configure it to start automatically as a Windows Service so it runs even when you're not connected via RDP.
FAQ
Related Tutorials
Was this guide helpful?
Join our Discord for more guides and direct help from our engineering team.