Connect to a Windows device

Learn how to access a Windows computer over Meshnet remotely from any platform.

To log in to your Windows PC remotely over Meshnet, enable remote access on your PC and use a remote desktop app on the device you're connecting from.

Before you begin

Make sure that:

• Both the Windows device you wish to access remotely (remote PC) and the device you're using to connect are linked over Meshnet.

• Your remote PC is on.

• Your remote PC runs a Pro edition of Windows 10 or 11.

To check your PC edition

1. On your PC, select Start and open Settings.
2. Go to System > About.

3. Under Windows specifications, look for Edition.

   

Set up your remote PC for access

Before you can connect to your remote PC, you'll need to enable Remote Desktop on it.

Windows 11

1. Select Start and open Settings.
2. Go to System > Remote Desktop.

   

3. Turn on the Remote Desktop toggle.

   

4. Select Confirm when prompted.

Windows 10

1. Select Start and open Settings.

   

2. Go to System and select Remote Desktop from the left sidebar.

   

3. Turn on the Enable Remote Desktop toggle.

   

4. Select Confirm when prompted.

   

Finding PC account credentials

When attempting a remote connection to your Windows PC, you will be prompted to enter authentication details. The credentials you must enter depend on the type of Windows account the PC is using.

• If you're using a Microsoft account, you can use either:

  • Your Microsoft account's email address and password. Example
  • Your Windows account's username and Microsoft account's password. Example
• If you're using a local Windows account, you need to use the account's username and password.

Tip

To view your Windows account's username, run the following command in PowerShell:

$env:username

Connect to your remote PC

Windows

For Windows-only connections, follow these steps on the device you're using to connect:

1. In the NordVPN app, locate and copy the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the device you want to access.

   
2. In the search box on the taskbar, type Remote Desktop Connection and click Remote Desktop Connection.

   

3. In the dialog that opens, paste either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the PC you want to access.

   

4. Click Connect.

5. Enter the following information, and then click OK:

   • Your remote PC account name

   • The password you use to log in to your remote PC

     

6. You may receive a warning indicating that the identity of the remote computer cannot be verified. When connecting to a trusted computer, such as one on your Meshnet, click Yes to continue.

Tip

If you don't want to see this dialog in the future, select the Don't ask me again for connections to this computer checkbox.

You should now be able to securely access and control your PC remotely.

macOS

Install Remote Desktop on macOS

To connect to your remote PC from macOS, first install the Microsoft Remote Desktop app, available for free from the Mac App Store.

Add a remote PC connection

1. In the NordVPN app, locate and copy the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the device you want to access.

   

2. Open Microsoft Remote Desktop, click the plus (+) button, and select Add PC.

3. In the PC name box, paste the Nord name or Meshnet IP that you copied earlier.

   

4. From the User account dropdown list, select Add user account.

   

5. Enter your remote desktop credentials to save for use with this connection.

   • Username: your remote PC account name

   • Password: the password you use to log in to your remote PC

     

6. Optionally, give a nickname to your connection in the Friendly name field.

   

7. Click Add to save changes, and then click Add again.

Access your remote PC

1. Double-click the saved connection that you added.

2. You may receive a warning indicating that the digital certificate of the computer you're trying to access cannot be verified. If you don't want to see this dialog in the future, click Show certificate and then select the Always trust checkbox.

   
3. If you're connecting to a computer you trust, click Continue.

You should be able to remotely access and control your PC securely.

Android

Install Remote Desktop on Windows

To connect to your remote PC from Windows, first install the Microsoft Remote Desktop app, available for free from the Microsoft Store.

Add a remote PC connection

1. In the NordVPN app, go to Meshnet > Manage devices, tap the three-dot menu next to the device you want to access, and copy the device's Nord name or IP address.

   

2. Open the RD Client app that you installed earlier.

3. On the PCs tab, tap the plus (+) button and select Add PC.

   

4. Under PC name, enter either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the PC you want to access.

   

5. Under User account, select the Add user account option.

6. Enter your credentials for the remote computer to save for use with this connection.

   • Username: your remote PC account name you recorded earlier

   • Password: the password for the specified username

   

7. Tap Save, and then tap Save again.

Access your remote PC

1. From the main screen, select the saved connection that you added.
2. You may receive a warning indicating that the digital certificate of the computer you're trying to access cannot be verified. If you don't want to see this dialog in the future, select the Never ask again for connections to this PC checkbox.

3. Tap Connect.

   

You should now be able to securely access and control your PC remotely over Meshnet.

iOS

Install Remote Desktop on iOS

To connect to the remote PC from iOS, install the Microsoft Remote Desktop app, available for free from the App Store.

Add a remote PC connection

1. In the NordVPN app, go to Meshnet > Manage devices and copy the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the device you want to access.

   

2. Open the RD Client app that you installed earlier.

3. At the bottom of the screen, tap the plus (+) button and select Add PC.

   
4. Tap PC name and enter the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the PC you want to access.

   
5. Return to the previous menu and tap User account > Add user account.

6. Enter the following information to save for use with this connection:

   • Your remote PC account name

   • The password you use to log in to your remote PC

   Optionally, tap Friendly name to give a nickname to your connection.

   

7. Tap Save, return to the previous screen, and tap Save again.

The new connection will appear under PCs. Tap it whenever you want to initiate a remote desktop session.

Linux

To connect to the remote PC from Linux, first install the Remmina remote desktop client on your Linux device.

Note

The instructions below apply primarily to Ubuntu 16.04 LTS or above, but if you use a different distribution of Linux, the procedure should remain similar.

Install Remmina on Linux

Terminal

1. Open the terminal.

2. Update the package manager list of available packages by running the following command:

   sudo apt update

3. Install Remmina by entering this command:

   sudo apt install remmina remmina-plugin-vnc

Ubuntu Software

1. Open the Ubuntu Software application.

2. In the search bar, enter remmina and select the matching result.

   

3. Click the Install button.

Add a remote PC connection

1. Open your terminal and enter the following command:

   nordvpn meshnet peer list

2. In the displayed list, find the device you want to access and copy either the device's Nord name or its Meshnet IP:

   
3. Open the Remmina app that you installed earlier.

4. Click the New connection profile button in the upper-left corner of the app window.

   
5. Make sure RDP — Remote Desktop Protocol is selected in the Protocol field.

6. Under Basic, enter the following information to create a reusable connection:

   • In the Server field, enter the Nord name or the Meshnet IP you copied earlier.

   • In the Username field, enter your remote PC account name.

   • In the Password field, enter the password you use to log in to your remote PC.

     

7. Click Save.

Access your remote PC

1. Double-click the new connection profile you've created.

   

2. Accept the certificate presented by the server to verify that you trust the computer you are trying to access.

You should now be able to securely access and control your PC remotely.

Alternative remote desktop tools

If you prefer, you can also use other remote access software like NoMachine or AnyDesk to establish a remote connection between your devices.

Using NoMachine

Once remote access is configured on the target PC, install the NoMachine app on both your remote and local devices.

Connect from Windows, macOS, or Linux using NoMachine

On your local machine:

1. In the NordVPN app, locate and copy the Nord name or Meshnet IP address of the device you want to access.

   
2. Launch NoMachine and select the Add button to create a new connection.

3. Under Machine address, in the Name field, provide a custom name for the connection.

   
4. In the Host field, enter either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the computer you want to access, and then select Add.

   
5. Double-click the newly created connection to initiate the remote connection.

   
6. If a warning appears indicating that the host's authenticity cannot be confirmed, select OK to proceed.

7. Enter your remote desktop credentials and select OK.

   • Username: your remote PC account name

   • Password: the password you use to log in to your remote PC

   

You should now be able to securely access and control your PC remotely.

Connect from Android or iOS using NoMachine

On your mobile device, perform the following steps to add a remote PC connection:

1. In the NordVPN app, go to Meshnet > Manage devices and copy the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the device you want to access.

   

2. Open NoMachine and select the Add button in the upper-left corner to create a new connection.

   

3. Ensure that NX is selected as the protocol and tap Continue.

4. In the Host field, enter either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the computer you want to access, and then select Continue.

   

5. Keep the default options for Authentication and Proxy.

6. Optionally, in the Name field, provide a custom name for the connection and tap Done.

To access your remote PC:

1. On the NoMachine main screen, double-tap the newly created connection to initiate the remote connection.

2. If a warning appears indicating that the host's authenticity cannot be confirmed, select OK to proceed.

3. Enter your remote desktop credentials and select OK.

   • Username: your remote PC account name

   • Password: the password you use to log in to your remote PC

   

You should now be able to securely access and control your PC remotely.

With these steps completed, you should now be connected to your remote Mac using NoMachine over Meshnet.

Using AnyDesk

Once remote access is configured on the target PC, install the AnyDesk app on both the PC and the device you're connecting from.

For this setup, you won't need remote PC account credentials. Instead, you can use either manual approval on the remote PC or set up a dedicated unattended access password.

Optional: Enable unattended access with AnyDesk

By default, AnyDesk needs manual approval for incoming connections. To bypass this, you can enable the app’s Unattended access feature:

1. On the remote computer, launch AnyDesk you installed earlier.

2. In the upper-right corner, click the Main Menu button and select Settings.

   

3. From the menu on the left, under Security, select Access.

   
4. Under Unattended access, select Set password.

5. Enter and confirm a secure password that will be used for authentication, and then click Apply.

   

After applying the changes, connect to the device without manual approval by following the platform-specific instructions below.

Connect from Windows, macOS, or Linux using AnyDesk

On your local machine:

1. In the NordVPN app, locate and copy the Nord name or Meshnet IP address of the device you want to access.

   
2. Launch AnyDesk you installed earlier.

3. In the remote address field at the top, enter either the Nord name or the Meshnet IP address of the remote PC and click Connect.

   

If you set up an unattended password on the remote PC:

1. In the Authorization dialog that appears, enter the password you created for unattended access on the remote PC and click OK.

2. Optionally, you can select the Log in automatically from now on checkbox to avoid entering the password again for subsequent connections.

   

If you haven't set up an unattended password, wait for the user at the remote device to accept the connection request manually.

Connect from iOS or Android using AnyDesk

On your mobile device:

1. In the NordVPN app, go to Meshnet > Manage devices and copy the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the device you want to access.
2. Open AnyDesk you installed earlier.

3. In the remote address field, paste either the Nord name or the Meshnet IP address of the remote PC and tap the arrow button to connect.

   

If you set up an unattended password on the remote PC:

1. In the Authorization dialog, enter the password you created for unattended access on the remote PC and tap OK.
2. Optionally, you can select the Log in automatically from now on checkbox to avoid entering the password again for subsequent connections.

If you haven't set up an unattended password, wait for the user at the remote device to accept the connection request manually.

With these steps completed, you should now be connected to your remote Mac using AnyDesk over Meshnet.

Checklist for a successful connection

If you encounter issues while attempting to connect, check that:

• Both devices are linked over Meshnet.

• Both devices see each other as active in the Meshnet peer list.

• The remote PC is turned on and not in sleep or hibernate mode.

• The remote PC’s network settings allow for incoming Remote Desktop connections.

• The correct Nord name or Meshnet IP address is being used for the connection.

• You are logging in with the correct remote PC account credentials, if applicable.

• Any firewall or antivirus software is not blocking the connection.

See also

• Connect to a macOS device

• Connect to a Linux device