How To Change Default Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) port 3389 in Windows Server 2008?

Requirements

Sometime you need to change the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) from default 3389 to something else for better security. Please follow these steps to change it to 2008 in Windows Server 2008. Windows Server 2003 should be the same.

Step by Step Guide

1) Open the port that you want to use for RDP in firewall

If firewall is not enabled, just skip this step.
a) Open Windows Exprloer, go to Control Panel\Network and Internet, click Allow a programe through Windows Firewall.

b) Click Add port..., choose TCP, input Name and Port Number, click OK


c) Click OK in Windows Firewall Settings window.

2) Start Registry Editor.

On desktop select menu: Start > Run, input 'regedit' and click OK

3) Locate the registry subkey for RDP port:

In Registry Editor find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\TerminalServer\WinStations\RDP-Tcp\PortNumber

4) On the Edit menu, click Modify, and then click Decimal.

5) Type the new port number, and then click OK.

6) Quit Registry Editor.

7) Restart server.

Related Resources

1. Remote Desktop Protocol(Wikipedia)
2. Terminal Services