After installing Windows Server (eg at 2012 R2), Remote Desktop (RDP) is often disabled by default. Here’s how to enable it (using PowerShell):
1) Change the network type
By default, it’s set to Public, but it needs to be Private.
Get-NetConnectionProfile
(to check the exact InterfaceIndex, for example 12)
Set-NetConnectionProfile -InterfaceIndex 12 -NetworkCategory Private
Important: use -InterfaceIndex, not -InterfaceAlias. In Windows Server 2012 R2, InterfaceAlias sometimes doesn’t work, while InterfaceIndex is reliable.
Get-NetConnectionProfile
If you see:
NetworkCategory : Private
— you’re good.
2) Check and start the RDP service
1) Check the service status:
Get-Service TermService
2) Start the service:
Start-Service TermService
3) Check if port 3389 is listening:
netstat -an | findstr "3389"
If you see a line with LISTENING, RDP is enabled and ready for connections.