How to Access Ubuntu Remote Desktop Server

Ubuntu is the world's most widely used Linux distribution, thanks to its extensive software ecosystem and broad hardware compatibility. Whether you run it as your primary OS or just need occasional remote access, knowing how to connect via remote desktop is a genuinely useful skill.

Out of the box, Ubuntu comes with built-in remote desktop support through tools like VNC and Remmina, making it straightforward to get started with some of the best remote desktop solutions available.

Let's dive in.

How to remote desktop into Ubuntu

Before setting up a remote connection, it helps to understand the protocols Ubuntu supports. The three main options are SSH, VNC, and RDP. Each serves different use cases, but all are capable of connecting you to another machine.

Ubuntu's built-in remote desktop configuration tool supports all three protocols within a single app, so there's no need to juggle multiple tools. Better yet, you can remotely control an Ubuntu desktop from virtually any platform, including Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS.

How to enable remote desktop in Ubuntu with secure shell connection (SSH)

SSH (Secure Shell) is the most lightweight and secure way to access an Ubuntu machine remotely. Unlike VNC or RDP, it doesn't stream a graphical desktop. Instead, it gives you direct command-line access to your system, making it ideal for server management, running scripts, or executing administrative tasks without the overhead of a full GUI session.

To enable SSH on Ubuntu, open a terminal and install the OpenSSH server with a single command:

sudo apt install openssh-server

Once installed, the SSH service starts automatically. You can verify it's running with:

sudo systemctl status ssh

From there, any SSH client—such as Terminal on macOS/Linux or PuTTY on Windows—can connect to your remote Ubuntu computer using its IP address and your credentials. It's fast, encrypted by default, and works reliably even on low-bandwidth connections.

Press CTRL+D or type "logout" to finish your session and connect to the Ubuntu desktop.

How to enable remote desktop in Ubuntu with Virtual Network Computing (VNC)

Ubuntu ships with native support for both VNC and RDP, so you can access and control your desktop from another device without installing any third-party software.

Step 1: Enable Screen Sharing to start the remote desktop session

Click on Ubuntu’s main menu button and search for the Settings app. Then go to Settings > Sharing, toggle on the Sharing option, and select Remote Desktop to configure the settings. Choose the option for “Screen sharing.“

Click “Allow remote desktop connections to control your screen“ and select the network you want the remote desktop session to have remote control over.

Step 2: Set sharing to on

Enable the general “Sharing“ option, which you’ll find at the top right of the Sharing setting windows. After that, your Ubuntu computer is ready for remote desktop connections.

Step 3: Get your Ubuntu desktop's IP address

First, click on the network icon at the screen’s top right to access your network settings. Click on the cogwheel on the Network settings page to bring up your computer’s network details.

Your Ubuntu computer's IP address is the number next to your IPv4. It’s the one you’ll need for the VNC client.

Step 4: Install VNC client

Download and install one of the VNC clients from the VNC client app. The installation process may vary, but VNC clients are simple programs that require a simple setup. To connect to an Ubuntu machine using VNC, you need to install a VNC client on the device you are connecting from and enter the IP address of the Ubuntu machine.

Step 5: Remote desktop into Ubuntu

Open the VNC viewer or client app and enter the IP address of your Ubuntu machine.

Click “Connect“ and then enter the Ubuntu password to access your computer remotely.

How to enable remote desktop for Ubuntu with Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) was developed by Microsoft to allow users to connect to and interact with a remote machine's graphical user interface — originally designed with Windows Server in mind. It follows a client-server model, where the RDP client runs on your local machine and the RDP server runs on the remote one.

While RDP is traditionally associated with Windows, you can bring the same full graphical desktop experience to Ubuntu using xrdp, an open-source RDP server implementation that bridges the gap between Windows clients and Linux systems.

Follow the steps below to set up and connect to your Ubuntu desktop over RDP.

Open a terminal and enter the commands as shown below, making sure to use the correct inet address for your network interface and connection type.

ifconfig

Next, install xrdp, the RDP server that allows Ubuntu to accept incoming remote desktop connections:

sudo apt install xrdp

Once the installation is complete, enable the service so it starts automatically:

sudo systemctl enable xrdp

With xrdp installed and running, your Ubuntu computer is now ready to accept RDP connections.

How to control Ubuntu Remote Desktop from a different Linux machine

Ubuntu also comes with a remote desktop viewer pre-installed, meaning you can connect to another machine immediately, with no extra software needed. This makes Ubuntu-to-Ubuntu remote desktop connections particularly straightforward, once both machines are configured for remote access.

To get started, open the Settings app and type "remote" in the search bar.

Choose Remmina, the first result.

Select VNC and enter the IP address for the Ubuntu computer.

Tap Enter to commence the connection with another Linux computer or device.

How to control Ubuntu Remote Desktop from Windows

While Ubuntu and Windows don't share native remote desktop compatibility out of the box, connecting between the two is still entirely achievable with the right setup.

Follow the steps below to connect to your Ubuntu desktop from a Windows machine.

Step 1: On your Windows device, enable the Remote Desktop feature — this will act as the client from which you'll initiate the connection.

Step 2: On your Ubuntu machine, install a remote desktop client to connect to the Windows host. One of the most popular options is Remmina. Here's how to get it set up:

Log in to your Ubuntu system using an account with software installation permissions. Open the search box and type "remote desktop," then select Remmina from the results and click Install.

Step 3: Once Remmina is installed, follow these steps to connect to your Windows remote desktop from Ubuntu:

Launch Remmina on your Ubuntu machine and create a new connection profile. Enter the credentials required to access the Windows remote desktop, including the username in the profile section. Set your preferred display resolution, then click Connect when you're ready. The connection to the remote Windows machine will be established immediately.

Create a new desktop file, so you can enter the credentials that permit access from Ubuntu to the Windows remote desktop. In the profile section of configuration file, enter the Ubuntu username to connect.

Configure your preferred resolution for the next remote login connection. After modifying all settings, click the Connect button to remote login. This will establish the connection with the remote Ubuntu machine immediately.

Click OK and wait for the connection to be fully established.

How to control Ubuntu Remote Desktop on Mac OS

To connect to your Ubuntu VNC server from a Mac, you actually don't need a dedicated VNC client app. MacOS has screen sharing built in, making the process simpler than you might expect.

The Mac OS app store offers a variety of VNC client apps. If you utilize the following approach to contact the VNC server, you don't need a VNC client installed.

Open Finder and look for the Shared section in the left sidebar. Your Ubuntu machine should appear there as a shared desktop. Click on its name, then hit the Share Screen button to initiate the connection.

Then, enter the password required to remotely access the remote desktop on Ubuntu from Mac in the dialog box. Enter OK to remotely connect.

Conclusion

In this article, we covered the most popular methods for remotely accessing your Ubuntu desktop, from SSH and VNC to RDP and built-in screen sharing.

Ubuntu's commitment to usability extends to its remote desktop capabilities, making it one of the friendliest Linux distributions for newcomers and experienced users alike. With native support for SSH, VNC, and RDP, Ubuntu has everything you need to stay connected to your machine from virtually anywhere.

Now it's time to put it into practice.