Error with connection "We couldn't connect to the remote PC. Make sure the PC is turned on and connected to the network, and that remote access is enabled. Error code: 0x204"

Question

Error with connection "We couldn't connect to the remote PC. Make sure the PC is turned on and connected to the network, and that remote access is enabled. Error code: 0x204"

Gilakathula, Sourav Ganguli 5

I got this error, and after switching to the mobile hotspot, it is working fine. How is it possible?

Philip Chambers 0 Reputation points

2026-03-06T12:40:09.9366667+00:00

I've been having the same issue since 23/02, everything was fine on 17/02.

I can onl;y access rdp when using my phone as a hotspot, however the phone is connectected to WIFI, not mobile internet.

This doesn't work:

PC->wifi router->modem

This does:

PC->phone hotspot->wifi router->modem

I can't see how adding the extra step of adding the hotspot works when it's still using the same WIFI/internet connection.

On the PC I've disabled windows firewall, with no change, and reinstalled/ipdated all wifi drivers.

2 answers

Your answer

Philip Chambers 0 Reputation points

2026-03-06T12:40:09.9366667+00:00

I've been having the same issue since 23/02, everything was fine on 17/02.

I can onl;y access rdp when using my phone as a hotspot, however the phone is connectected to WIFI, not mobile internet.

This doesn't work:

PC->wifi router->modem

This does:

PC->phone hotspot->wifi router->modem

I can't see how adding the extra step of adding the hotspot works when it's still using the same WIFI/internet connection.

On the PC I've disabled windows firewall, with no change, and reinstalled/ipdated all wifi drivers.

Answer 1

Chen Tran 8,220 Independent Advisor

Hello Ganguli,

Thank you for posting question on Microsoft Windows Forum!

Based on the provided error code 0x204 in Remote Desktop which usually indicates a network connectivity or firewall issue. The fact that it worked when you switched to a mobile hotspot suggests the problem is not with the remote PC itself, but with the network path between your client and the remote machine.

The possible causes for this is your original Wi-Fi network or your home/office router may have blocked Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) traffic (port 3389). Some ISPs, office networks, or routers restrict this for security reasons. On the other hand, if your router or firewall was not forwarding the RDP port correctly, the connection would fail. Switching to a hotspot bypassed that router and gave you a direct path. Also, some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) block standard RDP ports to prevent "Man-in-the-Middle" attacks. A mobile carrier often uses different routing protocols that might bypass these specific blocks.

Another point to mention here is that if you were on a VPN or behind a proxy on the original network, it could have blocked RDP. The hotspot connection likely did not have that restriction.

In short, Mobile hotspots often provide a more “open” connection with fewer restrictions. Since the remote PC was already accessible over the internet, the hotspot allowed the RDP traffic to flow without being blocked or misrouted.

Hope the above information is helpful! If it helps you get more insight into the issue, it is appreciated to accept the answer. Should you have more questions, feel free to leave a message.

Gilakathula, Sourav Ganguli 5 Reputation points

2026-02-12T10:36:42.3666667+00:00

Hi Chen, This was helpful. But actually we were able to do it 24 hrs back, but now it is showing the error. Is this something occurred due to the wifi marked as a public network or something which changed in last 24 hrs?
Chen Tran 8,220 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-02-12T10:47:23.1266667+00:00

Hi Ganguli,

Thank you for the extra information!

Well! Windows treats every network differently. It might have labeled your home Wi-Fi as "Public," which automatically triggers a strict firewall that blocks incoming RDP requests. It might see your hotspot as "Private" (or vice versa), where those rules are relaxed. Since Windows often blocks RDP on "Public" networks for security.

The suggestion here is to change the Network Profile to "Private" by connecting to your main Wi-Fi. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Click Properties on your connection. Switch the Network Profile from Public to Private.

Hope the provided information is helpful! If it is. It is appreciated to hit "Accept Answer".
Gilakathula, Sourav Ganguli 5 Reputation points

2026-02-12T11:17:01.1+00:00

Yay! good info chen.
Chen Tran 8,220 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-02-12T11:21:00.15+00:00

Hi Ganguli,

Thanks for the information!

If the above suggestions are helpful! You can consider marking it as correct answer to help others in the Windows community to find solution for this issue more effectively and easily.

Have a nice working day!

Answer 2

The error message "We couldn't connect to the remote PC. Make sure the PC is turned on and connected to the network, and that remote access is enabled. Error code: 0x204" typically indicates that there are issues with the network connection or configuration preventing the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) from establishing a connection to the remote PC.

When you switched to a mobile hotspot and the connection worked fine, it suggests that there may have been a problem with your original network connection. Possible reasons for this could include:

Network Configuration Issues: The original network might have firewall settings or other configurations that block RDP traffic (typically on port 3389).
ISP Restrictions: Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may have restrictions on certain types of traffic over your original connection.
Router Settings: The router you were using might have specific settings that prevent RDP connections, such as NAT configurations or firewall rules.
Network Security Group (NSG) Issues: If you were connecting to an Azure VM, the NSG settings might not have allowed RDP traffic from your original network.

Switching to a mobile hotspot bypassed these potential issues, allowing the connection to succeed. It's always a good idea to check firewall settings and ensure that the necessary ports are open when troubleshooting RDP connection issues.

References:

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Error with connection "We couldn't connect to the remote PC. Make sure the PC is turned on and connected to the network, and that remote access is enabled. Error code: 0x204"

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