---
title: Connect to RDP with client-side cloudflared · Cloudflare Zero Trust docs
description: End users can connect to an RDP server without the WARP client by
  authenticating through cloudflared in their native terminal. This method
  requires having cloudflared installed on both the server machine and on the
  client machine, as well as an active zone on Cloudflare. The traffic is
  proxied over this connection, and the user logs in to the server with their
  Cloudflare Access credentials.
lastUpdated: 2025-10-23T20:06:36.000Z
chatbotDeprioritize: false
source_url:
  html: https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/networks/connectors/cloudflare-tunnel/use-cases/rdp/rdp-cloudflared-authentication/
  md: https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/networks/connectors/cloudflare-tunnel/use-cases/rdp/rdp-cloudflared-authentication/index.md
---

End users can connect to an RDP server without the WARP client by authenticating through `cloudflared` in their native terminal. This method requires having `cloudflared` installed on both the server machine and on the client machine, as well as an active zone on Cloudflare. The traffic is proxied over this connection, and the user logs in to the server with their Cloudflare Access credentials.

Client-side `cloudflared` can be used in conjunction with [routing over WARP](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/networks/connectors/cloudflare-tunnel/use-cases/rdp/rdp-warp-to-tunnel/) and [Browser-based RDP](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/networks/connectors/cloudflare-tunnel/use-cases/rdp/rdp-browser/) so that there are multiple ways to connect to the server. You can reuse the same Cloudflare Tunnel when configuring each connection method.

## 1. Connect the server to Cloudflare

1. Create a Cloudflare Tunnel by following our [dashboard setup guide](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/networks/connectors/cloudflare-tunnel/get-started/create-remote-tunnel/).

2. In the **Published application routes** tab, choose a domain from the drop-down menu and specify any subdomain (for example, `rdp.example.com`).

3. For **Service**, select *RDP* and enter the [RDP listening port](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/clients/change-listening-port) of your server (for example, `localhost:3389`). It will likely be port `3389`.

4. Select **Save**.

## 2. (Recommended) Create an Access application

By default, anyone on the Internet can connect to the server using the hostname of the published application. To allow or block specific users, create a [self-hosted application](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/access-controls/applications/http-apps/self-hosted-public-app/) in Cloudflare Access.

## 3. Connect as a user

1. [Install `cloudflared`](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/networks/connectors/cloudflare-tunnel/downloads/) on the client machine.

2. Run this command to open an RDP listening port:

   ```sh
   cloudflared access rdp --hostname rdp.example.com --url rdp://localhost:3389
   ```

   This process will need to be configured to stay alive and autostart. If the process is killed, users will not be able to connect.

Note

If the client machine is running Windows, port `3389` may already be consumed locally. Select an alternative port to `3389` that is not being used.

1. While `cloudflared access` is running, connect from an RDP client such as Microsoft Remote Desktop:

   1. Open Microsoft Remote Desktop and select **Add a PC**.
   2. For **PC name**, enter `localhost:3389`.
   3. For **User account**, enter your RDP server username and password.
   4. Double-click the newly added PC.
   5. When asked if you want to continue, select **Continue**.

When the client launches, a browser window will open and prompt the user to authenticate with Cloudflare Access.
