In Windows 10 you can set the computer to connect remotely via a VPN. This way you can consult the files, folders or other computers when you are connected remotely.
To connect remotely to your local network, you need to set Windows 10 to work as a VPN. The connection is then encrypted via the Internet and allows other computers to consult local files, folders, etc. on the private network via a VPN.
* Some technical knowledge of networks, IP addresses and router settings required.
Set up Windows 10 as a VPN server
First, you need to know what your IP address is in order to connect to it. This has an external IP address and is the IP address that your internet provider has assigned to your router.
Look up external IP address
Open a browser. Go to "myip.com” and make a note of what your external IP address is.
Open PPTP port in the router
If you have noted the external IP address, you must open the port “1723” Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) in the router settings (“port forwarding”). You can change these settings in the router settings itself. To do this, you must first open the administrative settings of your router via the router IP address.
You may still be able to Set up DDNS to create a hostname instead of an IP address.
Create VPN server
To create a VPN server in Windows 10, open the Control Panel. In the control panel, click on “Network and Internet” and then on “Network and Sharing Center”.
In the left menu, click on “Change adapter settings”.
Now press the ALT key. You can now click on “File” in the menu and then on “New incoming connection”.
Now select the user(s) who are allowed to connect to this computer and the network. If you want to add another person, click on “Add someone”.
Select the option “via internet”. Allows another computer to connect to this computer via a VPN connection.
Select “Internet Protocol Version 4” and click the “Properties” button.
You can now assign IP addresses to “callers” who will access the LAN. Depending on how many computers are allowed to connect, you set an IP address range. You will now see “total” the total number of clients that are allowed to connect. The IP address is then assigned to the range you set.
It is important that you enter the correct range of IP addresses here to avoid conflicts on your network. If your router has the range “10.211.55.1-255”, always choose 1 range higher, for example (as in this example) “10.211.56.1-5”. Again, this is an example. DHCP is also possible. Some knowledge of networking required.
Confirm by clicking the “Allow access” button.
An exception has now been added in the firewall for the “Routing and Remote Access” services. These have been applied to the public and private network profile. Windows opens these settings itself and ensures that the firewall can now accept incoming connections.
Windows 10 is now set up to receive VPN connections.
Create VPN connection on client
Setting up the VPN server requires certain network settings that, depending on the configured network settings, require insight into how your LAN is set up with router settings. So you can use this guide as a reference, but not copy it exactly.
You now need to create a VPN connection on the computer that will connect to this VPN server. This is how you set up a client (another computer or device).
In the search bar type: vpn. Click on “Add a VPN connection”.
Click the “Add a VPN connection” button again.
Enter the login credentials to connect to the VPN server. This is a VPN provider, the self-chosen name for the VPN connection, the server name or IP address and the VPN type (usually PPTP).
Depending on the server specifications, set the VPN connection so that a connection can be made. Click “Save”.
Once you have set everything up correctly, click on “connect”. A connection will now be made to the VPN server.
Also read: Create a VPN connection in Windows 11.
I hope this helped you. Thank you for reading!