How to Configure Remote Desktop GUI on Debian 13

To Install a Remote Desktop GUI on Debian 13, follow the steps below.

Step 1 : Update your system to ensure all packages are current.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2 : Install the lightweight XFCE4 desktop environment and useful extras.

sudo apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodies -y

- During installation, when prompted to choose a display manager: Select GDM3

Step 3 : Install the XRDP server to enable Remote Desktop connections.

sudo apt install xrdp -y

Step 4 : Verify that the XRDP service is running.

sudo systemctl status xrdp

If it is not active, start it with:

sudo systemctl start xrdp

Step 5 : Edit the XRDP configuration file if needed.

sudo nano /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini

In most cases, the default configuration works well and does not require changes.

Step 6 : Configure XRDP to start the XFCE session.

echo "xfce4-session" | tee ~/.xsession

Step 7 : Restart XRDP to apply all changes.

sudo systemctl restart xrdp

Step 8 : If UFW firewall is enabled, allow Remote Desktop traffic.

sudo ufw allow 3389/tcp
sudo ufw reload

Step 9 : Connect via Remote Desktop

• Open Remote Desktop Connection (Windows) or any RDP client

• Enter your server IP address



• If you see a certificate warning, simply click OK or Continue to proceed. This is normal for self-signed certificates.

• Log in using your Debian username and password

• Once connected, you should see the XFCE desktop environment.

Congratulations! You have successfully configured Remote Desktop GUI on Debian 13.