A virtual private network (VPN) is one of the most common methods to access files and resources (like apps, intranet websites, and printers) using an encrypted connection from a remote location and through the internet.
Typically, companies use VPN to extend their private network to allow employees to access resources through a public network as if they were directly connected to the company’s network.
Windows 10, like other versions, has an “Incoming Connection” feature that enables you to set up a VPN server to connect remotely to your home network to access your computer’s files and peripherals and even other computers in the network.
In this guide, you will learn how to set up a VPN server on Windows 10 without extra software on the Home or Pro version of the operating system.
- Find public IP address information
- Set up port forwarding on router
- Set up a VPN server on Windows 10
- Allow VPN connections through firewall
- Set up a VPN connection on Windows 10
- Set up a VPN server on Windows Server 2019
Find public IP address information
You first need to know the public IP address your Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigned to you. You will need this information to contact your VPN server remotely.
To find out your current public IP address, use these steps:
Open the web browser.
Open search an engine like Google or Bing.
Search “What’s my IP.”
Confirm your public address information in the first result.
If you are setting up the “Incoming Connection” feature on your home computer, you probably have a dynamic public IP address, which can change anytime. If this is the case, you will need to configure DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) in your router to avoid configuring the VPN setup every time your public IP address changes.
Set up port forwarding on router
To be able to connect through a public network (such as the internet) to your home VPN server, you will need to forward port 1723 (Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)) to allow VPN connections.
Here are the instructions to help you set up port forwarding on your router. You can also visit your router’s manufacturer’s website for more specific assistance to configure Port Forwarding.
Set up a VPN server on Windows 10
Once you have set up DDNS to use a domain name instead of a complicated IP address and forwarded port 1723, you are now ready to set up a VPN server on your device.
To create a VPN server on Windows 10, use these steps:
Open Control Panel on Windows 10.
Click on Network and Sharing Center.
Using the left pane, click the Change adapter settings link.
On “Network Connections,” use the Alt keyboard key to open the File menu and select the New Incoming Connection option.
Check the users you want VPN access to your computer, and click the Next button.
Alternatively, you can click the Add someone button to create a new VPN user:
Check the Through the Internet option.
Click the Next button.
Select the “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option.
Click the Properties button.
Check the “Allow callers to access my local area network” option.
Under the “IP address assignment” section, click the “Specify IP addresses” option and configure the number of clients allowed to access using a VPN connection.
Quick tip: In this setting, you will be telling the number of users that can access the network by specifying an IP address range. It is recommended that you use a high-order range of IP addresses to help avoid conflicts in the network with the IPs distributed by your router. To find out the range of IP addresses you can use, navigate your router’s settings page and look for the DHCP settings.
Click the OK button.
Click the Allow access button.
Click the Close button.
Once you complete the steps, the VPN server will be created, but it won’t work until you configure the firewall to allow connections.
Allow VPN connections through firewall
While configuring the Incoming Connection feature on Windows 10 should automatically open the necessary Windows Firewall ports, you want to ensure the firewall is configured correctly.
To allow VPN connections through the firewall on Windows 10, use these steps:
Open Start on Windows 10.
Search for Allow an app through Windows Firewall, and click the top result to open the experience.
Click the Change settings button.
Scroll down and make sure Routing and Remote Access is allowed on Private and Public.
Click the OK button.
After you complete the steps, the Windows 10 VPN server will now be able to receive connections remotely from other computers.
Set up a VPN connection on Windows 10
Once you set up the VPN server on Windows 10, you must configure the devices that can remotely access the local network. You can set up any computer and phone (including Android and iPhone). Here are the instructions to set up a VPN connection on Windows 10.
After adding a VPN connection to your computer, you have to adjust the settings with these steps:
Open Control Panel.
Click on Network & Internet.
Click on Network and Sharing Center.
Click the Change adapter settings link from the left pane.
Right-click the VPN adapter and select the Properties option.
In the General tab, use the correct domain you created while configuring DDNS or at least the correct public IP address.
Click on the Security tab.
Use the “Type of VPN” drop-down menu and select the “Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)” option.
Use the “Data encryption” drop-down menu and select the “Maximum strength encryption (disconnect if server declines)” option.
Click the OK button.
Click on the Networking tab.
Uncheck the “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” option.
Check the “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option.
Select the “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option.
Click the Properties button.
Click the Advanced button.
Clear the “Use default gateway on remote network” option.
Important: We are disabling this option to prevent your web traffic from going through the remote connection, which can slow down the internet experience. However, do not change this last setting if you want to access the internet through a VPN.
Click the OK button.
Click the OK button again.
Click the OK button once more.
Open Settings.
Click on Network & Internet.
Click on VPN.
Select the VPN connection option and click the Connect button.
While many solutions allow users to connect remotely to a private network using a VPN connection, you can set up your server with the tools built within Windows 10 without needing extra software.
Also, one of the best benefits of setting up a VPN server on your Windows 10 computer is that it’s not only secure and reliable but it’s an excellent alternative for users who are still skeptical about cloud services to store their data. Even more, through a virtual private network, you can even access your device using the remote desktop feature on Windows 10.
