General Remote Desktop connection troubleshooting
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- 12/23/2021
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In this article
Use these steps when a Remote Desktop client can't connect to a remote desktop but doesn't provide messages or other symptoms that would help identify the cause.
Reset Remote Desktop Connection Data in Windows 11 and 10
There is only a single procedure to effortlessly Reset Remote Desktop Connection Data in Windows 11 or 10 and that is a simple registry hack. But some of the users may make mistakes in doing so, and they modify the registry incorrectly. As a matter of fact, it is necessary for you to firstImport and Export Registry Editor on Windows 10.
However, for convenience, you can also download and run the batch file to easilyReset Remote Desktop Connection Data.
Method 1 – Using Registry Editor
Step 1 – Click Start and type in the command regedit. Press Enter. When UAC prompt comes into view, click Yes to proceed.
Step 2 – On the left sidebar of Registry, navigate to the below path.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client
Step 3 – You can notice two keys belowTerminal Server Client –Default and Servers. Select both the keys [Default and Servers]and press Delete on the keyboard.
Note – Removing the above-mentioned keys will reset all the connection data.
Step 4 – If you prefer to delete a specific one, you need to expand the Default key and delete the value as shown REG_SZ on its right pane. This includes all the info of your “Remote Desktop Server IP/HostName as Data”.
Step 5 – There is a key for each Remote Desktop Server under the Servers key. Here also, you need to delete the similar hostnames you deleted in Server Key.
Reset RDP Settings
If there arises a need to reset RDP settings, remove a specific file namely “Default.rdp” inside the Documents folder.
As a matter of fact, the file might be a hidden one. In order to see that, you can check the Hidden items located under the view tab.
Similarly, you can also delete the file by running the cmd code. To do so,
Step 1 – To begin with, on the Search field, type in cmd and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys. Choose Yes on UAC prompt. Once the black panel opens up, copy/paste the below syntax and press Enter to execute it.
rd C:\Users\–USER FOLDER–\Documents\Default.rdp
Method 2 – Batch File
You can Reset Remote Desktop Connection Data altogether without having admin rights by downloading the following file.
Step 1 – Click the below Download button to grab the batch file.
Step 2 – Extract the contents of the file and double-click the .bat file. This will immediatelyReset Remote Desktop Connection Data.
Conclusion
If you are comfortable using Registry, then go ahead with the batch file. This is extremely easy as it only requires you to run the file. However, RDP should incorporate some options that could help out users to reset the connection data and its settings as well. Well, try out any of these and write to us if you have more tips on this.
STRONGLY SUGGESTED: Click here to fix Windows errors
To Reset and Clear All Remote Desktop Connection History Entries
1. If you have not already, you may wish to delete the saved credentials of any listed remote desktop connection while they are still listed to make it easier to do so.
2. If open, close the Remote Desktop Connection tool.
3. Click on the Download button below to download the BAT file below.
Clear_All_RDC_History_and_Entries.bat
4. Save the .bat file to your desktop.
5. Run the downloaded .bat file.
6. If prompted, click/tap on Run.
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.
7. You will now notice your screen flicker as a command prompt quickly opens and closes.
8. If you have the Remote Desktop Connection tool pinned to the taskbar, then you may also wish to unpin and/or remove any recent connections listed in it's Jump List. [see screenshot below]
OPTION TWO
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1. You Can't Connect to the Remote Computer
First, check your network settings. Do both computers have a network connection? It is always the easiest connection issue that sneaks under the radar!
If both computers have a network connection, you can move on. The Windows Remote Desktop Connection requires either an IP address or a name for the console you are attempting to view.
Make sure you have the correct IP address for the remote computer. On the remote computer, you canvisitwhatismyip and copy down the address. If you are not with the remote computer, you must ask someone at the location to do this for you, then send over the IP address.
Similarly, to find out the computer name of the remote device, head to Start Menu > Control Panel > Systemand view the computer name and workgroup.
2. Remote Connections Not Allowed
You might find that remote connections are disabled on the terminal you are trying to reach. You can alter this setting on the same System page as above. To the right of the computer name and workgroup, select Change Settings to open the System Properties menu. Select the Remote tab.
Windows 10 offers the same Remote Desktop Connection options as older Windows versions. Under Remote Desktop, there are two options:
- Allow remote connections to this computer
- Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication [recommended]
Once you allow remote connections, you also have the option of only accepting remote connections using Network Level Authentication. As stated on Microsoft Community, Network Level Authentication is "an authentication method that completes user authentication before you establish a full Remote Desktop connection and the logon screen appears."
It provides an additional layer of security from malicious software and users while using fewer resources in the process. However, if you struggle to create a remote desktop connection after switching Network Level Authentication on, try turning it off.
You can check if your version of Remote Desktop supports Network Level Authentication by clicking the top-left of the dialog box and select About.