Remote Desktop Connection program won't log in to RDP session but Remote Desktop (from WIndows Store) will (invalid credentials warning)

Question

We have a Win 2016 remote desktop server (hosted in the cloud) that my users have issues logging into from time to time, it seems totally random and I have not yet found a good explanation or fix for this: generally, my users use Remote Desktop Connection in Win 10 (some Win 7 yet), with an RDP file that was created by an outside firm that originally set up the system. They will occasionally get messages that pop up that say:

Well, my original troubleshooting would check their ID's, passwords, issues on the server. The problem was is that it is not just one user, I would get multiples. They had no issues logging into the domain otherwise. What I eventually stumbled across was that using the newer Remote Desktop program worked for them, without issue. I would simply have the user right-click on the RDP file on their desktop, "Open With..." Remote desktop and they can get in.

Has anyone else seen anything like this?

Paul

Answer 1

Hi,

I'd be happy to help you out with your question. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

Firstly, it's important to note that encountering login problems in the Remote Desktop Connection program can occur due to various factors. Let's go through some potential causes and solutions:

Credential caching issue: The Remote Desktop Connection program caches credentials, and occasionally this cache can become corrupted or out of sync. To resolve this, follow these steps:

a. Open the Remote Desktop Connection program.

b. Click on the "Show Options" button to expand the options.

c. Go to the "Advanced" tab.

d. Click on the "Settings" button under the "Connect from anywhere" section.

e. In the "Gateway Server Credentials" window, click on the "Delete" button next to the cached credentials for the affected user.

f. Close all the windows and attempt to reconnect.

Network connectivity issues: It's possible that network connectivity problems are preventing the Remote Desktop Connection program from establishing a connection. Ensure that the client machine has a stable internet connection and can reach the remote desktop server. You can also try connecting from a different network or location to rule out network-related issues.

Version compatibility: The Remote Desktop Connection program comes in different versions, and compatibility issues can arise between the program version and the remote desktop server. It's worth confirming that the Remote Desktop Connection program on the client machines is up to date. Additionally, check for any available updates for the remote desktop server to ensure compatibility.

Group Policy settings: Group Policy settings can affect the behavior of the Remote Desktop Connection program. Check if any Group Policies related to remote desktop access or credentials are applied to the affected users or client machines. Review the Group Policy settings and make any necessary adjustments.

If the issue persists after attempting these troubleshooting steps, it would be helpful to gather more information such as error logs or event viewer entries related to the failed login attempts. This additional information can provide further insights into the root cause of the problem and assist in further troubleshooting.

If you have any other questions or need assistance with anything, please don't hesitate to let me know. I'm here to help.

If the reply was helpful, please don’t forget to upvote or accept as answer, thank you.

Answer 2

Remote Login require DOMAIN and username
and DOMAIN is not straight forward.
my work email is:
******@companyname.com
and my company internet name is compnet.io (first 4 letters of company name)
but our domain name is not 'compnet.io' not even 'compnet'.
DOMAIN is : COMPNET (all caps)
so the username becomes:
COMPNET\firstname.lastname (skip @ companyname.com)
so you need to ask someone, or figure it out, what is your Remote PC's domain