Cannot remote desktop into Windows 11 with Microsoft account (local account works)

Question

I just installed two Windows 11 computers and setup remote desktop for both of them and it automatically allows my Microsoft account to have access (it says).

When I try to access the computer from Windows 10 or the other Windows 11 computer using the remote desktop application, I am prompted for my credentials. I enter my Microsoft credentials (the same ones I use on the machine locally) and it will not accept the credentials.

I created a local account on the computer, and I can log into that account.

Microsoft goes to great lengths to discourage the use of local accounts, so I have to assume that Windows 11 has a bug when it only allows connections using a local account. The same issue applies to mounting a shared folder between computers. I can mount the drive using the local account credentials, but not the Microsoft account credentials.

I do not have any of these issues with Windows 10.

Does anyone know if this is a known issue or have a suggestion as to what might be causing the problem?

Answer 1

Hi Bill. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, here to help you.

Let's see if we can fix this first and if not report it as a bug to developers.

Try these fixes for cannot sign into Remote Desktop with Microsoft Account in Windows 11:

https://pureinfotech.com/fix-remote-login-probl...

https://superuser.com/questions/1715525/how-to-...

https://windowsreport.com/windows-11-remote-des...

(Avoid ad links which intrude into editorial copy, especially avoid Restoro, PC Repair Tool and Reimage ads)

https://pureinfotech.com/enable-remote-desktop-...

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/use-remote-deskto...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3iWPnnmW0Q

If none of these work You can report this bug in the Feedback Hub in Start Menu. Microsoft developers DO read feedback from customers that comes in via the Feedback Hub, and may contact yo uif they need logs or other information to further investigate it.

Report back results for each step so I know what else to suggest.

Feel free to ask back any questions. Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

______________________________________________

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Answer 2

I'm glad it's working now. That's a great find! Shawn Keene is a friend of mine from MVP program. I'll let him know his blog helped you, and add it to my own list of fixes.

Let me know if I can help further. I'll stay subscribed to this thread in case you need anything else, until the system locks it in a few months.

Also if any particular post provided the solution, please mark it as Answer or Helpful to help others who find this thread.

Answer 3

Greg, thank you for your reply.

This link turned out to be the solution to my issues.

https://cmdrkeene.com/remote-desktop-with-microsoft-account-sign-in/

Briefly this is what I did:

I ran the following command from the Run box with my email address instead of "*** Email address is removed for privacy ***."

runas /u:MicrosoftAccount\*** Email address is removed for privacy *** winver

Copied from cmdrkeene link earlier:

This command runs the “winver” program under the credentials of the user account specified. It sounds (and is) pretty simple, but what it does in the background is caches your Microsoft Account credentials. Since your local user account had no password, it wasn’t eligible for RDP use even if it has appropriate permissions otherwise. After supplying the password and pressing Enter, you’ll know it worked if you see the About Windows dialog box open. Go ahead and close it and the terminal window — you’re all done.

After doing this, I was able to map drives and do remote desktop on both Windows 11 computers.

It worked for me as well. Thanks all