Remote desktop App connects, but not remote desktop connection

Question

I am trying to connect to a Windows 10 Pro desktop (Target) from a Windows 10 Home machine.

Both are on same network (VPN).

Connection through Remote Desktop App (downloaded from Microsoft store) works fine.

Connection through Remove Desktop Connection (mstsc) gives "Your credentials didn't work", "The login attempt failed".

Connection through Microsoft App (iPad) works fine as well. Tested this to rule out network.

The reason I want to use Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc) is to use multiple monitors. The fact that I can connect using a different Microsoft App means that the credentials, connection and access are all in place - just that there is something different between the MSTSC and Remote Desktop App that is giving this error.

***Move from Windows / Windows 11 / Connect Phone and PC***

Answer 1

Hello,

If this is Azure AD, you can try checking the box "Use a web account to sign in to the remote computer."

Here's how to connect to a remote PC using single sign-on with Microsoft Entra authentication:

1. Launch the Remote Desktop Connection app on your local device from Windows Search, or by running mstsc.exe from a command prompt.
2. Select Show Options to expand the Remote Desktop Connection client, then select the Advanced tab.
3. Check the box Use a web account to sign in to the remote computer.
4. Select the General tab and enter the NetBIOS domain name or fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the remote PC in the Computer field. The name must match the hostname of the remote PC in Microsoft Entra ID and be network addressable, resolving to the IP address of the remote PC. You can't use an IP address.
5. Select Connect.
6. If prompted for credentials, your user account in Microsoft Entra ID may be automatically selected. If your account is not automatically selected, specify the user name for your account in the format ******@domain.com (the User Principal Name (UPN)).
7. Select OK to connect. You're prompted to allow the remote desktop connection when connecting to a new remote PC. Microsoft Entra remembers up to 15 hosts for 30 days before prompting again. If you see this dialogue, select Yes to connect.

Use the Remote Desktop Connection app to connect to a remote PC using single sign-on with Microsoft Entra authentication | Microsoft Learn

Answer 2

Hello,

Are you using a Microsoft account to make the RDP connection? Test with a local account to rule out if the issue is related to the Microsoft account. Remember to add your local account to the target PC's Remote Desktop Users group.

Disable Network Level Authentication (NLA) to see if it makes any difference, as it also relates to account authentication.

Clear any relevant credentials from your Credential Manager.

Remove the default RDP file.

I hope this information helps.

Best regards,

Karlie Weng

Answer 3

Thanks Karlie for the suggestions.

My user/machine is linked with AzureAD and I use AzureAD\username to login.

• I didn't try a local account as it doesn't really help with resolving this issue. The current user indeed works if I use the Remote Desktop App, just not with MSTSC.
• I tried checking the NLA on the target computer, and it was already disabled. I tried with both enabled and disabled, had the same outcome as shared in the original post.
• I also tried removing the default.rdp in the target machine and MSTSC didn't work, Remote Desktop App did work.
• Removed the relevant credential from the manager and it still didn't work.

The issue lies in knowing how MSTSC is different from Remote Desktop App. Would someone know what is the difference in how they authenticate?

Best regards

Ahmer