Remote Desktop Setup

Question

Hello,

I need help with setting up remote desktop across three computers. Here are the computer computers. I am working with.:

Pink desktop PC I built myself a year ago running Windows 11 Pro and utilizing only a local account. I do not want a Microsoft account on this computer so please don’t suggest that the easiest way is to add the Microsoft account to this computer.

A three-year-old MSI katana laptop, running Windows 11 pro Using a Microsoft account. I do not want to add a local account to this computer.

A 13-year-old HPDV7 entertainment laptop, running Windows 10 pro using the same Microsoft account that is on the MSI Katana laptop. I do not want to add a local account on this machine.

These are not business machines. They do not connect to any sort of school or work network, they are my machines, I live alone. I am set up fully as the admin on all three machines, and I am the only one that uses all of my computers.

That being said, I do not want additional user accounts on these machines at all.

I have spent several hours today working with ChatGPT to try to get the remote desktop configured and working. The problem I am having seems to be limited to the fact that my desktop computer is based on a local account only and right now I am not even trying to set up the 13-year-old laptop I am mainly focusing on the MSI Katana laptop.

ChatGPT has taken me through numerous steps to try to get this set up. The remote desktop on the two computers I have been working with will not talk to each other for setting up and recognizing the accounts on each computer. ChatGPT even had me try setting up each computer to recognize the other one using the IP address prefacing the account name and even that doesn’t work.

This is what has been tried:

On Desktop PC:

MicrosoftAccount[Email account]

192.168.xx.xx[Computer Name]

On MSI Katana Laptop:

LocalAccount[User Account Name]

192.168.xx.xx

Here is what is confirmed as set up correctly on each of the machines:

They can ping each other through the command prompt.

They are on the same network and in the same work group

In the network settings, network discovery, and also file and printer sharing is enabled for both private and public networks

Part of the instructions also told me in the remote desktop settings in the system settings to add the account from the opposing computer. Both machines refused to add the account names on the opposing computer.

I do not want to have to set up an additional user account on any of the computers to facilitate the connection.

I really do want to learn how to configure the windows, remote desktop properly accommodating for the combination of local accounts and Microsoft accounts and I want to learn how to set it up so that after the first set up, I no longer have to run between rooms and machines to confirm the authentication on a new session for every session that I do.

***Move from Windows / Windows 11 / Apps / Windows apps***

Answer 1

Hello,

Let's start by addressing the issue when connecting via RDP from the Katana laptop to the Pink desktop PC using a Local Account:

First, we should disable Network Level Authentication (NLA), as this setting can sometimes interfere with the authentication process and cause connection issues.

Since you mentioned that you are the administrator for all three PCs, I assume the local account you're using has administrative privileges and is part of the Remote Desktop Users group on the Pink desktop PC, is that right?

Additionally, could you provide the specific error message you receive when attempting to establish the RDP connection? For example, does it indicate incorrect credentials or some other issue?

Thank you,

Karlie Weng

Answer 2

Hello,

I am an Admin on all of my machines. I have been a Corp. IT Level One Help Desk Analyst for 25 years and have built, upgraded and troubleshot tons of computers, and also have my own NAS.

As stated in my OP The only machine that has the local account is the Pink Desktop. The 2 laptops both use the same Microsoft Account on them. For right now I want to focus only on the Pink Desktop with the Local Account only and the 3 yr old MSI Katana Laptop that uses a Microsoft Account and does NOT have a local account on it, both computers are running Win11 Pro.

I have already tried disabling the NLA in the system settings but when I try on either machine to either machine to either computer it does not accept/see/recognize the opposing machine. It does the same thing if the NLA is enabled also.

My accounts are part of all of the proper/required groups in GP.

Answer 3

Hello,

You can refer to the official article General Remote Desktop connection troubleshooting - Windows Server | Microsoft Learn for additional steps to troubleshoot your issue.

When using a Microsoft account to connect remotely, make sure to use your full password credentials instead of a PIN.