A remote desktop is a program that enables you to connect to a different device and control it remotely as if you were directly connected in person. Remote desktop programs are commonly used for IT support and maintenance, as they allow support staff to operate off-site, but they are also popular as a mobile office solution. Microsoft Remote Desktop clients let you use and control a remote PC. With a Remote Desktop client, you can do all the things with a remote PC that you can do with a physical PC, such as “use apps installed on the remote PC”, access files and network resources on the remote PC, and leave the apps open when you turn off the client. Here are some related guides that might be interesting to you. How to reset your lost or forgotten Windows 10 Password, and Terminal Server (Now RDS): How to set up and configure Remote Desktop Services.
If you press CTRL + ALT + DEL on your keyboard while connected to a remote server, that input will go to your local PC (not the RDP session) and you will see the typical LOCK, SIGN OUT, CHANGE A PASSWORD, TASK MANAGER from your local PC (not the RDP session). You may also want to see how to reset your built-in (Local) Administrator’s password in Windows 10.
How to Change Password via Remote Desktop
On Windows Server 2012 and 2016, 2019, and Server 2022, the only possible way to reset a password or send a (CNTL + ALT+ DEL) to the RDP session you are in is to press CTRL + ALT + END as shown below.
CTRL + ALT + ENDHere you can select CHANGE A PASSWORD and change the active user’s password as you normally would. This is not a big deal other than I cannot seem to remember it and always have to look it up.
Note: This step assumes you have access to the RDP session!!!
RDP Password Expired Already
If the RDP Password has expired already and you no longer have access to the RDP session. You can get a different PC or your own local PC and try to log in with this RDP credential as shown below. This time, hit the following buttons below and click on ok.
CTRL + ALT + Delete
You will be required to enter your new passwords as shown below
As you can see, the password was successfully changed. This depends on you meeting the password complexity defined by your organization.
Reset your password in an RDP session via Active Directory
Alternatively, you can change a password by resetting your password in AD and this does not require you to remember the current password. But you will have to overwrite the existing password and set a new password. Here are some related guides on how to reset your built-in (Local) Administrator’s password in Windows 10, how to reset MSSQL Server SA Password on Ubuntu via the command line and SQL Server Management Studio, how to reset Mysql Root password, and how to Perform Self-Service Password Reset Enrolment – Pleasant Password Manager.
Open Active Directory Users and Computers from your Server Manager (under Tools) or Windows Administration Tools
– Alternatively from the “Windows Search” or “Run” command and type dsa.msc.
Either of the methods you chose. This will open the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in as shown below.
– Locate the user and right-click on the user.
– Then select “Reset Password” as shown below.
The rest password wizard will open. Enter a new password and click on OK as shown below.
Note: If you are working on Windows and wish to use the Microsoft Remote Desktop App, this can be installed from the following link.
I hope you found this blog post helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comment session.