Why do my credentials fail for Remote Desktop, and how to fix it?
Jul 20, 2025 am 12:02 AMAn incorrect username or password may cause the remote desktop connection to fail. You should confirm that the input is correct and reset the password if necessary; 2. Check the remote desktop authentication settings, such as network level authentication (NLA) are configured correctly; 3. Make sure that the user account has remote access and belongs to the correct user group; 4. Update outdated save credentials in the Credential Manager to avoid using old information; 5. Troubleshoot firewall or network issues to ensure that port 3389 is open and network policies allow RDP traffic. These issues cover common failure points from basic credentials to advanced network configurations, and step-by-step troubleshooting can effectively resolve most remote connection failures.
Your credentials might fail for Remote Desktop because of incorrect username or password, authentication settings, network issues, or permission problems. Let's break down the common causes and how to actually fix them.

1. Wrong Username or Password
This is the most straightforward but often overlooked issue. You might think you're typing it right, but small mistakes like Caps Lock being on or an extra space can cause this.
- Make sure you're entering the correct username and password.
- If you're connecting to another domain or local machine, include the domain name in front:
DOMAIN\username
or use the local machine name like.\username
. - Try resetting the password if you're unsure — especially if you haven't used it in a while.
If you're using saved credentials (like through Windows Credential Manager), double-check those too. Sometimes they get outdated without you realizing.

2. Remote Desktop Authentication Settings
Windows has different levels of security settings that control how RDP authenticates users.
Here are some things to check:

- Ensure Network Level Authentication (NLA) is configured correctly. Some older systems or misconfigured setups may not support it, causing login failures.
- On the remote machine:
- Go to System Properties > Remote
- Under the Remote Desktop section, make sure “Allow remote connections to this computer” is enabled
- Check whether “Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication” is selected — if so, and your client doesn't support NLA, you'll get a credentials error
Try disabling NLA temporarily to see if that resolves the issue.
3. User Account Doesn't Have Remote Access Permissions
Not all user accounts are automatically allowed to connect via Remote Desktop.
To verify:
- On the remote PC, go to Control Panel > System > Remote Settings
- Click Select Users under Remote Desktop
- Make sure the user account you're trying to log in with is listed there
If not, add it. Also, ensure the account is part of the Remote Desktop Users group, or has administrative privileges.
Sometimes even if the account is added, group policy or domain policies might block access — especially in business environments. In such cases, contact your system admin.
4. Credential Manager or Saved Credentials Are Outdated
If you've connected before and saved the password, Windows might be using old or wrong credentials automatically.
You can manage this by:
- Opening Credential Manager in Windows
- Look under Windows Credentials
- Find any entries related to the remote computer and either edit or remove them
- Try reconnecting and enter the credentials again manually
This forces RDP to ask for fresh input instead of pulling from a stored, possibly incorrect version.
5. Firewall or Network Issues Blocking Authentication
While firewall issues usually prevent connection entirely, sometimes they interfere with the authentication process mid-way.
- Make sure port 3389 is open on the remote machine
- Temporarily disable the firewall on both ends to test if it's interfering
- If connecting over the internet, ensure NAT/port forwarding is set up properly on the remote side
Also, if you're on a corporate network, certain proxies or network policies might block or modify RDP traffic.
Basically, start with the simple stuff — username, password, permissions — and then move to more technical areas like authentication settings and network rules. Most of these fixes don't require advanced tools, just a few careful checks.
The above is the detailed content of Why do my credentials fail for Remote Desktop, and how to fix it?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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