RDP connection is still using cached password to login to my account remotely?

Troubleshooting RDP Login Issues with Cached Passwords

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a powerful tool that allows users to access their computers remotely, making it essential for those who often find themselves working away from their primary workstations. However, a common annoyance arises when users change their passwords but find that their RDP sessions continue to accept old credentials. If you’ve recently updated your Microsoft account password and are still being able to log in with the old one via RDP, here are some potential solutions to resolve the issue.

Understanding the Issue

When you change your Microsoft account password, your local device updates this credential, allowing for normal usage. However, RDP may continue to use a cached version of your password, which can lead to security vulnerabilities as well as account lockouts. This can happen due to stored credentials in the Credential Manager, cached connections in RDP, and sometimes even remnants in your remote device settings.

Steps to Resolve RDP Login Using Cached Passwords

1. Clear Credential Manager: The first place to check for stored passwords is the Windows Credential Manager. You can access it by typing “Credential Manager” in the Windows search bar. Under both “Windows Credentials” and “Generic Credentials,” look for entries related to your Microsoft account and any RDP sessions. Remove any outdated or cached credentials and try reconnecting.
2. Delete RDP Cache: Windows stores some connection data for RDP sessions. To clear this cache, open the Run dialog by pressing Windows + R, type in mstsc, and press Enter. In the Remote Desktop Connection window, click “Show Options,” navigate to the “Advanced” tab, and under “Server authentication,” select “Don’t connect if authentication fails.” This can sometimes reset the connection and prompt a fresh login request.
3. Restart Relevant Services: If clearing credentials doesn’t work, try restarting the Windows Remote Management (WS-Man) and Remote Desktop Services. Open the command prompt as an administrator and enter the following commands:

   net stop termservice
   net start termservice
   net stop winrm
   net start winrm

4. Inspect Group Policy Settings: If you have administrative access, review your Group Policy settings. Sometimes, specific policies regarding cached credentials can interfere with remote logins. Go to gpedit.msc and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Credentials Delegation. Ensure that policies enabling credential caching do not conflict with your login attempts.
5. Check for App-Specific Issues: Since you’re also experiencing the same login issue with the RDP app on your mobile device, ensure that the app is updated to the latest version. If necessary, uninstall and reinstall the app to ensure that no settings are being carried over that may be relying on historic password data.
6. System Restart: Sometimes, a simple restart can rectify underlying issues. After implementing the above changes, restart both your home PC and work laptop to ensure all changes take effect.
7. Contact Support: If all these methods fail to resolve the issue, it may be time to contact Microsoft Support. They can assist in diagnosing if there are issues on the account side or offer further solutions.

Final Thoughts

Having RDP rely on cached passwords after a password change is not only inconvenient but also poses a security risk. By following these steps, you should be able to resolve any issues regarding cached credentials and ensure that your remote sessions maintain the highest security standards. Regularly updating passwords and checking your connection settings is a good practice to help avoid similar problems in the future.