Windows Server 2022 RDP Connection Fix

Problem

  • Our IT security team has weird security setup, which successfully prevented the RDP client from remembering the password, and also caused the following annoying issue

    • RDP connection requires clicking "More choices" → "Use a different account" every time
    • Username not remembered despite saving in RDP file

Solution

Edit your .rdp file with these key settings:

full address:s:xetawsdev85.xemt.dev 
domain:s:XEMT 
username:s:David.Wei 
enablecredsspsupport:i:0

However， for another VM I have on another domain, I have to setup as the following to get it work

domain:s:LAKROS
username:s:[email protected]
enablecredsspsupport:i:1

Key Points

  1. Separate domain and username - don't use XEMT\David.Wei format in RDP file
  2. Set authentication level:i:2 - forces proper authentication (this step has been proved not necessory)
  3. Disable CredSSP support - enablecredsspsupport:i:0 is essential (tested, this is the KEY option!) OR Enable CredSSP support (I don't know why, but some VMs do work with Disabled and some others work with Enabled, if one way doesn't work for you, try another. Also, the username format also matters, some VMs want a short name and some VMs need a full email address)
  4. If you see a certificate warning on first connection - check "Don't ask me again"

Result

Username will be pre-filled correctly, only password entry required.

Comments

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