How to Change the RDP Password? (Step-by-Step Guide)

Windows Remote Desktop allows you to access and control a computer remotely. However, when in a Remote Desktop session, pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del won’t work on the remote machine because the local PC you're on intercepts the key combination.

As a result, you can’t open the Security Options menu or select the Change Password option on the remote computer. Don’t worry! other simple and effective methods to change the password in RDP on Windows. 

This guide will explain how to change RDP password in Windows, using different methods including keyboard shortcuts, command-line tools, and management tools. Discover the most effective ways to secure your remote access today.

How to Change RDP Password? (Steps to Change Password in Remote Desktop)

Changing remote desktop password seems challenging for different Windows users. But, this is quite easy that you can easily change by executing a few steps. We will guide you in this section, on how to change password in remote desktop Windows using different methods.

Let’s explore these methods available for updating your remote desktop password.

Change Password Remote Desktop using Ctrl + Alt + End Keyboard Shortcut

To change your password during a remote desktop session, press Ctrl + Alt + End within the remote desktop window. This key combination is specifically designed to work in remote sessions and will bring up the Windows Security Dialog on your remote machine, unlike Ctrl + Alt + Del, which doesn’t function remotely. Once the security dialogue appears, select ‘Change a password.’

To successfully update your password:

1. Enter the current user password, then type the new password twice to confirm. 
2. Click the arrow icon to apply the password change.
3. After a moment, a confirmation message will appear, indicating that your password has been updated.
4. Click OK to return to the remote desktop.

Following these steps ensures a simple and secure way to update your access credentials while using a remote desktop.

Change Password Remote Desktop using On-Screen Keyboard

If your physical keyboard doesn’t have an End key or you may don’t want to use the above Ctrl + Alt + End shortcut, you can use the Del key on the on-screen keyboard to replace it when changing your password in RDP.

1. In the Remote Desktop Connection window, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type "osk," and press Enter to launch the on-screen keyboard.
2. Hold down Ctrl + Alt on your physical keyboard and click Del on the on-screen keyboard. This will bring up the Security Options window on the remote computer.

How to Change RDP Password by Running Shell

In a Remote Desktop Connection session, you can open the Security Options window by running a shell command.

1. Press "Windows + R" to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{2559a1f2-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}" and press Enter or click "OK".

Remote Desktop Change Password by Executing a VBS Script

This method involves creating a file on the remote desktop. Follow these detailed steps:

• In the Remote Desktop session, open Notepad and copy the following lines into it:

set objShell = CreateObject("shell.application")

objshell.WindowsSecurity

• Save the file as "WindowsSecurity.vbs."
• Double-click the VBS file, and the Security Options window will appear, allowing you to change the computer's password.

Change Password Remote Desktop Using Active Directory Users and Computers

If you're logged into a desktop with Active Directory tools installed, you can use Active Directory Users and Computers to change the password, provided you have the necessary user account access. To change password in remote desktop session using Active Directory Users and Computers, follow these steps:

1. Open Active Directory Users and Computers: Launch the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in on the Active Directory server. You can typically find it under Administrative Tools or by searching for "Active Directory Users and Computers" in the Start menu.
2. Locate the User Account: Navigate to the organizational unit (OU) or container where the user account is stored.
3. Select the User Account: Find the user account you want to reset the password for, right-click it, and choose "Reset Password."
4. Set a New Password: In the "Reset Password" dialog, enter the new password for the account, making sure it meets your organization’s password complexity requirements.
5. Confirm the Password: Re-enter the new password in the "Confirm password" field to verify it.
6. Apply the Changes: Click "OK" to reset the password.

You must remember these points while updating the RDP password using the above method:

Once the password is reset, the user can use the new password to log into the RDP session or any other services that use their Active Directory credentials. For security reasons, inform the user of their new password or require them to change it upon their next login.

Change Password in Remote Desktop Using PowerShell and Set-ADAccountPassword 

To change password remote desktop session using PowerShell and the Set-ADAccountPassword command, follow these steps:

• Open PowerShell: On the device you're accessing through the RDP session, open PowerShell with administrative privileges. You can do this by searching for "PowerShell" in the Start menu, right-clicking it, and selecting "Run as administrator."
• Import the Active Directory Module: If the Active Directory module isn't already imported, run the following command to import it:

Import-Module ActiveDirectory

• Reset the Password: Use the Set-ADAccountPassword cmdlet to change the password for the user account. The command syntax is:

Set-ADAccountPassword -Identity "username" -Reset -NewPassword (ConvertTo-SecureString -AsPlainText "new_password" -Force)

Replace "username" with the target account's username and "new_password" with the desired new password.

• Verify the Password Change: After running the command, PowerShell will update the password for the specified user account to the new password.

How to Change Password in Remote Desktop using Net User

To reset a password in an RDP session using the net user command, follow these steps:

• Open Command Prompt: Launch Command Prompt with administrative privileges on the machine you're accessing via RDP. Find "Command Prompt" in the Start menu, right-click it, and select "Run as administrator."
• Run the Net User Command: Enter the following command into the Command Prompt window and press Enter:

> net user username new_password

Replace the username with the account's username and the new password with the new password you want to set.

• Confirm the Password Change: After running the command, you should see a message confirming that the password was successfully changed. This indicates that the password for the specified user account has been updated.

Remote Desktop Change Password Using PowerShell with Set-LocalUser

To reset a password during an RDP session using PowerShell with the Set-LocalUser cmdlet, follow these steps:

Run PowerShell: Open PowerShell on the remote machine. You may need to launch it with administrative rights for the command to work correctly.

Execute the Command: Enter the following command to update the password:

Set-LocalUser -Name "username" -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString -AsPlainText "new_password" -Force)

Replace "username" with the name of the local user account whose password you want to reset, and "new_password" with the new password you want to set.

Confirm the Change: After running the command, PowerShell will update the password for the specified local user account to the new password.

Change Password Remote Desktop session via Computer Management

To learn how to change RDP password using Computer Management, follow these steps:

1. Open Computer Management: Right-click the Start button and select "Computer Management" from the menu, or press “Win + X” and choose "Computer Management" from the Power User menu.
2. Access Local Users and Groups: In the Computer Management window, expand "System Tools" and then select "Local Users and Groups."
3. Find the User Account: Click on the "Users" folder to view a list of local user accounts in the right pane.
4. Select the Account: Right-click the user account whose password you want to change and choose "Set Password."
5. Enter the New Password: In the "Set Password" dialog box, enter the new password twice to confirm it.
6. Apply the Changes: Click "OK" to update the password.

How to Change Password in RDP via Control Panel

To change your password during an RDP session through the Control Panel, follow these steps:

1. Connect to the Remote Computer: Use a Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) or another remote desktop tool to access the remote computer.
2. Open Control Panel: Click the Start button, type "Control Panel," and press Enter.
3. Navigate to User Accounts: In the Control Panel window, click on "User Accounts" or "User Accounts and Family Safety."
4. Change Your Password: In the User Accounts section, click on "Change your Windows password."
5. Enter New Credentials: In the "Change your password" window, input your current password and your new password.
6. Save the Changes: Click the "Change password" button to apply the new password.

How to Change RDP Password in Remote Desktop Using the Command Line?

To update a password during a Remote Desktop session using the command line, follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt: Launch Command Prompt with administrative rights in your Remote Desktop session. Search for "Command Prompt" in the Start menu, right-click it, and select "Run as administrator."
2. Update the Password: Use the net user command to set the new password. Replace username with the account's username and new_password with the desired new password. Enter the following command:

net user username new_password

Example:

net user sam newpass123

Verify the Change: After running the command, the Command Prompt will display a message confirming the password change was successful. This confirms that the password has been updated for the account.

Conclusion

We explain in this article how to change RDP password. To change your password in a Remote Desktop session, you have several methods at your disposal, including using the End key instead of Del, virtual keyboards, VBS scripts, Shell commands, and PowerShell. Select the method that best suits your needs. Updating your password during a remote desktop session is important for maintaining security. 

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