MSTSC

Connect and login to a remote machine using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) also known as Terminal Server Connection (TSC).

Syntax
      MSTSC [connection_file] [/v:server[:port]] [/g:gateway] [/admin] [/f[ullscreen]]
         [/w:width /h:height] [/public] | [/span] [/multimon] [/edit "connection file"]
            [/restrictedAdmin] [/remoteGuard] [/prompt] [/shadow:sessionID [/control] [/noConsentPrompt]]

Options
   "connection_file"  The name of an .RDP file to use for the connection.

   /v:server[:port]   The remote PC to which you want to connect.

   /g:gateway         The RD Gateway server to use for the connection.
                      This parameter is only read if the endpoint remote PC is specified with /v.

   /admin     Connect you to the session for administering a remote PC.

   /f         Start Remote Desktop in full-screen mode.

   /w:width   Width of the RDP screen

   /h:height  Height of the RDP screen

   /public    Run Remote Desktop in public mode. In public mode, passwords and bitmaps are not cached.

   /span      Match the remote desktop width and height with the local virtual desktop, spanning across multiple
              monitors, if necessary. To span across monitors, the monitors must be arranged to form a rectangle.

   /multimon  Configure the Remote Desktop Services session monitor layout to be identical to the current
              client-side configuration.

   /edit      Open the specified .RDP connection file for editing.

   /restrictedAdmin Connect you to the remote PC in Restricted Administration mode.
                    In this mode, credentials won’t be sent to the remote PC, which can protect you if you connect
                    to a PC that has been compromised. However, connections made from the remote PC might not be
                    authenticated by other PCs, which might impact application functionality and compatibility.
                    This parameter implies /admin.

   /remoteGuard     Connect your device to a remote device using Remote Guard.
                    Remote Guard prevents credentials from being sent to the remote PC, which can help protect your
                    credentials if you connect to a remote PC that has been compromised.
                    Unlike Restricted Administration mode, Remote Guard also supports connections made from the remote
                    PC by redirecting all requests back to your device.

   /prompt          Prompt for your credentials when you connect to the remote PC.

   /shadow:sessionID  The ID of the session to shadow.

   /control           Allow control of the session when shadowing.

   /noConsentPrompt   Allow shadowing without user consent.

To connect to a remote computer the user account must be a member of the local group 'Remote Desktop users' on the remote server (either directly or inherited via a global group) in addition the user account needs the privilege SeRemoteInteractiveLogonRight (allow logon through RDP/Terminal Services.)

The command CMDKEY can be used to setup/save the password credentials used by Remote Desktop.

Shortcut Keys

Shortcut keys that can be used when connected to a Remote Desktop:

Windows Shortcut Remote Desktop Description
Ctrl+ALT+Del Ctrl+ALT+END Bring up the Windows Security dialog box - this allows changing your password.
Alternatively run C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{2559a1f2-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}
ALT+TAB ALT+Page Up Switch between programs from left to right.
ALT+Shift+TAB ALT+Page Down Switch between programs from right to left.
ALT+Esc
ALT+Shift+Esc
ALT+INSERT Switch between programs in the order they were started.
Ctrl+Esc ALT+HOME Display the Start menu.
n/a Ctrl+ALT+BREAK Switch the client between full-screen mode and window mode.
ALT+Space Bar ALT+Delete Displays the remote window's Control menu
ALT+Print Screen Ctrl+ALT+NumPad MINUS Place an image of active window onto the Terminal Services clipboard.
Print Screen Ctrl+ALT+NumPad PLUS Place an image of the entire TS client on the Terminal Services clipboard.
This is almost the same as pressing ALT+Print Screen to capute the window locally but removes the Windows chrome and so shows more of the remote window.

If the RDP shortcut keys don’t work - this is dependent on your RDP options/settings.
The window may need to be full screen to accept shortcut keys.

RDP Shortcut Keys

All the RDP connection settings can be saved to a .rdp file, which you can then run from a shortcut:

Save RDP settings

The default settings are saved in default.rdp, you can also edit the .rdp file, the settings while scarcely documented all in plain text.

Examples

Connect to MyServer as admin:

MSTSC /v:MyServer /f /admin

Connect to an ip address with a 1024px wide display:

MSTSC /v:127.0.0.1 /w:1024 /h:768

Connect to MyServer with a 800px wide display:

MSTSC /v:MyServer /w:800 /h:600

Connect using a saved .RDP file:

MSTSC /edit filename.rdp

Error: "Your credentials did not work"

This error can have several causes:

If using a domain account, prefix with the domain name: SS64dom\user64
If the account is a non-administrator, you may need to grant logon rights as described above.
If the password contains any special characters: $,/,\, Tabs etc then copy and paste of the password to an RDP session may not work.
Specific problems: copy/paste will convert TABs into spaces and double $$'s are removed (e.g. Pa$$word1)

“Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong” ~ Thomas Jefferson

Related commands

Q216783 - Keep-Alive Disconnected TS Connections
Q2726399 - Cannot change the DPI setting through an RDP session.
MAPISEND - Send email from the command line.
RMTSHARE - Share a folder or printer.
SHORTCUT - Create a windows shortcut.
SHADOW - Monitor/View another users running RDP session.
SHUTDOWN - Shutdown the computer/Log off a user.
TSDISCON - Disconnect a Remote Desktop Session.
VMConnect - Connect to a Hyper-V Virtual Machine.
Microsoft Quick Assist - Based on the Remote Desktop Protocol, Quick Assist allows for remote viewing and control of another device.
Remote Desktop Services Shortcut Keys - Microsoft.
Equivalent bash command (Linux): VNCconnect or screen


 
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