Quick Answer
How do I change my RDP password?
Connect to your RDP, press Ctrl + Alt + End on your keyboard, click Change a password, type the old password and a new one, then update any saved credentials in your RDP client.
Step-by-step
Change it from inside the RDP session
The cleanest way is from inside the remote desktop. This updates the Windows account password directly.
- 1
Connect to your RDP
Open Remote Desktop Connection (or your client of choice) and sign in normally with your current password.
- 2
Press Ctrl + Alt + End
Inside the RDP session, this is the shortcut for the Windows Security screen. Ctrl + Alt + Del would open it on your local PC, not the remote one.
On Mac, the equivalent is Fn + Ctrl + Option + Delete in most clients.
- 3
Click 'Change a password'
From the security menu choose Change a password. You'll be asked for your old password and a new one.
- 4
Enter the old and new password
Type your current password once, then your new password twice. The new password must meet Windows complexity rules — at least 8 characters with mixed case, numbers and symbols.
- 5
Save the new password somewhere safe
Use a password manager, or update the saved credentials in your RDP client so you don't get locked out on the next reconnect.
If you saved the old password in mstsc, edit the saved .rdp connection and re-enter the new one.
Make It Stick
Pick a password that's strong and memorable
The goal isn't a random string you'll forget. It's a password that's hard to guess but easy to recall.
Pass-phrase example: Maple-River-Quiet-7! — long, easy to type, and almost impossible to brute-force.
Right After You Change It
Three quick checks so you don't get locked out
Update saved sessions
Open your RDP client and replace the stored password on every saved connection. Otherwise the next click will fail with 'wrong password'.
Update password manager
If you use 1Password, Bitwarden, Apple Keychain or similar, save the new password there immediately so it auto-fills next time.
Sign out cleanly
Use Start → User icon → Sign out. This clears stale tokens so the new password is enforced on the next login.
Troubleshooting
When the change doesn't go smoothly
'The password does not meet policy requirements'
Windows rejected the new password. Add length, a symbol, or change a number. Avoid spaces at the start and end.
Locked out after change
Wait 60 seconds, then reconnect using the new password. Make sure caps lock is off and you're typing the exact new value — not the old one.
Forgot the new password
Open a support ticket from your dashboard. We can reset it for you and send a fresh delivery email.
Saved RDP file fails after change
The .rdp file still has the old password. Open it, click 'Edit', clear saved credentials, and reconnect once with the new password.