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Remote Desktop Connection Client

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1

Policy settings in this node control Remote Desktop Connection client settings.

The full path of this node in the Group Policy Management Console is Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Connection Client.

Note

If you are using the Local Group Policy Editor, Policies is not part of the node path.

The following Group Policy nodes are available under the Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Connection Client node of the Group Policy Management Console. Click a node to view the available Group Policy settings.

Available policy settings

Name Explanation Requirements

Allow .rdp files from valid publishers and user’s default .rdp settings

This policy setting allows you to specify whether users can run Remote Desktop Protocol (.rdp) files from a publisher that signed the file with a valid certificate. A valid certificate is one that is issued by an authority recognized by the client, such as the issuers in the client's Third-Party Root Certification Authorities certificate store. This policy setting also controls whether the user can start an RDP session by using default .rdp settings (for example, when a user directly opens the Remote Desktop Connection [RDC] client without specifying an .rdp file).

If you enable or do not configure this policy setting, users can run .rdp files that are signed with a valid certificate. Users can also start an RDP session with default .rdp settings by directly opening the RDC client. When a user starts an RDP session, the user is asked to confirm whether they want to connect.

If you disable this policy setting, users cannot run .rdp files that are signed with a valid certificate. Additionally, users cannot start an RDP session by directly opening the RDC client and specifying the remote computer name. When a user tries to start an RDP session, the user receives a message that the publisher has been blocked.

Note
You can define this policy setting in the Computer Configuration node or in the User Configuration node. If you configure this policy setting for the computer, all users on the computer are affected.

At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1

Allow .rdp files from unknown publishers

This policy setting allows you to specify whether users can run unsigned Remote Desktop Protocol (.rdp) files and .rdp files from unknown publishers on the client computer.

If you enable or do not configure this policy setting, users can run unsigned .rdp files and .rdp files from unknown publishers on the client computer. Before a user starts an RDP session, the user receives a warning message and is asked to confirm whether they want to connect.

If you disable this policy setting, users cannot run unsigned .rdp files and .rdp files from unknown publishers on the client computer. If the user tries to start an RDP session, the user receives a message that the publisher has been blocked.

At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1

Do not allow passwords to be saved

Controls whether passwords can be saved on this computer from Remote Desktop Connection.

If you enable this setting the password saving checkbox in Remote Desktop Connection will be disabled and users will no longer be able to save passwords. When a user opens an RDP file using Remote Desktop Connection and saves his settings, any password that previously existed in the RDP file will be deleted.

If you disable this setting or leave it not configured, the user will be able to save passwords using Remote Desktop Connection.

At least Windows XP Professional with SP2 or Windows Server 2003 family with SP1

Specify SHA1 thumbprints of certificates representing trusted .rdp publishers

This policy setting allows you to specify a list of Secure Hash Algorithm 1 (SHA1) certificate thumbprints that represent trusted Remote Desktop Protocol (.rdp) file publishers.

If you enable this policy setting, any certificate with an SHA1 thumbprint that matches a thumbprint on the list is trusted. If a user tries to start an .rdp file that is signed by a trusted certificate, the user does not receive any warning messages when they start the file. To obtain the thumbprint, view the certificate details, and then click the Thumbprint field.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, no publisher is treated as a trusted .rdp publisher.

Notes:

You can define this policy setting in the Computer Configuration node or in the User Configuration node. If you configure this policy setting for the computer, the list of certificate thumbprints trusted for a user is a combination of the list defined for the computer and the list defined for the user.

This policy setting overrides the behavior of the "Allow .rdp files from valid publishers and user's default .rdp settings" policy setting.

If the list contains a string that is not a certificate thumbprint, it is ignored.

At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1

Prompt for credentials on the client computer

This policy setting determines whether a user will be prompted on the client computer to provide credentials for a remote connection to an RD Session Host server.

If you enable this policy setting, a user will be prompted on the client computer-instead of on the RD Session Host server-to provide credentials for a remote connection to an RD Session Host server. If saved credentials for the user are available on the client computer, the user will not be prompted to provide credentials.

Note

If you enable this policy setting and a user is prompted on both the client computer and on the RD Session Host server to provide credentials, go to the Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration tool on the RD Session Host server, and in the Properties dialog box for the connection, clear the "Always prompt for password" check box on the Log on Settings tab.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the version of the operating system on the RD Session Host server will determine when a user is prompted to provide credentials for a remote connection to an RD Session Host server. For Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003, a user will be prompted on the terminal server to provide credentials for a remote connection. For Windows Server 2008, a user will be prompted on the client computer to provide credentials for a remote connection.

At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1

Configure server authentication for client

This policy setting allows you to specify whether the client will establish a connection to the RD Session Host server when the client cannot authenticate the RD Session Host server.

If you enable this policy setting, you must specify one of the following settings:

  • Always connect, even if authentication fails: The client connects to the RD Session Host server even if the client cannot authenticate the RD Session Host server.

  • Warn me if authentication fails: The client attempts to authenticate the RD Session Host server. If the RD Session Host server can be authenticated, the client establishes a connection to the RD Session Host server. If the RD Session Host server cannot be authenticated, the user is prompted to choose whether to connect to the RD Session Host server without authenticating the RD Session Host server.

  • Do not connect if authentication fails: The client establishes a connection to the RD Session Host server only if the RD Session Host server can be authenticated.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the authentication setting that is specified in Remote Desktop Connection or in the .rdp file determines whether the client establishes a connection to the RD Session Host server when the client cannot authenticate the RD Session Host server.

At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1