Fix: An Authentication Error Has Occurred (Code: 0x80004005) – Remote Desktop

Fix: An Authentication Error Has Occurred (Code: 0x80004005) – Remote Desktop

When attempting to Remote Desktop (RDP) to a Windows machine, you may receive an error. The error seems to be related to Network Level Authentication (NLA) feature in the latest version of Remote Desktop for Windows.


As a workaround, disable authentication using a new RDP file.

 

  1. Create a new saved Remote Desktop File. Go to Start -> type mstsc.exe to launch Windows remote desktop.
 
  1. Click Show Options in the bottom left corner of the remote desktop window. Select Save As… and save the Default.rdp file to your Desktop.
 
  1. Now, open the Default.rdp file in Notepad. Right-click Default.rdp -> Open with -> Choose another app -> More apps -> Notepad. (Alternatively, open Notepad and choose open from there)




  1. Search for authentication level:i:2 and change the last number to 0. It should look like this after you edit it:
 
authentication level:i:0

 

  1. Finally, add the following line to the end of the file to disable credential support.
 
enablecredsspsupport:i:0

 

  1. Save the Default.rdp file in Notepad.
 

Now, use the Default.rdp file to connect to your remote desktop computer. You no longer have to provide credentials before establishing a remote desktop connection.


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Comments 11

Guest - tobi on Thursday, 17 June 2021 02:15

this is gold. Thanks a lot for this simple solution, worked like a charm!

this is gold. Thanks a lot for this simple solution, worked like a charm!
Guest - Olli on Monday, 26 April 2021 00:13

Thank you very much!

Thank you very much!
Guest - anonymous on Tuesday, 14 July 2020 04:12

Solved ! Great advice

Solved ! Great advice
Guest - Matumbo Mwange on Wednesday, 27 May 2020 15:11

Wow!! Weeks of failed attempts until I found your article!! Much appreciated!!!!!

Wow!! Weeks of failed attempts until I found your article!! Much appreciated!!!!!
Guest - Abi on Monday, 16 December 2019 00:39

Awesome. This really fixed my RDP issue to a particular server. I was getting this error when i connect to only a particular server. I was however able to connect to any other machine except for one. After having tried all the options available on the net, I had given up. This solution solved my problem. Thank you

Awesome. This really fixed my RDP issue to a particular server. I was getting this error when i connect to only a particular server. I was however able to connect to any other machine except for one. After having tried all the options available on the net, I had given up. This solution solved my problem. :) Thank you :D
Guest - Anonymous on Monday, 09 December 2019 10:50

This worked! thanks a ton!

This worked! thanks a ton!
Guest - Patrick on Monday, 11 November 2019 05:59

This did NOT work for me until I added the last line but with "i:0". Therefore, my last line was `enablecredsspsupport:i:2` although I had to keep the first option as `i:0`

This did NOT work for me until I added the last line but with "i:0". Therefore, my last line was `enablecredsspsupport:i:2` although I had to keep the first option as `i:0`
Guest - Karthik G on Monday, 04 February 2019 08:05

You are Awesome. Thank you so much

You are Awesome. Thank you so much:D
Guest - Anubhav Gupta on Wednesday, 23 January 2019 05:57

Thanks a lot!!

Thanks a lot!!
Guest - Dinesh on Thursday, 11 October 2018 00:07

working fine thanks

working fine thanks
Guest - Anonymous on Wednesday, 22 August 2018 13:42

Thank you!!!!

Thank you!!!!
Saturday, 21 December 2024