My Windows Virtual Machine is unable to RDP due to an authentication error

Question

My Windows Virtual Machine is unable to RDP due to an authentication error

Anne M Musau 0

My Windows Virtual Machine is unable to RDP due to an authentication error.

Al-Malik Iban Shehzad 0 Reputation points

2025-09-25T11:06:02.6333333+00:00
Hi Anne,

An RDP authentication error usually happens due to credentials, network, or security settings. Try these steps:

Check username and password – Make sure you’re using the correct format (e.g., DOMAIN\username if applicable).

Verify network access – Ensure the VM’s firewall allows RDP (port 3389) and your client can reach it.

Update RDP settings – On the VM:

Run gpedit.msc > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Credentials Delegation > Enable Allow delegating saved credentials.

Or adjust **Network Level Authentication**: System Properties > Remote > uncheck “Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication” temporarily for testing. **Reset VM password** – If credentials might be corrupted, reset the user password from your virtualization platform. **Check for account lockouts** – Some VMs require local admin approval for RDP access.

Usually, verifying credentials and temporarily adjusting NLA resolves the issue.

4 answers

Your answer

Al-Malik Iban Shehzad 0 Reputation points

2025-09-25T11:06:02.6333333+00:00

Hi Anne,

An RDP authentication error usually happens due to credentials, network, or security settings. Try these steps:

Check username and password – Make sure you’re using the correct format (e.g., DOMAIN\username if applicable).

Verify network access – Ensure the VM’s firewall allows RDP (port 3389) and your client can reach it.

Update RDP settings – On the VM:

Run gpedit.msc > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Credentials Delegation > Enable Allow delegating saved credentials.

Or adjust **Network Level Authentication**: System Properties > Remote > uncheck “Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication” temporarily for testing. **Reset VM password** – If credentials might be corrupted, reset the user password from your virtualization platform. **Check for account lockouts** – Some VMs require local admin approval for RDP access.

Usually, verifying credentials and temporarily adjusting NLA resolves the issue.

Answer 1

Deleted

This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

Comments have been turned off. Learn more

Answer 2

Deleted

This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

Comments have been turned off. Learn more

Answer 3

Hi anne,

This error typically occurs due to one of the following reasons: incorrect credentials, expired password, misconfigured network security group (NSG) rules, or issues with the Remote Desktop settings on the VM itself. First, please double-check that the username and password you're using are correct and haven’t expired. If you're using Azure Active Directory authentication, ensure that the account has the necessary permissions.

Next, verify that the NSG associated with your VM allows inbound traffic on port 3389. You can do this by navigating to the VM’s networking settings and confirming that the rule exists and is properly configured. Also, make sure the VM’s firewall isn’t blocking RDP connections.

If you recently updated the VM or changed its domain settings, it’s worth checking whether the Remote Desktop service is running and that the VM is joined to the correct domain or workgroup. Restarting the VM can sometimes help reinitialize services and clear transient issues.

Lastly, if you're using a bastion host or jump box, ensure that it’s properly configured and that your connection path is valid.

Let me know if any of these steps resolve the issue. If you find this answer helpful, please don’t forget to hit “Accept Answer” so others can benefit too 😊

Answer 4

If your Windows VM is showing an RDP authentication error, here are a few quick things to check:

Ensure your username and password are correct and not expired.

Confirm that port 3389 is open in your Network Security Group (NSG) and firewall settings.

Make sure Remote Desktop is enabled on the VM.

If you're using Azure AD, verify that the account has proper permissions.

Restarting the VM can sometimes resolve transient authentication issues.

If you've recently made changes to domain settings or are using a bastion host, double-check those configurations too.

Let me know how it goes—and if this helped, feel free to hit “Accept Answer” so others can benefit 😊

Share via

My Windows Virtual Machine is unable to RDP due to an authentication error

4 answers

Your answer