How to Change Password on Remote Desktop: Best Practices for IT Security

Why Secure Password Management Matters in RDP

RDP remains a critical remote access method for IT administrators and support teams, but also for remote employees. However, it is an infamous target for cyberattacks, particularly brute-force attempts and credential stuffing attacks.

A compromised password can grant unauthorized access to sensitive systems, which is why secure mechanisms and monitoring policies must be in place regarding password modification. Cyber risks are magnified in environments with weak password enforcement or outdated login controls.

Implementing strong password management practices is consequently not only a basic network defense measure but also a quintessential factor for meeting industry regulations and security standards.

Common Methods to Change Passwords in Remote Desktop

Changing a password within a remote desktop session is not as straightforward as on a local machine, due to limitations in how key combinations are interpreted across remote layers. Below are standard methods supported by Windows RDP sessions.

1. Using Ctrl+Alt+End

The most widely supported method:

• Within an RDP session, press Ctrl+Alt+End.
• This opens the “Windows Security” screen.
• Click on Change a password.
• Enter the current and new credentials to complete the change.

NB: Ctrl+Alt+Del is intercepted by the local machine. Therefore, Ctrl+Alt+End is the correct sequence for the remote session.

2. Using the On-Screen Keyboard (OSK)

For devices which cannot send complex key combinations (e.g., tablets, thin clients):

• Press Win+R, type “osk”, and press Enter to open the On-Screen Keyboard.
• Hold Ctrl and Alt on the physical keyboard, then click Del on the OSK.
• Select Change a password from the menu.

This method works well in virtual or restricted environments stopping the USB keyboard from communicating.

Command-Line and PowerShell Approaches

For system administrators managing multiple machines or headless environments, command-line tools offer a scriptable GUI-independent method of changing passwords.

1. Using net user Command

Open an elevated Command Prompt and run:

net user username newpassword

Example:

net user admin SecurePass2025!

Requirements:

• Administrative privileges
• Local user account or domain access
• Considered insecure if passwords are stored in plain text.

2. Using PowerShell for Local Users

To update the password of a local user securely:

Set-LocalUser -Name "username" -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString "NewP@ssw0rd" -AsPlainText -Force)

Requirements:

• PowerShell 5.1 or later
• Local admin rights
• Can be combined with secure vaults or credential stores.

3. For Active Directory Users

In domain environments, use:

Set-ADAccountPassword -Identity "domainuser" -NewPassword (ConvertTo-SecureString "NewDomP@ss!" -AsPlainText -Force) -Reset

Ensure the ActiveDirectory module is imported and run the script as a domain admin or a user with delegated permissions.

What to Do When Passwords Expire

A common issue with RDP is login failures due to expired passwords, especially when the user is not given the opportunity to change it at login.

Common Symptoms:

• RDP session is denied with a generic error.
• The client does not prompt for a password change.
• User is locked out despite knowing the correct credentials.

Recommended Solutions:

Enable NLA password change support:
Set the AllowPasswordReset policy in both the RDP host and client.

Configure password expiration alerts:
Use Group Policy to notify users before expiration.

Reset manually via administrative tools:
If the user is unable to change their own password, an administrator can reset it via Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) or PowerShell.

Security-Focused RDP Configuration Tips

Changing passwords is only part of a broader security strategy. To reduce the risk of compromise in RDP environments, consider implementing the following:

1. IP Address Filtering:

Restrict access to known and trusted IP ranges only.

2. Account Lockout Policies:

Block brute-force attempts by locking accounts after a defined number of failed login attempts.

3. Time-Based Access Restrictions:

Permit remote sessions only during predefined time windows.

4. Enforce Strong Password Policies:

Require complexity, minimum length and regular expiration.

5. Credential Monitoring:

Deploy tools which detect weak passwords or login anomalies in real time.

These measures, when combined with secure password change practices, form a layered defense against unauthorized access. Indeed, by implementing proper controls, anticipating expiration issues and integrating password change workflows into your RDP infrastructure, your organization can significantly reduce its attack surface and improve compliance posture. But for enhanced protection and centralised control of your Remote Desktop infrastructure, read on to explore how our RDS-Tools Advanced Security solution can further harden your environment against modern cyber threats.

Strengthen Remote Desktop Security with RDS-Tools Advanced Security

Implementing reliable password change procedures is only one aspect of securing Remote Desktop Protocol environments. To ensure a robust and resilient remote access infrastructure, organizations must go beyond basic configurations and adopt a layered security approach. This is where RDS-Tools Advanced Security becomes indispensable.

Remote Desktop Security, Built for RDP and RDS

Designed specifically for RDS and Windows Server environments, RDS-Tools Advanced Security offers a comprehensive set of tools to harden your infrastructure against modern cyber threats. It includes intelligent IP address filtering, real-time brute-force attack protection, country-based access restrictions and time-limited login windows. Every one of these is essential for controlling who can connect, when and from where and keeping your data safe.

Administrators can also enforce security policies such as working hours restrictions, user and group-level access rules and detailed event logging. These features help reduce the attack surface while improving traceability and compliance. With intuitive dashboards and actionable alerts, security teams gain full visibility into suspicious activity and can respond quickly to unauthorized attempts.

Sleek, Simple and Intuitive, but Most of All Powerful and Instantaneously Efficient

Importantly, RDS-Tools Advanced Security operates seamlessly alongside existing RDP deployments, requiring minimal setup while delivering enterprise-grade protections. Whether you are managing a small remote support operation or a large-scale server infrastructure, it provides the control and assurance needed to keep your systems secure.

For any organization relying on Remote Desktop, RDS-Tools Advanced Security is not optional: it is essential. Investing in proactive protection not only prevents breaches but also reinforces user confidence and operational continuity across all remote access points.

Conclusion: How to Change Passwords in Remote Desktops

Essential for both end-users and IT administrators cyber-safety, knowing how to change a password on Remote Desktop is a critical administrative task; one which must be approached with both flexibility and security in mind. Whether through keyboard shortcuts, command-line utilities, scripting or administrative consoles, IT professionals have several reliable methods at their disposal to manage password updates efficiently.

However, secure authentication is only the first step. In today’s threat landscape, protecting Remote Desktop infrastructures requires a broader, policy-driven strategy. As outlined above, RDS-Tools Advanced Security provides that essential second layer, thus enabling organizations to actively defend against unauthorized access, enforce contextual access controls and maintain a hardened environment for remote users.

By combining technical know-how with robust security tooling, businesses can ensure their RDP set-ups remain not only functional but resilient. Adopting best practices and integrating solutions like RDS-Tools Advanced Security will help your organization stay compliant, reduce vulnerabilities and keep critical systems safeguarded against ever-evolving cyber threats.