Change Your Remote Desktop Username Before You Connect

When you use Remote Desktop Connection to access another computer, you can change the username that appears in the login screen without touching the actual account on that remote machine. The username you enter in Remote Desktop Connection is the credentials you use to authenticate — it does not change the account name on the computer you are connecting to.

The simplest way to use a different username is to enter it in the Remote Desktop Connection window before you click Connect. If you have already saved a connection with one username and want to switch to another, you can edit the saved connection or start fresh with a new one. Both paths take less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • You enter your username in the Remote Desktop Connection window itself, not in any settings on your own computer.
  • The username you type is the account you are logging into on the remote computer — it must exist on that machine and have Remote Desktop permission enabled.
  • If you have saved a connection, you can edit it to change the username by opening the connection file and typing a new name in the User name field.
  • Remote Desktop Connection remembers the last username you used, so you may need to clear it or type over it if you want to use a different account.
  • If the remote computer is on a domain, you may need to type the username as domain\username instead of just the username alone.

Enter a Different Username in the Connection Window

Open Remote Desktop Connection by typing "Remote Desktop Connection" in the Windows search box and clicking the result. In the window that opens, you will see a field labeled "User name" near the bottom. Click in that field and type the username you want to use to log into the remote computer.

If a username is already filled in, select all the text and replace it with the new one. The username must be an account that exists on the remote computer and must have permission to use Remote Desktop. If you are not sure whether the account exists or has the right permissions, contact the person who manages that computer before you try to connect.

Once you have entered the username, type the computer name or IP address in the "Computer name" field at the top, then click Connect. You will be prompted for the password after you click Connect, and that password must match the username you just entered on the remote machine.

Change the Username in a Saved Connection

If you have already saved a Remote Desktop Connection with one username and want to change it to another, you do not need to delete and recreate the connection. Open Remote Desktop Connection, and in the list of saved connections, right-click the one you want to edit and select "Edit". The connection details window will open.

In the "General" tab, find the "User name" field and click in it. Clear the existing username and type the new one you want to use. Click "Save" at the bottom of the window. The next time you open this saved connection and click Connect, it will use the new username you entered.

If you do not see a list of saved connections when you open Remote Desktop Connection, look for a button or menu option labeled "Show Options" or click the arrow next to "General" to expand the full connection settings. Some versions of Remote Desktop Connection hide the saved connections list by default.

Handle Domain Usernames Correctly

If the remote computer is part of a domain network (common in workplaces), you may need to type the username in a specific format. Instead of typing just the username, type domain\username, where "domain" is the name of the domain your workplace uses. For example, if your domain is "acmecorp" and your username is "jsmith", you would type "acmecorp\jsmith".

If you are not sure whether the remote computer is on a domain, ask the person who manages it or check the computer's system settings. If you type the username in the wrong format, you will see an error message when you try to connect, and you can then try again with the correct format. There is no penalty for entering it wrong — you straightforward get another chance to log in.

Clear a Remembered Username You No Longer Use

Remote Desktop Connection remembers the last username you used to connect to each computer. If you want to use a different username the next time you connect, you can straightforward type over the remembered one. Click in the "User name" field, select all the text, and type the new username.

If you want to remove a saved username entirely so that the field is blank the next time you open Remote Desktop Connection, you can delete the saved connection. In the connection list, right-click the connection and select "Delete". The next time you create a connection to that computer, the "User name" field will be empty and ready for you to type a new one.

Troubleshoot Username and Login Problems

If you enter a username and password but the connection fails with an error message, the most common cause is that the username does not exist on the remote computer, the password is wrong, or the account does not have Remote Desktop permission. Double-check the spelling of the username — it is case-insensitive, but a typo will still cause a login failure.

If you are sure the username and password are correct but still cannot connect, the remote computer may not have Remote Desktop enabled, or a firewall may be blocking the connection. Contact the person who manages the remote computer and let them know the username you are trying to use and the error message you received. They can check whether that account has the right permissions and whether Remote Desktop is turned on.

If you are connecting to a work computer and have recently changed your domain password, you may need to wait a few minutes for the password change to sync across the network before Remote Desktop will accept it. Try again after a short wait, or contact your IT department if the problem continues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing the username in Remote Desktop Connection change my account name on the remote computer?

No. The username you enter in Remote Desktop Connection is only used to log in to that remote computer. It does not change the account name on that machine. If you want to change the actual account name on the remote computer, you must do that through the remote computer's own user account settings.

Can I use a different username than the one I use to log into my own computer?

Yes. The username you use in Remote Desktop Connection is completely separate from your local computer's username. You can type any username that exists on the remote computer, as long as that account has Remote Desktop permission enabled.

What should I do if I do not know the username for the remote computer?

Contact the person who manages the remote computer or your IT department. They can tell you what username to use and confirm that your account has permission to connect via Remote Desktop. Do not guess at usernames, as too many failed login attempts may lock the account temporarily.

Why does Remote Desktop Connection keep showing the old username when I open it?

Remote Desktop Connection remembers the last username you used for each computer. To use a different username, click in the "User name" field, select all the text, and type the new username before you click Connect. If you want the field to be blank next time, delete the saved connection.

Do I need to type the domain name with the username?

Only if the remote computer is part of a domain network. If it is, type the username as domain\username. If the remote computer is a standalone machine or you are not sure, try typing just the username first. If that does not work, ask the computer's administrator whether you need to include the domain name.