Where your Remote Desktop credentials live
Your Remote Desktop username and password are not stored in one central place on your computer — they live in different locations depending on how you set them up and what you use them for. If you set up Remote Desktop to connect to another computer on your home network or at work, Windows stores those credentials in the Credential Manager. If you use Remote Desktop to connect to a cloud service like Azure or a virtual machine, the credentials might be in your email, a password manager, or a setup document from your IT department.
The most common scenario is that you created a local Windows account on your computer, and that username and password are what you use to log in every day. That same username and password work for Remote Desktop connections to that computer. If you cannot remember it, you have options to reset it or find it, but the path depends on whether you are locked out or just need a reminder.
Key Takeaways
- Your Remote Desktop username is usually your Windows account name, which you can find in Settings under Accounts or by opening Command Prompt and typing whoami.
- Windows Credential Manager stores saved Remote Desktop passwords, but only shows you a masked version — you cannot view the actual password once it is saved.
- If you forgot your password and are locked out of your computer, you will need to reset it through your Microsoft account or use a password reset disk if you created one beforehand.
- For work or cloud-based Remote Desktop connections, contact your IT department or check your email for setup instructions that contain the credentials.
- If you saved a Remote Desktop connection file (.rdp), you can open it in Notepad to see the username, but the password is encrypted and cannot be viewed.
Finding your username on your own computer
The easiest way to find your Windows username is to look at the bottom left of your screen. When you are logged in, your account name appears in the Start menu. Click the Start button, then look at the top of the menu — your username is displayed there with your profile picture.
If you want to confirm it another way, open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then go to Accounts and click Your info. Your account name appears at the top of that page. You can also open Command Prompt by pressing Windows key + R, typing cmd, and pressing Enter. Type whoami and press Enter — the command will display your username in the format COMPUTERNAME\username.
Checking Credential Manager for saved passwords
If you previously saved your Remote Desktop password when connecting to another computer, Windows stored it in Credential Manager. Open Credential Manager by pressing Windows key + R, typing control /name Microsoft.CredentialManager, and pressing Enter. You can also search for "Credential Manager" in the Start menu.
In Credential Manager, click Windows Credentials. Look for entries that start with "RDP/" or contain the name of the computer you connected to remotely. Click on one to expand it. You will see the username displayed, but the password appears as a series of dots — Windows does not let you view saved passwords for security reasons. If you need the actual password, you will have to reset it on the remote computer or contact the person who manages that computer.
Resetting your password if you are locked out
If you cannot remember your Windows password and are locked out of your computer, the reset process depends on what type of account you have. If your account is linked to a Microsoft account (you log in with an email address), go to account.microsoft.com from another device, click Security, and select Change password. You will need to verify your identity by entering a code sent to your email or phone. Once you reset it, that new password works for Remote Desktop connections to your computer as well.
If you have a local account (a username without an email address), resetting the password is harder. You can try using a password reset disk if you created one before you forgot the password. Insert the disk, click Reset password on the login screen, and follow the wizard. If you did not create a reset disk, you will need to contact your IT department if this is a work computer, or use Windows installation media to reset the password — this is a technical process that requires some computer knowledge.
Finding credentials for work or cloud connections
If you use Remote Desktop to connect to a work computer or a virtual machine in the cloud, your IT department or the service provider gave you those credentials when you set up the connection. Check your email for a setup message that contains a username and temporary password. Many organizations send this in a separate email for security reasons, or they provide a link where you can set your own password.
If you cannot find the original email, contact your IT help desk or your manager. They can reset your Remote Desktop password or send you the setup information again. Do not ask a coworker for their credentials — each person should have their own username and password so that actions on the remote computer can be traced back to the person who performed them.
Reading the username from a saved .rdp file
If you have a Remote Desktop connection file (a file ending in .rdp) saved on your computer, you can open it with Notepad to see the username. Right-click the .rdp file, select Open with, and choose Notepad. Look for a line that says username:s: followed by the username. The password is also stored in this file, but it is encrypted and will appear as random characters — you cannot read it in plain text.
If you need to change the username or password in the .rdp file, you can edit the username line directly in Notepad and save the file. To change the password, it is easier to open the .rdp file normally (double-click it), enter the new password when prompted, and check the box to save the credentials. Windows will encrypt and store the new password in the file.
What to do if you still cannot find your credentials
If you have tried all the steps above and still cannot locate your username or password, write down what you do know: the name of the computer you are trying to connect to, whether it is a work computer or personal computer, and when you last successfully connected. This information helps whoever you ask for help narrow down the problem.
For a personal computer on your home network, restart the computer and try logging in with any password you remember using. If that does not work, use the password reset process described above. For a work computer, contact your IT help desk with the computer name and your employee ID. For a cloud service, contact the service provider's support team — they can verify your identity and help you reset your credentials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my Remote Desktop password after I save it?
No. Once Windows saves a Remote Desktop password in Credential Manager, it encrypts it and does not show you the actual password. You can see the username, but the password remains hidden. If you need to change it, you have to reset the password on the remote computer itself.
Is my Remote Desktop username the same as my email address?
Not always. If you have a Microsoft account, your username might be your email address, but it could also be a shorter name you chose. Check Settings under Accounts to see exactly what your account name is. For work computers, your username is usually something your IT department assigned, which may or may not match your email.
What if I forgot my password and do not have a reset disk?
If your account is a Microsoft account, reset it at account.microsoft.com from another device. If it is a local account, contact your IT department if it is a work computer. For a personal computer, you may need to use Windows installation media or a recovery tool, which requires technical steps.
Can I change my Remote Desktop password without resetting my Windows password?
Your Remote Desktop password is your Windows password — they are the same thing. If you change your Windows password, the change applies to Remote Desktop connections as well. Change your password in Settings under Accounts, or press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select Change a password.
Who should I contact if this is a work computer?
Contact your IT help desk or IT department. They have tools to reset your password and can verify your identity. Provide them with your employee ID and the name of the computer you are trying to connect to.