Short answer: most authentication failures happen because Windows is using the wrong account format, a service or policy is blocking credential delegation, saved credentials are corrupt, or security updates (CredSSP/NLA/Kerberos) are mismatched. This article explains why Remote credentials don’t work in Windows 10, what causes it, and how to fix each root cause step by step.
You will learn the common reasons Remote Desktop / remote resource credentials fail, concise fixes to try first, and detailed steps (menus, commands, registry/GPO locations) to repair the problem for both single PCs and domain environments.
Key Takeaway
If remote sign-ins fail, start by checking the exact username format and password status, then clear/recreate saved credentials and ensure the Credential Manager service and credential delegation policies allow remote authentication; update both client and server for CredSSP/NLA compatibility if errors reference encryption or authentication failures.
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| Wrong username or domain format | Use DOMAIN\username, username@domain.com, or .\username for local accounts. |
| Account locked, expired, or needs password change | Reset/unlock the account and ensure password does not require change at next logon. |
| Network Level Authentication (NLA) or CredSSP mismatch | Update both machines or temporarily set Encryption Oracle Remediation to allow fallback. |
| Corrupted saved credentials | Open Control Panel > Credential Manager and remove then re-add the credential. |
| Credential Manager (VaultSvc) service stopped | Start and set Credential Manager (VaultSvc) to Automatic in services.msc. |
| Group Policy blocks credential delegation | Enable Allow delegating saved credentials and add **TERMSRV/* in gpedit.msc** or domain GPO. |
| Time/date skew (Kerberos fails) | Sync clocks (run w32tm /resync or set time to automatic) so clocks are within 5 minutes. |
| Firewall or RDP settings blocking authentication | Open port 3389 and enable Remote Desktop under System > Remote settings. |
| Using Windows 10 Home or RDP host disabled | Windows 10 Home cannot be an RDP host; enable RDP on Pro/Enterprise or use third-party tools. |
Detailed Fixes for “Remote credentials don’t work in Windows 10”
H3: 1) Wrong username or domain format
Why it causes the problem
- Windows needs the correct account namespace. Using only “user” on a domain machine may attempt a local account; using “domain\user” or “user@domain.com” targets the domain. Remote hosts may reject credentials if the domain or local context is wrong.
Step-by-step fix
- For domain accounts, use DOMAIN\username or username@domain.com in the Remote Desktop client or when prompted.
- For local accounts on the remote PC use .\username (the dot indicates the local computer).
- If connecting to Azure AD-joined machines, use the full username@yourdomain.onmicrosoft.com or Microsoft account email.
Tip: When using the Remote Desktop client, enter the username like Remote-PC\Administrator or CORP\j.smith.
H3: 2) Account locked, expired, or password must be changed at next logon
Why it causes the problem
- If the account is locked/expired or the password requires change, authentication fails remotely because some remote auth flows cannot complete interactive password change.
Step-by-step fix
- If you control the account locally: sign in locally (or via console) on the remote machine and reset the password.
- In a domain, use Active Directory Users and Computers: locate the user > right-click > Reset Password… and uncheck User must change password at next logon if required.
- To unlock: in ADUC or on the remote machine, unlock the user.
- If you can’t sign in, connect to the machine physically or via management console to change the password.
Tip: Domain accounts often auto-lock after failed attempts — check with your AD admin for lockout policies.
H3: 3) Network Level Authentication (NLA) / CredSSP mismatch or update error
Why it causes the problem
- Recent Windows updates changed CredSSP protections. If one side is patched and the other isn’t, RDP connections may show an authentication error referencing CredSSP or “The function requested is not supported.”
Step-by-step fix
- Recommended: update both client and host via Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Temporary (less secure) workaround: on the client, run gpedit.msc > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Credentials Delegation > open Encryption Oracle Remediation > set to Enabled and Protection Level = Vulnerable. Reboot.
- Better: set Protection Level = Mitigated, update the server, then revert to default once both are updated.
Tip: Use the workaround only short term; always apply Windows Updates to both client and host.
H3: 4) Corrupted or wrong saved credentials in Credential Manager
Why it causes the problem
- Bad or outdated entries cause Windows to attempt the wrong credential silently.
Step-by-step fix
- Open Control Panel > Credential Manager > Windows Credentials.
- Find entries for the remote host (they may be listed as TERMSRV/hostname or hostname), click the entry and choose Remove.
- Recreate: open Remote Desktop, connect, and when prompted enter the correct DOMAIN\username and password, and tick Remember me if desired.
- Alternatively add manually in Credential Manager using Add a Windows credential and entering TERMSRV/hostname as the internet or network address.
Tip: Use the exact host name that RDP uses (FQDN vs NetBIOS) when creating credentials.
H3: 5) Credential Manager (VaultSvc) service is stopped or misconfigured
Why it causes the problem
- The Credential Manager (service name VaultSvc) stores and retrieves saved credentials. If stopped, stored credentials can’t be used.
Step-by-step fix
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc and press Enter.
- Find Credential Manager (display name) / service name VaultSvc.
- Right-click > Properties > set Startup type to Automatic and click Start.
- Test by removing/re-adding a credential in Control Panel > Credential Manager.
Command-line alternative:
- Run PowerShell as admin:
- Set-Service -Name VaultSvc -StartupType Automatic
- Start-Service -Name VaultSvc
H3: 6) Group Policy prevents credential delegation or storage
Why it causes the problem
- Policies can block saving or sending credentials to remote servers (delegation). Without delegation, saved credentials can’t be used for RDP/remote services.
Step-by-step fix (local or domain GPO)
- Run gpedit.msc (or use your domain GPO editor).
- Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Credentials Delegation.
- Enable Allow delegating saved credentials and Allow delegating saved credentials with NTLM-only server authentication.
- Edit each and add a value: **TERMSRV/* or TERMSRV/fqdn.example.com** (use wildcard to allow all RDP hosts).
- Run gpupdate /force on client and server, then reboot.
Tip: In domain environments, make changes in the domain GPO to ensure consistent behavior; avoid wildcards in high-security environments.
H3: 7) Time/date skew causes Kerberos authentication to fail
Why it causes the problem
- Kerberos requires clocks to be closely synchronized (default tolerance 5 minutes). If host and client times differ, Kerberos tickets are rejected.
Step-by-step fix
- Check system time on both client and host.
- To sync time: open elevated Command Prompt and run w32tm /resync.
- If using domain-joined machines, ensure they use the domain controller as time source or set Windows Time service to automatic in services.msc.
Tip: In VMs, ensure host time sync settings aren’t conflicting; use domain time services for consistent results.
H3: 8) Firewall or Remote Desktop settings blocking authentication
Why it causes the problem
- If the RDP port is blocked, the client may fail mid-authentication or use fallback methods that fail.
Step-by-step fix
- On the remote machine: Settings > System > Remote Desktop > ensure Enable Remote Desktop is turned on.
- Open Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall > ensure Remote Desktop is checked for the appropriate profiles.
- Manually open port 3389: Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security > Inbound Rules > find Remote Desktop (TCP-In) and enable it, or create a new rule to allow TCP 3389.
- Verify router/NAT forwards port 3389 if accessing over the internet.
Tip: Prefer using VPN or RD Gateway; opening RDP to the internet is risky without additional protections.
H3: 9) The remote PC is Windows 10 Home or Remote Desktop hosting is disabled
Why it causes the problem
- Windows 10 Home cannot accept incoming Remote Desktop (RDP) sessions as a host; it can only act as a client. If you try to use domain credentials or saved credentials against a Home PC configured as a host, authentication won’t work because the service is not available.
Step-by-step fix
- Verify edition: Settings > System > About > check Edition.
- If it’s Home and you need native RDP host: upgrade to Windows 10 Pro or use a supported third-party remote access solution (TeamViewer, AnyDesk).
- If you have Pro/Enterprise but RDP is disabled: enable via System > Remote Desktop or run as admin:
- reg add “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server” /v fDenyTSConnections /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
- Restart the machine and test.
Tip: For single-user remote support, third-party tools are often easier if upgrading isn’t feasible.
Preventive Tips and Best Practices
- Keep both client and server Windows Updates applied frequently to avoid CredSSP/NLA compatibility issues.
- Use domain accounts and consistent naming (FQDN) when saving credentials.
- Configure GPOs centrally for credential delegation instead of local edits on many machines.
- Use RD Gateway or VPN for remote access rather than exposing RDP directly on the internet.
- Maintain time synchronization across your network using domain controllers or NTP servers.
FAQ
H4: Can I clear saved Remote Desktop credentials from the command line?
Yes — use PowerShell to remove relevant Credential Manager entries via the CredentialManager module or remove specific registry keys for cached RDP credentials. For example, the stored RDP credentials are not in the registry but in vaults; use the Credential Manager GUI or the PowerShell module CredentialManager to remove entries programmatically.
H4: What is Remote Credential Guard and should I use it?
Remote Credential Guard allows the client to protect domain credentials from theft during Remote Desktop sessions by using Kerberos constrained delegation; it’s recommended for domain-joined environments when using RDP to servers. It requires Windows 10 Enterprise/Pro on client and server-side support.
H4: How do I check RDP authentication errors in Event Viewer?
Open Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System and Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > TerminalServices-RemoteConnectionManager and TerminalServices-LocalSessionManager. Look for error codes and CredSSP/Credential Manager warnings.
H4: Why do I get “The credentials that were used to connect to [host] did not work” when using saved credentials?
This is often due to wrong username format, expired account, or Credential Manager entries that don’t match the host name used to connect. Remove the saved credential and reconnect using the correct domain\username and password.
H4: Is it safe to set Encryption Oracle Remediation to Vulnerable?
No — Vulnerable allows older, unpatched clients to connect, which reduces security. Use it only as a temporary troubleshooting step while you update both endpoints.
Conclusion
Authentication failures have many causes, but most are solvable by checking account format and status, clearing/recreating credentials, ensuring the Credential Manager service runs, and resolving NLA/CredSSP or policy issues. Follow the steps above to fix the most common reasons why Remote credentials don’t work in Windows 10 and restore reliable remote access.
