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How to CTRL+ALT+Delete in Remote Desktop

How to CTRL+ALT+Delete in Remote Desktop

By Mitch Bartlett 38 Comments

You may want to learn how to CTRL+ALT+Delete in Remote Desktop if you want to change a password, lock the RDP screen, or log off. The CTRL+ALT+Delete keystroke won’t work  though since your own operating system utilizes it. So, what is a poor tech who needs to access that screen to do when remoted in via a Remote Desktop session?

Method 1

  • In RDP, the “CTRL” + “ALT” + “End” combination will work.

If you have trouble finding the “End” key, it is normally located to the right of the “Enter” key. If you’re using a small keyboard on a laptop, you may have to hold down a function key to utilize it.
CTRL-ALT-DEL Screen in RDP

The key combination will also work in older Terminal Server sessions.

Method 2

  1. On the Remote Desktop, select “Start“.
  2. Type “osk“, then open the “On Screen Keyboard“.
  3. Press “Ctrl” and “Alt” on the physical keyboard, then select “Del” on the osk window..

Other Solutions

It should be noted that you aren’t limited to using this key combination if you want to do any of the options available on this screen. Here are some other options:

  • To change your password, you could go to “Control Panel” > “User Accounts”  > “Change your windows password“. In Windows 10, 7, 8, 2008, 2012, 2016, and Vista, you can simply select “Start” and type “change password” to access the option.
  • To access Task Manager, you could right-click the time on the taskbar and select Task Manager.
  • You can usually log off by selecting “Start” > “Log off“.
  • To lock the computer, you can create an icon.

Have any better shortcuts for these options in an RDP session? Please share them in the Comments section.

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Comments

  2. fasz says

    Thanks man, I didn’t know about the ctrl alt end screen, not even sure what that is supposed to be, but it wasn’t caught by the outside Win10, so it’s fine.
    It’s very much annoying that when you write “password” into Start, it’ll bring up “Change your password”, and you can’t change your password on that page. How misleading that is!

  4. Maria C. says

    Method 2 is great, with On Screen Keyboard > Ctrl+Alt and “Del” on the osk window!
    I didn’t know about this option, “On Screen Keyboard”.
    Thank you so much for this awesome information, it was really helpful!

  7. JOHN D. MORGAN says

    The method listed under “Other Solutions” does NOT work for Remote Desktop in Windows 10. In Windows 10, there is no way to open up the Change Password screen ON THE REMOTE COMPUTER by clicking on a link or button. CTRL-ALT-DEL/Change Password will change the password on the LOCAL computer NOT the REMOTE computer. The ONLY way to change the password on the REMOTE computer is using the On-Screen Keyboard.

  10. SimonTemplar240 says

    This was exactly what I need to find! It saved me a trip into the office, which, as you may imagine, I am trying to avoid. Thanks tremendously!

  11. Mavrick says

    Run the shell
    You can directly launch the shell to get the Windows Security Options displayed. To do so, open the Run-box or open a command prompt and copy-paste:

    C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{2559a1f2-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}

  12. Joshi naveen says

    thank you so much this commend is very useful

    On the Remote Desktop, select “Start“.
    Type “osk“, then open the “On Screen Keyboard“.
    Press “Ctrl” and “Alt” on the physical keyboard, then select “Del” on the osk window..

  14. Jon says

    For Mac users:

    1) left click on an empty part of the desktop (like your desktop background); and

    2) press function + option + F4

    This will bring up a new menu in a popup that allows you to trigger a restart of the computer.

  17. Trev says

    You should also add instructions for how to do a Ctrl-Alt-Del equivalent when running the RDP Remote Desktop to a windows machine from a Mac

  24. Maracine Ion says

    Hello everybody! It works for by the Method 1. Thank you very much! You are great people, with great heart! Because you sent time posting very useful tricks to help other people in need!
    God bless you all!
    A Happy New Year for you and your beloved! :)

  27. Klaus Schulze says

    If Ctrl-Alt-Del and Ctrl-Alt-End don’t do, try Ctrl-Alt-Insert (worked in a VMware Horizon browser session).

  28. Geoff Crompton says

    Nice. Method 2 worked for me. Literally nothing happened when pressing ctrl alt end, or ctrl alt insert
    Thanks!!

  32. shanthi says

    i am missed the remote desk top connection administrator password
    my system ctl+alt + del format no change please help me

  37. Jean-Claude DuBois says

    Ctrl-Alt-End.. Wow.. I’ve supported Windows for years, and never knew about that shortcut.

    Proof even an old timer (me) can learn new tricks.

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