This article shows how you can enable and set up Remote Desktop without a password in Windows to allow connections without authentication.
As most of you know, Remote Desktop is a simple yet handy feature that allows you to remotely connect and control a Windows computer over a network. When I say over a network, it can be a local network or the internet.
Since you are connecting to another computer over a network, the Remote Desktop requires a password to establish the connection. That way, the connection & the remote computer is safe and secure.
Table of contents:
- Remote Desktop authentication error
- How to enable Remote Desktop without password from Security Policy
- How to enable Remote Desktop without password from Registry
Remote Desktop authentication error
However, the Remote Desktop can sometimes cause authentication issues and prevent you from connecting to the remote computer. Some of the Remote Desktop authentication errors include but are not limited to:
An authentication error has occurred. The function requested is not supported.
An authentication error has occurred. The Local Security Authority cannot be contacted.
Invalid username or password.
Your credential did not work.
Unable to log you on because of an account restriction.
The logon attempt failed.
One of the main reasons for the above errors is that the user account on the remote computer might be configured with a blank password or without a password. If that’s the case, the Remote Desktop utility cannot connect to the remote computer due to the Security Policy settings.
To avoid this, you can enable Remote Desktop to log in with a blank password. Essentially, you can enable Desktop Desktop without a password. Here’s how to do it.
The steps below work the same in Windows 10 and 11.
How to enable Remote Desktop without password from Security Policy
To make the Remote Desktop connect without a password, you must change a policy in the Local Security Policy tool. Here’s how to do it.
- Open the Run dialog box with “Win + R.”
- Type “secpol.msc” in the blank field.
- Press the “Ok” button.
- Go to the following folder.
Security Settings/Local Policies/Security Options - Double-click the “Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only” policy.
- select “Disabled.”
- Press the “Ok” button.
- Reboot the computer.
- With that, you can now log into Remote Desktop without a password.
Steps with more details:
First, we must open the Local Security Policy. To open it, press the “Win + R” shortcut, type “secpol.msc” in the blank field, and press “Ok.”
Note: The Local Security Policy is only available for Windows Pro and Enterprise edition users. If you are using Windows Home edition, follow the registry method below.
After opening the Security Policy tool, go to the “Security Settings/Local Policies/Security Options” folder.
Find and double-click on the “Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only” policy in the right panel.
Next, select the “Disabled” option and press the “Ok” button.
Finally, close the Local Security Policy window and reboot the computer. From now on, you can log into the Remote Desktop without a password.
How to enable Remote Desktop without password from Registry
Back up the registry before making changes. The backup helps in restoring the registry if something goes wrong.
You can create and modify a registry value called “LimitBlankPasswordUse” to allow Remote Desktop without a password in Windows. Here’s how to do it.
- Open the Start menu.
- Search and open “Registry Editor.”
- Go to the below folder.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa - Right-click the “LimitBlankPasswordUse” value.
- Type “0” in the Value Data field.
- Press the “Ok” button.
- Close the Registry Editor.
- Reboot the computer.
- With that, you can now log into Remote Desktop without a password.
The steps below work the same in Windows 10 and 11.
Launch the Registry Editor in Windows. You can either search for “Registry Editor” in the Start menu or use the “regedit” Run command.
After opening the, go to the “Lsa” folder by following the path below. You can also paste it into the address bar of the Registry Editor and press Enter.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa
On the right panel, see if you can find the “LimitBlankPasswordUse” value. If you can’t, right-click the “Lsa” folder, select “New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value,” and set the new value name as “LimitBlankPasswordUse.”
Double-click on the “LimitBlankPasswordUse” value.
This allows you to edit the value. Type “0” in the “Value Data” field and click “Ok” to change value settings.
Finally, close the registry editor and reboot the computer. This applies the changes to the system.
From now on, you can log into the Remote Desktop without a password.
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That is all. It is that simple to enable Remote Desktop without a password.
I hope this simple and easy Windows how-to guide helped you.
If you are stuck or need help, send an email, and I will try to help as much as possible.
