Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows

information   Information
You can use the Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc.exe) or Microsoft Remote Desktop app to connect to and control your Windows PC from a remote device. When you allow remote desktop connections to your PC, you can use another device to connect to your PC and have access to all of your apps, files, and network resources as if you were sitting at your desk.

In Windows, you can save the settings of a selected Remote Desktop connection to an RDP as a backup. You will then be able to open the saved RDP file on demand to quickly connect remotely to the computer using the same settings from when the RDP file was saved.

This tutorial will show you how to save the settings of a specific Remote Desktop connection to an RDP file as a backup and open as needed in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
Note   Note
You must enable Remote Desktop on a PC to allow remote connections to the PC.

The Remote Desktop client does not support connecting to the Windows editions below. See: Supported PCs
  • Windows 7 Starter
  • Windows 7 Home
  • Windows 8 Home
  • Windows 8.1 Home
  • Windows 10 Home
warning   Warning
Saving the settings of a Remote Desktop connection will not include its credentials.

CONTENTS:
  • Option One: To Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File
  • Option Two: To Open Saved Remote Desktop Connection in Remote Desktop Connection Client
  • Option Three: To Open Saved Remote Desktop Connection Directly from RDP File


EXAMPLE: Remote Desktop Connection settings
Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-rdc_settings-1.png Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-rdc_settings-2.png Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-rdc_settings-3.png
Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-rdc_settings-4.png Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-rdc_settings-5.png






OPTION ONE

To Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File


1. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type mstsc into Run, and click/tap on OK to open the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) client.

2. Select the computer (ex: "Brink-Laptop") you want to save its connection settings for, and click/tap on Show Options in the Remote Desktop Connection client. (see screenshot below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-save_rdc_settings-1.png

3. Click/tap on the Save As button in the "Connection settings" section. (see screenshot below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-save_rdc_settings-2.png

4. Navigate to where you want to save the RDP file at, type a File name (ex: "Brink-Laptop.rdp") you want, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshot below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-save_rdc_settings-3.png

5. The selected connection settings will now be saved to an RDP file. (see screenshot below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-save_rdc_settings-4.jpg






OPTION TWO

To Open Saved Remote Desktop Connection in Remote Desktop Connection Client


1. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type mstsc into Run, and click/tap on OK to open the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) tool.

2. Click/tap on Show Options in the Remote Desktop Connection tool. (see screenshot below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-restore_rdc_settings-1.png

3. Click/tap on the Open button in the "Connection settings" section. (see screenshot below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-restore_rdc_settings-2.png

4. Navigate to and select the saved RDP file (ex: "Brink-Laptop.rdp") for the connection you want to open, and click/tap on Open. (see screenshot below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-restore_rdc_settings-3.png

5. Click/tap on Connect. (see screenshots below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-restore_rdc_settings-4a.png Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-restore_rdc_settings-4.png

6. If prompted, check or uncheck the Don't ask me again for connections on this computer box for what you want, and click/tap on Connect. (see screenshot below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-publisher_of_remote_connection.png

7. If prompted, enter the credentials to connect remotely to the computer, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-save_rdc_settings-5.png Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-save_rdc_settings-6.png






OPTION THREE

To Open Saved Remote Desktop Connection Directly from RDP File


1. Open File Explorer (Win+E).

2. Navigate to where you saved the RDP file (ex: "Brink-Laptop.rdp") for the connection you want to open, and click/tap on the RDP file. (see screenshot below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-save_rdc_settings-4.jpg

3. If prompted, check or uncheck the Don't ask me again for connections on this computer box for what you want, and click/tap on Connect. (see screenshot below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-publisher_of_remote_connection.png

4. If prompted, enter the credentials to connect remotely to the computer, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below)

Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-save_rdc_settings-5.png Save Remote Desktop Connection Settings to RDP File in Windows-save_rdc_settings-6.png


That's it,
Shawn


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