November 11, 2026

Windows 10 Remote Desktop Your Credentials Did Not Work: Signing In to a Remote PC Successfully

You open Remote Desktop Connection, type the computer name, and enter the same user name and password you use at that PC every day. The reply is “Your credentials did not work. The credentials that were used to connect to [computer] did not work. Please enter new credentials.” When Windows 10 Remote Desktop your credentials did not work blocks access, the password is often correct but entered in the wrong format.

Remote Desktop needs the account name in a form the remote PC understands. For a Microsoft account, that means the full email address, and the password must be the Microsoft account password, not a PIN. Local accounts may need the computer name in front, such as PCNAME\username.

Saved credentials in Windows can also hold an old password and be sent automatically.

Fixing the user name format and clearing old saved slot mahjong credentials solves most cases.

Why This Happens

The error appears for these reasons:

• The user name is in the wrong format.
• You entered a PIN instead of the account password.
• Credential Manager stores an outdated password for that PC.
• The account is not allowed to use Remote Desktop on the remote PC.

Accounts that have only ever signed in with Windows Hello or a PIN sometimes fail until the password is used once on the remote PC.

Start With These Basic Checks

Enter credentials in the right form.

1. In Remote Desktop Connection, select Show Options and clear the saved user name.
2. For a Microsoft account, type the full email address, such as MicrosoftAccount\name@example.com or simply name@example.com.
3. For a local account, type RemotePCName\username.
4. Use the account password, not a PIN.
5. Connect and check whether the error disappears.

On the remote PC, signing out and signing in once with the password, not the PIN, often fixes the problem.

Going a Step Further

Clear old credentials and check permissions.

1. On your PC, open Control Panel > Credential Manager > Windows Credentials.
2. Remove entries starting with TERMSRV or the remote PC’s name.
3. On the remote PC, open Settings > System > Remote Desktop and select “Select users that can remotely access this PC.”
4. Add your account if it is not listed.
5. Make sure the remote PC runs a Pro or higher edition, since Windows 10 Home cannot accept Remote Desktop connections.

A Word of Caution

Use strong passwords on accounts allowed for Remote Desktop, and never open Remote Desktop to the internet without a VPN or gateway. Repeated failed attempts may lock the account on some networks.

Final Thoughts

This error usually means the user name format or password type is wrong. Use the full email or PCNAME\username, enter the password instead of a PIN, and clear old TERMSRV credentials.