Reinstall Remote Desktop Connection Jun 2026

If you are missing the underlying services or management tools, you can use the menu as described in this instructional guide : Go to Settings > Apps > Optional Features . Select Add a feature .

Sometimes the underlying mstsc.exe file is still present and functional, but the shortcut has simply been deleted from the Start menu. This is common after using disk cleanup tools or accidental deletions.

To ( mstsc.exe ) on modern Windows systems, you can use the Windows Settings app, PowerShell, or official installer packages . Starting with Windows 11 version 23H2, Microsoft turned the traditional Remote Desktop Connection client into an optional, uninstallable application .

Best for: The "modern" Remote Desktop app downloaded from the Microsoft Store, or if the app opens but behaves erratically.

Return to the menu, type OptionalFeatures.exe , and press Enter to reopen the Windows Features dialog. Scroll down to Remote Desktop Connection and check the box. reinstall remote desktop connection

Execute the following command to register the application package for your current profile: powershell

Once the feature is added, you can launch Remote Desktop Connection by typing mstsc in the Start menu or Run dialog.

What (Home, Pro, or Enterprise) are you running?

You should consider reinstalling RDC if you encounter the following: If you are missing the underlying services or

Wait for the progress bar to finish, then . Step 2: Reinstall the Remote Desktop Client

Search for (published by Microsoft Corporation). Click Get or Install to download a fresh copy. Troubleshooting Post-Reinstallation Issues

Navigate to on the left sidebar, then click on Optional features on the right side.

Reopen PowerShell as an Administrator and execute the following command to reinstall the clean package: powershell This is common after using disk cleanup tools

Method 4: Reinstall the Modern Universal Windows Platform (UWP) App

: Run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt to repair any underlying system file corruption.

Remote Desktop Connection, based on the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), allows an employee to work on their office computer while at home, or for a IT technician to troubleshoot a machine remotely. It is a built-in feature, but it can become corrupted or misconfigured, leading to connection failures. When Should You Reinstall Remote Desktop?