Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: The logon attempt failed error while connecting Remote Desktop

Troubleshooting Remote Desktop connection issues on Windows 8.1 Professional.

Quick Answer: Check if the Windows Firewall is enabled on the target machine and disable it to resolve the issue.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

The logon attempt failed error while connecting Remote Desktop is an issue that affects users who are trying to access a Windows 8.1 Professional machine using MS Remote Desktop. This error can be frustrating for those who have successfully accessed the machine in the past, such as on a Windows 7 machine. In this guide, we will walk you through the possible causes and solutions to resolve this issue.

Our goal is to provide a step-by-step solution to help you troubleshoot and fix the logon attempt failed error while connecting Remote Desktop.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that Windows 8.1 Professional machines have a different security configuration than Windows 7 machines, which can cause issues with RDP connections. Specifically, Windows 8.1 requires encryption to be enabled on the remote desktop connection.
  • An alternative possible cause is that the Windows 8.1 machine may not have the necessary updates or patches installed, which could also contribute to this issue.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Enable Encryption on Remote Desktop Connection

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Open the Remote Desktop Connection window and click on the 'Options' button.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: In the Remote Desktop Connection Options dialog box, select the 'Security' tab and make sure that 'Allow me to save credentials on the remote computer for use with multiple sessions' is checked.
  3. Step 3: Step 3: Under 'Remote Desktop connection security', select the 'Use encryption' option and choose a secure encryption method (such as AES-256).
  4. Step 4: Step 4: Click 'OK' to apply the changes and reconnect to the Windows 8.1 Professional machine.

Update or Patch the Windows 8.1 Machine

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Open the Windows Update window by clicking on the Start button and selecting 'Settings' > 'Update & Security' > 'Windows Update'.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Click on 'Check for updates' to see if there are any available updates or patches. If an update is available, click 'Download and install now' to apply it.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the logon attempt failed error while connecting Remote Desktop to your Windows 8.1 Professional machine. Remember to always keep your operating system and antivirus software up-to-date to prevent similar issues in the future.

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