How to connect Remote Desktop without password in Windows 11

Remote Desktop connection allows two computers to share data and applications online. It's convenient to access files and programs remotely. Although security measures often require a password. But what if you can connect to Remote Desktop without a password? This article explains how to connect to Remote Desktop without a password in Windows 11.

1. Use Group Policy

Group Policy Editor is a tool that administrators use to set up user access control policies. You can use this feature to disable the password. Make sure you're running Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education Edition.

Note that Windows Home Edition does not support Group Policy because it is a non-domain system. However, you can open the Group Policy Editor locally on your Windows Home device.

To allow Remote Desktop connections without a password, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type gpedit.msc in the text field box and press Enter. As a result, the local Group Policy Editor will open.

3. In the left navigation pane, expand the Computer Configuration policy set .

4. Then navigate to the following folders:

Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options

5. In the right panel, double-click Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only . The Properties window will pop up.

6. Select Disabled and click OK to save the changes.

This will allow users to connect remotely without using a password. If you ever want to re-enable the password prompt, just follow the same steps and select Enabled instead of Disabled in the last step.

2. Use Security Policy

Security Policy is another way to connect remotely without a password. This tool is similar to Group Policy Editor but is specific to the local computer. This means that any changes you make to the local Security Policy will only apply to the local computer while Group Policy applies to the entire domain.

To create a passwordless remote connection using Security Policy, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + S on your keyboard to open Windows Search.

2. Type secpol.msc in the search bar and press Enter.

3. Select the result from the top of the list to open the Local Security Policy.

4. In the left navigation pane, navigate to the following folders:

Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options

5. Now switch to the right panel and double click on Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only . This will open the Properties window for this policy.

6. Select Disabled and click Apply > OK to save the changes.

After you save this setting, it is possible to connect remotely without a password.

To re-enable the password prompt, follow the same steps and double-click policy. When the Properties window opens, select Enabled . Click Apply > OK to save the changes.

3. Use Registry Editor

When running Windows Home, use Registry Editor instead of Group Policy Editor. Registry Editor is a hierarchical database that stores system settings and configurations.

However, be careful when using it because one mistake can permanently damage your system and cause data loss. Therefore, you should always back up your registry before making changes.

To create a Remote Desktop connection without a password on Windows Home, follow these steps:

1. Click Start and type regedit in the search box.

2. Select the Registry Editor option from the list of results.

3. If UAC (User Account Control) appears, click Yes to grant permissions. This will open the Registry Editor on your desktop.

4. In the left sidebar, navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlLsa

5. On the right, double-click LimitBlankPasswordUse. The Edit DWORD window will appear.

6. Change the Value data field to 0 and click OK to save the changes.

This will prevent Windows from asking for a password when connecting remotely.

If you want to re-enable the password prompt, navigate back to the same registry key and change the value data field to 1 . Now close Registry Editor and you are ready to connect remotely without a password.

4. Using Command Prompt

If you prefer command line over graphical tools, try this method. It works like the Registry Editor but is done through the Command Prompt. As this can be difficult for novice users, double check each step. This ensures you don't make mistakes and damage your system.

To enable passwordless remote connection using Command Prompt, follow these steps:

1. Right-click Start and select Run from the menu.

2. Type cmd in the text field and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter simultaneously .

3. If the UAC dialog box appears, click Yes to grant permission. This will open Command Prompt with admin rights.

4. Now type the following command and press Enter .

Reg add 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlLsa' /v LimitBlankPasswordUse /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Running this command will change the value data field to 0 and disable the remote password prompt.

If you want to re-enable the password prompt, run the same command but replace the trailing 0 with a 1 . The command will look like this.

Reg add 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlLsa' /v LimitBlankPasswordUse /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

5. Using the reg . file

If you're not good at editing with the Registry Editor, create a .reg file instead. .reg files are basically text files with predefined instructions. When executed, they automatically change the registry and apply the setting.

To create a .reg file, follow these steps:

1. Open Notepad.

2. Copy and paste the following:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlLsa "LimitBlankPasswordUse"=dword:00000000

3. Now, click File > Save as and set the file type to All files .

4. Name the file no-password.reg and save it to the desktop.

5. Double-click the file to execute it and automatically apply the settings.

Your remote connections will run without a password. To re-enable the password prompt, create another text file with the following code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlLsa "LimitBlankPasswordUse"=dword:00000001

Now save the file as enable_password.reg and double click on it to apply the changes.

Samuel Daniel

Update 24 July 2023