How to Manage Remote Desktop Users in Windows 11

This article describes the steps to add or remove Remote Desktop users in Windows 11.

Microsoft Remote Desktop is a tool that lets you remotely connect to another PC from anywhere. Remote Desktop comes with Windows by default, so no actions are needed. However, you must enable it to use it.

When you turn on Remote Desktop, users can connect to your PC and access your apps, files, and network resources as if you were sitting at your desk.

Users that you want to access your PC must be added to the Remote Desktop Users group. The built-in administrator account with a password and members of the administrator’s group are automatically allowed to use Remote Desktop in Windows 11.

If you want additional users to access your PC via remote Desktop, you must add them to the Remote Desktop Users group, and the steps below show you how.

Add or remove Remote Desktop users using Windows Settings app

As mentioned above, the remote Desktop comes with Windows, so no actions are needed. However, you must enable it to use it.

To allow users to access your PC via Remote Desktop, you must add them to the necessary group. Below is how to do that using the Windows Settings app.

First, open the Settings app. You can also use the keyboard shortcut (Windows key + I). When the Settings app opens, select the System button on the left.

On the right, select the Remote Desktop tile to expand.

On the System -> Remote Desktop settings pane, select the Remote Desktop users tile to open the Remote Desktop Users properties window.

On the System -> Remote Desktop -> Remote Desktop Users properties window, click the Add to add users to use Remote Desktop Users group.

If a user is already added, select the user from the list and click Remove to remove the user.

On the Select Users pop-up window, click on the Advanced button. If you know the user account name, type it in the box and click OK. However, the Advanced button lets you list all accounts and choose which ones to add.

Click the Find Now button on the expanded Advanced window, then select the user account on the list and OK -> OK.

The user should be added to the Remote Desktop Users group. Click OK and exit the Settings app.

Add or remove remote desktop users using the Control Panel

Alternatively, the classic Control Panel app could add or remove Remote Desktop users. To do that, first, open the Control Panel app.

When the Control Panel app opens, go to Control Panel -> System and Security. Under System, select the Allow remote access link.

Control Panel -> System and Security

On the System Properties window, click the Select Users button.

Repeat the steps above to add or remove users from the Remote Desktop Users group.

Add or remove remote desktop users using the Local Users and Group

Yet, another way to add or remove Remote Desktop users is to use the Local Users and Groups (lusrmgr.msc) applet.

Use the search box to search for “lusrmgr.msc“.

When the console opens, select Groups on the left and double-click the Remote Desktop Users group to open it.

When the Remote Desktop Users group properties window opens, click the Add to add additional users or select and Remove an existing user from the group.

Add or remove remote desktop users using the Command Prompt

If you want to use the Command Prompt to add or remove Remote Desktop users, use the below commands.

First, open Windows Terminal and use the Command Prompt tab as administrator. Then use the command format below:

Add a user to the Remote Desktop Users group.

net localgroup "Remote Desktop Users" "UserName" /add

Ex:

net localgroup "Remote Desktop Users" "Grandma" /add

Remove a user from the Remote Desktop Users group.

net localgroup "Remote Desktop Users" "UserName" /delete

Ex:

net localgroup "Remote Desktop Users" "Grandma" /delete

Use PowerShell to add or remove users from the remote desktop users’ group

Add:

Add-LocalGroupMember -Group "Remote Desktop Users" -Member "UserName"

Remove:

Remove-LocalGroupMember -Group "Remote Desktop Users" -Member "UserName"

That should do it!

Conclusion:

• Adding or removing users from the Remote Desktop Users group in Windows 11 allows you to control access to your PC via Remote Desktop.
• Multiple methods exist to manage Remote Desktop users, whether through the Windows Settings app, Control Panel, Local Users and Groups applet, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.
• Following these steps ensures a secure and efficient process for managing access to your PC.