Reinstall Remote Desktop Connection

But what do you do when the mstsc command fails, the client disappears, or it starts throwing errors? While reinstalling the Remote Desktop Connection often isn't as straightforward as reinstalling a standard app, this guide provides every method you need to restore it, from simple GUI fixes to advanced command-line solutions.

Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object $_.Name -like "*RemoteDesktop*" | Add-WindowsCapability -Online Use code with caution.

Click the three dots (⋮) on the right side and select . reinstall remote desktop connection

But here is the catch: on modern versions of Windows (Windows 10 and 11), you cannot simply download an installer from Microsoft.com and click "Setup." RDC is now a built-in or App Package . Reinstalling it is a multi-layered process.

This method works universally for Windows 10 and 11 and relies on the operating system's ability to repair and re-add Windows features. It's a particularly effective method if your client is damaged but not completely removed. But what do you do when the mstsc

According to Microsoft Learn , follow these steps to fresh-install the client:

Click on , then select Optional features (on Windows 11, this may be under Apps > Installed apps or More Windows features ). Click the three dots (⋮) on the right side and select

It clears the app cache, resets settings to default, and repairs the app installation without needing to download a new package. This solves 80% of all "reinstall" needs.

If your Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) client is crashing, failing to connect, or missing entirely, you typically do not need to download a new installer. Windows treats RDC as a core system component.