To send Ctrl Alt Del in a Remote Desktop session, you cannot directly use the physical keyboard combination because it is intercepted by the local system. 1. Use the on-screen keyboard on the remote machine: open it, then click and hold Ctrl, Alt, and press Del in sequence. 2. Use the built-in RDP shortcut: press Ctrl Alt End on your physical keyboard while focused in the RDP window. 3. Configure Remote Desktop before connecting by setting keyboard input to "On this computer" under Local Resources for more predictable behavior. These methods work around Windows' security handling of Ctrl Alt Del to ensure safe remote access.
When you're working in a Remote Desktop session and need to send the Ctrl Alt Del command, it doesn’t work the same way as on your local machine. That’s because the key combination is usually intercepted by your local system instead of being passed through to the remote one.

Use the On-Screen Keyboard
One of the simplest and most reliable ways to send Ctrl Alt Del in a Remote Desktop session is by using the on-screen keyboard on the remote computer.

- Open the Start menu on the remote machine and search for “On-Screen Keyboard”
- Once it's open, click or tap the keys in this order:
- Press and hold
Ctrl
- Then press and hold
Alt
- Then press
Del
, and release all keys
- Press and hold
This method works even if the RDP window isn't full screen. It avoids any confusion between local and remote key handling since you're interacting directly with the remote interface.
Use the Keyboard Shortcut Inside RDP
If you’re already connected via Remote Desktop, there’s a built-in shortcut that sends Ctrl Alt Del directly to the remote PC:

- Press Ctrl Alt End on your physical keyboard
This triggers the same security options screen (like lock, sign out, change password) on the remote machine as Ctrl Alt Del would if you were sitting in front of it.
Keep in mind:
- This only works inside an active Remote Desktop session
- Make sure your focus is on the RDP window when pressing the keys
- Some laptops or special keyboards may require holding the Fn key as well
Configure Keyboard Settings Before Connecting
If you often find yourself needing to send keystrokes like Ctrl Alt Del, it helps to set up Remote Desktop to handle keyboard input more predictably.
Before connecting:
- Open Remote Desktop Connection
- Click "Show Options"
- Go to the "Local Resources" tab
- Under "Keyboard", select "On this computer"
This setting tells Remote Desktop to treat keyboard input as if it’s happening on the remote machine. It won’t always let you send Ctrl Alt Del directly, but it makes other shortcuts behave more consistently during your session.
Why Can’t I Just Type Ctrl Alt Del?
The reason Ctrl Alt Del doesn’t work directly inside Remote Desktop is due to how Windows secures the login process. That key combination is handled at a low level by the operating system to prevent malicious programs from mimicking the login screen or capturing passwords.
Because of this, Windows doesn’t let Remote Desktop just pass through that exact keystroke unless you use one of the methods above — which is actually a good thing from a security standpoint.
That’s basically it. Whether you use the on-screen keyboard, the special shortcut (Ctrl Alt End), or tweak the keyboard settings ahead of time, you’ve got options. It’s not complicated, but it’s definitely different from what you’d expect if you're used to working directly on your own machine.
The above is the detailed content of How to send Ctrl Alt Del in a Remote Desktop session?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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