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In a Microsoft Remote Desktop session, press Ctrl+Alt+End to send the equivalent of Ctrl+Alt+Delete to the remote Windows computer. Click inside the remote session first so it has keyboard focus.
The ordinary Ctrl+Alt+Delete combination is reserved for the computer you are using. Microsoft Remote Desktop does not normally pass that secure attention sequence through to the remote computer; End is the replacement key used by the RDP client. See Microsoft’s RDP keyboard setting documentation and Remote Desktop shortcut reference.
Quick answer
- Click inside the active Remote Desktop window or session.
- Press Ctrl+Alt+End at the same time.
- Use the remote Windows Security screen that appears.
Depending on the remote Windows edition, session type, and administrator policies, the screen may provide options such as locking the remote computer, signing out, changing the password, opening Task Manager, or switching users.
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Ctrl+Alt+Delete is a protected Windows key sequence known as the Secure Attention Sequence. On a local Windows computer, it is handled by that computer’s operating system. Microsoft RDP does not simply redirect the sequence to the remote computer, because doing so could interfere with the local system’s security handling.
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Instead, the Remote Desktop client uses a replacement combination: Ctrl+Alt+End. The remote computer receives this as the request to open its Windows Security screen. This is a shortcut for Microsoft RDP; it is not a universal command for every remote-control application.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection on Windows
These steps apply to the classic Windows Remote Desktop Connection client, commonly opened by running mstsc.
- Connect to the remote Windows computer.
- Click somewhere inside the remote desktop window. This gives the session keyboard focus.
- Press Ctrl+Alt+End.
- Wait for the remote Windows Security screen to appear.
If the window is not full-screen, the client’s keyboard settings determine whether certain Windows key combinations are sent to the local computer, the remote computer only while full-screen, or the remote session whenever it is active. If the shortcut is intercepted locally, switch the session to full-screen mode and try again, or review the Remote Desktop client’s keyboard setting before reconnecting.
Windows App and Azure Virtual Desktop
On Windows, Ctrl+Alt+End is also the documented replacement in Windows App, including sessions used for Azure Virtual Desktop. Windows App includes a keyboard-command setting that controls whether shortcuts are sent to the local device or the remote session.
The client you see may depend on the Microsoft cloud service and your organization’s migration status. Microsoft says the Microsoft Store Remote Desktop app reached end of support on May 27, 2025, and that the Windows Remote Desktop MSI client is scheduled to lose support on March 27, 2026 for relevant cloud services. These client changes do not alter the basic Windows shortcut: use Ctrl+Alt+End when the remote session has focus. Check Microsoft’s Cloud PC end-user access guidance if you are unsure which Microsoft client your service now requires.
Remote Desktop web client
The keyboard combination depends on the device and browser-based client.
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| Client and device | Shortcut | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Remote Desktop web client on Windows | Ctrl+Alt+End | Injects Ctrl+Alt+Delete into the remote session |
| Microsoft Remote Desktop web client on macOS | Fn+Control+Option+Delete | Injects Ctrl+Alt+Delete into the remote session |
Click the remote desktop area before using the shortcut. Browser focus, browser keyboard handling, and whether the session is in full-screen mode can affect the result. Microsoft documents these combinations in its Remote Desktop web client shortcut reference and web-client release notes.
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Windows App in a browser on a Mac
Do not assume that every Microsoft browser-based remote session uses the same Mac shortcut. Microsoft’s current Windows App keyboard documentation lists:
Windows App in a browser on macOS: Fn+Control+Option+Backspace
This differs from the Remote Desktop web-client documentation, which lists Fn+Control+Option+Delete. The correct combination depends on the specific product and interface you opened. Follow the keyboard shortcut shown by that Windows App or web-client interface rather than treating one Mac sequence as universal. See Microsoft’s Windows App keyboard and input documentation.
What you can do after the remote security screen opens
The remote Windows Security screen may include some or all of these actions:
- Lock: lock the remote computer without signing out.
- Sign out: end the remote user session and close its applications.
- Change a password: available where permitted by the account and Windows configuration.
- Task Manager: inspect or end processes in the remote session.
- Switch user: change to another account when supported.
The available choices are not guaranteed. RemoteApp sessions, administrative restrictions, Windows editions, and the type of remote session can change what is displayed. Ctrl+Alt+End opens the remote security interface; it does not guarantee that every security action is available or that it will unlock every remote computer.
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If Ctrl+Alt+End does nothing
1. Confirm that the remote session has focus
Click inside the remote desktop and try again. If you are using a browser, click the session rather than the browser address bar, a tab, or another page control.
2. Try full-screen mode
In a windowed session, the local computer or client may capture a key combination. Switch the RDP session to full-screen mode and repeat Ctrl+Alt+End. Full-screen mode is a troubleshooting step, not a universal requirement.
3. Check how Windows key combinations are handled
In the classic Remote Desktop Connection client, review the keyboard option that controls where Windows key combinations apply. Depending on the selected setting, some combinations are sent locally, sent remotely only in full-screen mode, or sent to the remote session whenever it is active. Windows App has a similar keyboard-command setting.
4. Produce the End key on a compact keyboard
Many laptops and compact keyboards do not have a dedicated End key. The manufacturer may expose it through an Fn combination, a secondary key legend, or a separate navigation layer. The exact combination varies by keyboard, so check the keyboard manufacturer’s layout or documentation.
The important requirement is that the RDP client receive an actual End key along with Ctrl and Alt. A generic keyboard remapper is not the normal solution and may introduce additional local shortcut or security problems.
5. Check for a nested Remote Desktop session
A nested session occurs when you connect through one remote computer to another remote computer—for example, an RDP session inside another RDP session. Microsoft documents limitations in which keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys do not work correctly in nested Remote Desktop or RemoteApp sessions.
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If you are nested, use the innermost client’s visible toolbar or menu if it provides a command such as Send Ctrl+Alt+Delete, Inject Ctrl+Alt+Del, or similar wording. The exact menu name depends on the client. If no such command exists, you may need to perform the action from a direct connection to the innermost computer.
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6. Look for a client-specific command
Some web clients and third-party remote-control products provide a toolbar button or menu command that injects Ctrl+Alt+Delete. Do not assume that a menu path from one product exists in another. Identify the exact remote-access client first, then use its documented command.
Other useful RDP replacement shortcuts
Ctrl+Alt+End is specifically for the remote equivalent of Ctrl+Alt+Delete. It is not a general-purpose way to forward every local keyboard shortcut. Microsoft documents separate replacements for other common actions, including:
| Action | Remote Desktop shortcut |
|---|---|
| Remote equivalent of Ctrl+Alt+Delete | Ctrl+Alt+End |
| Remote Alt+Tab | Alt+Page Up |
| Remote Windows key or Ctrl+Esc | Alt+Home |
These mappings can still be affected by client settings, full-screen status, browser focus, keyboard layout, and nested sessions. Microsoft’s Terminal Services shortcut-key documentation is the appropriate reference for the classic Microsoft client.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Remote Desktop security considerations
The shortcut itself does not make an RDP connection secure or insecure; it only requests the remote Windows Security screen. The broader connection still deserves attention.
Microsoft recommends using Network Level Authentication where possible and enabling Remote Desktop only in an appropriate trusted or managed environment. Remote Desktop can expose remote files, applications, and redirected local resources. Review Microsoft’s guidance for allowing Remote Desktop access.
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Be cautious with unexpected .rdp files. An RDP file can request redirection of local drives, clipboard contents, cameras, and other resources. A malicious file may expose information from the local computer. Microsoft explains these risks in its documentation about Remote Desktop security warnings. Do not install a keyboard utility or system-cleaning application merely to send Ctrl+Alt+Delete through RDP.
What not to do
- Do not press ordinary Ctrl+Alt+Delete repeatedly and expect Microsoft RDP to redirect it.
- Do not assume Ctrl+Alt+End works identically in every third-party remote-control product.
- Do not treat full-screen mode as mandatory in every client; use it when focus or shortcut routing is the problem.
- Do not install a driver updater, PC repair tool, or keyboard remapper unless you have separately diagnosed a local keyboard or Windows problem.
- Do not assume one Mac shortcut applies to both Windows App and the Remote Desktop web client.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ctrl+Alt+Delete work directly in Microsoft Remote Desktop?
Normally, no. Microsoft RDP reserves the native sequence for the local computer. Press Ctrl+Alt+End while the remote session has focus instead.
How do I send Ctrl+Alt+Delete in Remote Desktop from a Mac?
It depends on the client. Microsoft’s Remote Desktop web client documents Fn+Control+Option+Delete on macOS, while current Windows App documentation lists Fn+Control+Option+Backspace for Windows App in a browser on macOS.
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First click inside the remote session and try full-screen mode. Then check whether your compact keyboard produces an End key through an Fn combination. Also check the client’s keyboard-routing setting and whether the session is nested.
Can Ctrl+Alt+End unlock a remote computer?
It opens the remote Windows Security screen, but the available options depend on the remote operating system, session type, account, and administrator policies. It does not guarantee that every remote computer can be unlocked.
The Bottom Line
Use Ctrl+Alt+End in a Microsoft Remote Desktop session. Click the remote session first, try full-screen mode if the keystroke is intercepted, and check the End-key combination on compact keyboards. For Mac users, follow the shortcut for the specific Microsoft web client or Windows App interface because their documented combinations differ.
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