Mstsc.exe Will Not Launch File

Check if there is a red notification stating "A custom scale factor is set".

Sometimes mstsc.exe is already running in a hung state in the background, preventing a new instance from opening. Open ( Ctrl + Shift + Esc ).

A corrupted Default.rdp file can prevent the application from opening. Open and navigate to your Documents folder. Enable "Hidden items" under the View tab. Mstsc.exe Will Not Launch

Find and delete the file named Default.rdp . Windows will recreate a clean version when you next launch the app. 5. Update Graphics Drivers

Type sfc /scannow and press Enter to scan and restore missing or corrupted system files. Check if there is a red notification stating

Click , then sign back in and try launching mstsc.exe again. 4. Delete the Default RDP Configuration

If the executable itself is damaged, Windows can often repair it automatically using built-in tools. Open as an administrator. A corrupted Default

If you recently updated to a new version of Windows (like 22H2 or 24H2) and RDP stopped working, some users have found success by temporarily replacing mstsc.exe and mstscax.dll with versions from a previous stable build. This is an advanced step and should be done with caution.