How can I send a Ctrl+Alt+Delete through Remote Desktop in Windows 8?

Question

I need to send a CtrlAltDelete to a remote machine through Remote Desktop. The CtrlAltDelete is being intercepted by Windows 8, regardless of whether the remote desktop has focus or is in full screen. I'm remoting in to a Windows XP machine, and I've tried launching Remote Desktop through both the desktop and the Modern UI. How can I send a CtrlAltDelete?

I'd rather not install anything on the machine.

The special thing about Ctl-Alt-Del is that it's intercepted by the BIOS (hardware) at the local machine. So you can't actually send that. You would have to use some other key combination and send some kind of "reset" command to the remote machine. — Keith, Oct 25 '12 at 17:16
What is the end goal that you need to achieve by sending CTRL+ALT+DEL ? — frozenkoi, Oct 25 '12 at 22:15
@frozenkoi My end goal was to log in to the Administrator account on XP. I've worked around it since. — rtf, Oct 25 '12 at 22:24
Possible duplicate of [How to send Ctrl+Alt+End to Remote Desktop?](http://superuser.com/questions/92801/how-to-send-ctrlaltend-to-remote-desktop) — Peter Mortensen, Jun 17 '13 at 06:37

score 502 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 10 '15 at 14:06

502

Try using Ctrl+Alt+End instead.

edited Aug 10 '15 at 14:06

ohaal

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answered Oct 25 '12 at 17:05

Graham Wager

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Good idea and very handy! However in this particular instance I need a real Ctrl+Alt+Delete. This might end up being all I get though. – rtf Oct 25 '12 at 17:07
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I was under the impression that the result would be a "real Ctrl+Alt+Delete". What's missing? – William Jackson Oct 25 '12 at 17:15
@WilliamJackson This pulls up task manager. – rtf Oct 25 '12 at 17:18
I'm using Windows 8 on my Macbook Unibody Late 2008 and I was unable to do Ctrl+Alt+End using my keyboard (even pressing Ctrl+Alt+Fn+Left). To workaround this, I attached a proper Pc keyboard and Ctrl+Alt+End worked perfectly. – edymtt Feb 03 '13 at 19:17
Maybe it works for mstsc'ing to Windows machine. But it doesn't work for me: I want to send it to remote linux. – Andrey Regentov Mar 11 '13 at 08:27
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What if you RDP into machine 1, and then use machine 1's RDP to remote desktop into machine 2. How do you ctrl+alt+del machine 2? – user785179 Mar 26 '13 at 23:37
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@edymtt Just saw this comment... It's Fn+Right for the End button – Canadian Luke Jun 21 '13 at 16:18
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@user785179 on the first RDP session bring up the on screen keyboard applet, and click on the second (inner) RDP session, then click back to the keyboard and press CTRL ALT END with your mouse, which should send CTRL ALT END to the second RDP session. Convoluted, but just got me out of a jam – Matthew Lock Jul 17 '13 at 08:11
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On a Win 8 client running vanilla mstsc rdp'ing into a Win2003 server Ctrl-alt-end within the mstsc window does exactly what Ctrl-alt-del would do on the Win2003 server itself... Solved? – sal Aug 22 '13 at 08:54
This only works if the local machine is using mstsc, Running FreeRDP needs other solutions, the Sticky key one was an acceptable workaround for me. – NiKiZe Apr 10 '16 at 11:35

score 73 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 29 '15 at 10:25

73

If you're using an RDP within another RDP, Ctrl+Alt+End may not work as expected -- it sometimes could bring up the Task Manager / Change Password screen for the outer RDP.

Instead, to bring up the Task Manager / Change Password screen for the inner RDP :

Bring up the on-screen keyboard (Start > Run, type osk.exe)
Hold Ctrl+Alt on the top-level machine and click Del on the OSK.

This should work for any number of nested RDPs.

answered Jan 29 '15 at 10:25

SNag

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This will only work if you are actually able to run a program. In emergency situations when there's no Desktop and no Menu Button, the mentioned Keystroke seems to be the only option. – PoC Nov 25 '18 at 15:32
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Found this useful for a password reset, using Xfreerdp to connect to Windows. – Sobrique Mar 25 '19 at 09:33
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lifesaver if you need "remote desktop" inside "remote desktop" – carl verbiest Apr 02 '20 at 08:00
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This worked for me using xfreerdp through pcoip, thanks! – le3th4x0rbot May 29 '20 at 05:11
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This just pops up a a cryptic notification saying `"To use the commands available when you press Ctrl+Alt+Del, click your user tile and choose an option"` – Douglas Gaskell Apr 05 '21 at 17:10

score 50 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 04 '14 at 19:56

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On a Mac, running OSX, try fn+ctrl+alt+delete

This works with Microsoft Remote Desktop client for OSX.

answered Mar 04 '14 at 19:56

h q

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From there, the 'Restart' option is available under the Power menu in the bottom right corner. – Bill Keller Feb 06 '15 at 14:00

score 19 · Answer 4 · edited Jul 15 '14 at 13:47

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Scenario: Your PC (node_1) and Remote PC (node_2).

Open the onscreen keyboard Start -> All Programs -> Accesories -> Ease of Access -> On-Screen Keyboard on node_2.

When you want to send ctrl+alt+del, press Ctrl+Alt in node_1 and click del in node_2. (Worked for me in node_1=XP and node_2=Win7)

edited Jul 15 '14 at 13:47

Cfinley

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answered Jul 15 '14 at 13:17

salsengsangma

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score 17 · Answer 5 · answered Feb 04 '15 at 16:31

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STICKY KEYS IS THE ANSWER

There is another way which will work regardless of OS and as many nested RDC sessions as you can wrap your head round. With the focus in the inner most RDC session, quickly press the shift key 5 times. This will bring up the Sticky Keys window, and one window for each level of nesting. When prompted to turn on sticky keys, click Yes/Ok for your most nested session, and No/Cancel for the outer sessions. Now with the focus still on the inner most nested session, press ctrl (then let go), press alt (then let go), press delete.

Tadah!

To turn off sticky keys, with the focus on the nested session, press shift 6 times and click No/Cancel.

answered Feb 04 '15 at 16:31

Brian Galea

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This is **not** an answer to the original question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post - you can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient [reputation](http://superuser.com/help/whats-reputation) you will be able to [comment on any post](http://superuser.com/help/privileges/comment). – DavidPostill Feb 04 '15 at 17:15
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I disagree. I don't have win7 to test the solution, but if it works as advertised, it does exactly what the OP wanted. – Dmitry Grigoryev May 25 '15 at 02:28
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Worked for me inside an RDP session within a VMware VM. Thank you! – jocull Apr 29 '16 at 14:32
This works. Seems so damn clunky but, it is Windows. The nested RDP sessions are a pain. You'd think they could make an alternative. – andrunix Jul 01 '19 at 14:57
This was the only answer that worked for me for a RDP inside a VMWare Horizon session inside a RDP (don’t ask why) – bugybunny Jan 21 '20 at 10:00
OMG, this finally worked, unlike all the rest on this page. You saved my life, thank you so much! – RAM237 Apr 30 '20 at 17:50

score 14 · Answer 6 · edited Jun 21 '13 at 10:07

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It is CTRL + F1 for people using Citrix.

edited Jun 21 '13 at 10:07

Sathyajith Bhat

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answered Jun 21 '13 at 08:26

Janaaaa

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score 9 · Answer 7 · answered Oct 25 '12 at 17:12

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It isn't a very quick or graceful solution, but if Ctrl+Alt+End doesn't work for what you need, you can open the on-screen keyboard in the remote desktop, and click the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys with the mouse.

answered Oct 25 '12 at 17:12

Nick Orlando

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doesn't work with Windows-8 (I'm not talking about RDC). On your Windows 8 system, hitting Ctrl + Alt + Del on would thrown a message asking you to use your mouse and click on the user tile:) – agirish Oct 25 '12 at 17:15
@GrahamWager actually suggested this in chat. Unfortunately, it doesn't work. – rtf Oct 25 '12 at 17:16
@AbhishekGirish Does [Anup's workaround work on Win8?](http://superuser.com/a/826064/114388). – ruffin Dec 15 '14 at 14:02
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This works for Windows Core! It brings up a DOS shell with a menu of items. – redcalx Nov 03 '20 at 19:44

score 6 · Answer 8 · answered Oct 25 '12 at 17:15

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You can also try installing Autohotkey on the server, and create a key binding that works to send Ctrl+Alt+Delete without Windows 8 intercepting it. A mini-tutorial is available as well

answered Oct 25 '12 at 17:15

Canadian Luke

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Pretty sure this doesn't work. – Bob Jul 15 '14 at 13:59
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The OP specifically specified 'no additional software'. – AStopher Jan 06 '15 at 14:54
@cybermonkey not specifically, he requested it. Still doable – Canadian Luke Jan 06 '15 at 15:35

score 4 · Answer 9 · edited Oct 25 '12 at 17:37

Hope it will help for Windows 8 too.

Problem

Unable to use Ctrl+Alt+Del feature on remote desktop running Vista OS/ Windows 7/ Windows 2008.

Cause

Problems to use Ctrl+Alt+Del feature on remote desktops running Vista OS/ Windows 7/ Windows-2008 may occur due to one or more of the following reasons:

User Access Control(UAC) is disabled in the remote machine running Vista OS/ Windows 7/ Windows 2008.

Secure Attention Sequence(SAS) is disabled in the remote machine running Vista OS/ Windows 7/ Windows 2008.

Resolution

Enable UAC in the Remote Desktop running Vista OS/ Windows 7/ Windows 2008

Goto Start → Run → type msconfig. This opens the System Configuration Window.

Click on Tools tab.

Locate and Click

on "Enable UAP" or "Enable UAC" option item. This opens a Command Prompt window that automatically executes and runs certain process to Enable UAC.

Close the cmd window when done. Also close msconfig window.

Restart the computer for the changes to apply.

Set the Policy :

Execute Gpedit.msc from Run prompt.

Goto "Computer Configuration" -> "Admin Templates" -> "Windows Components" -> "Windows Logon Options"

In Windows LogOn Option , double click "Disable enable software Secure Attention Sequence" Select "Enable" option and "Services and Ease of Access application"

Click OK.

Source

Good question, I never thought about it. I think in that situation we have to find another solution. :) — avirk, Mar 12 '13 at 03:35
`"Disable enable software Secure Attention Sequence" Select "Enable"` - had to read that 3 times to understand it! — Graham Wager, Sep 19 '13 at 11:22

score 3 · Answer 10 · edited Jul 09 '13 at 14:17

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CRTL+SHIFT+ESC, process manager skips that window.

In the run window for rebooting a windows server:

Shutdown -r

For shutting down:

Shutdown -t

edited Jul 09 '13 at 14:17

slm

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answered Jul 09 '13 at 13:28

user236790

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Due to a weird situation, I had to RDC from my Mac to a Windows PC, and then from that Windows PC into another Windows PC. When the Explorer on the third PC in the chain hung up, this was the only answer that saved me. – Jamie Brown Sep 11 '14 at 18:09

score 3 · Answer 11 · edited Oct 20 '13 at 01:43

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When logged into the remote Windows PC, right-click on the bar the bottom, which will bring up a number of options and one of them is "Show Task Manager". Hope this helps.

edited Oct 20 '13 at 01:43

answered Oct 19 '13 at 23:59

E V Ramakanth

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That's not the only thing you do with ctrl alt delete – Canadian Luke Jan 06 '15 at 15:33

score 3 · Answer 12 · answered Oct 02 '14 at 03:13

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In windows 7 hit the start button on the machine you are connected to via RDP and then click the "Windows Security" button which effectively is the same thing as pressing Cntl-Alt-Del.

answered Oct 02 '14 at 03:13

dgress

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score 1 · Answer 13 · answered Mar 23 '21 at 22:43

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Sometimes if all you can use is a command line, then you can paste

Powershell.exe -noprofile -nologo -noninteractive -command "(new-object -ComObject shell.application).WindowsSecurity()"

into CMD, PowerShell, or even the little program search text box that appears when you click the Start menu Windows icon. This simulates pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del.

I've been on servers where pretty much the only program available is the CMD shell. Makes no sense, but it's true.

answered Mar 23 '21 at 22:43

John Rees

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This works! I am using Citrix and this is the only suggestion that worked for me. Even the on-screen keyboard option didn't work. Thanks – Kent Pawar Apr 08 '21 at 12:21

Samad · Answer 14 · 2014-10-24T00:08:43.217

I also had this problem, with client win8.1 and server windows server 2008 R2. And there was no way to open the screen to change the password remotely because no CTRL+ALT+DEL or CTRL+ALT+END worked both on client and on server. Opening the on-screen keyboard on server also didn't worked and nothing happend. For me, the solution was to open the on-screen keyboard on client machine, then open the remote window and press the CTRL+ALT+DEL set of keys and worked for me.

How can I send a Ctrl+Alt+Delete through Remote Desktop in Windows 8?

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