Where Does Remote Desktop Store Connection History?
mstsc connection history in the registry plus the Default.rdp file, and how to clear both.
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Remote Desktop Connection keeps history in two places. The most recently used computer names live as numbered values in the registry under Terminal Server Client, with per host details like username hints in a Servers subkey. The last session's full settings live separately in a hidden Default.rdp file in Documents.
Neither location is shown in the client UI beyond the computer dropdown. That dropdown reads the registry MRU directly, which is why deleting Default.rdp alone never clears the suggested hosts. Privacy cleanups must hit both spots with mstsc closed.
Where Remote Desktop stores this, by platform
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client
MRU entries are values MRU0 through MRU9 under Default. Per host data sits in Servers\[hostname], including the UsernameHint value. Default.rdp in Documents holds the last session settings as a hidden file. Close mstsc before editing any of it.
Frequently asked questions
how do i clear remote desktop connection history
Delete the numbered MRU values under the Default key and remove any per host entries under Servers you no longer need. The next connection recreates fresh entries, so the client never breaks from a cleanup.
can i delete default.rdp safely
Yes, with the client closed. Default.rdp in Documents stores the last session's display, audio and device settings, and mstsc regenerates it. Per host usernames in the Servers key survive a Default.rdp deletion, so clear both for a full reset.
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