Updated: April 2026. Tested on Windows 11 23H2 and Windows 10 22H2.
Press the Windows Key , type "Control Panel," and hit Enter. Go to Programs: Click on Programs > Programs and Features . reinstall remote desktop connection
If the classic Remote Desktop ( mstsc.exe ) is missing or corrupted, and Step 1 didn't work, you likely have deeper system file corruption. You can "reinstall" the integrity of these files using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. Updated: April 2026
Since RDC is integrated into the OS, the most effective way to reinstall it is to disable and then re-enable the feature. This forces Windows to reset the associated system files. Go to Programs: Click on Programs > Programs and Features
This guide affects the client (the app you use to connect to other PCs), not the server (allowing others to connect to your PC).