# mstsc.exe

Windows Process: Microsoft Corporation

Awọn iwe-aṣẹ wiwa iwe-aṣẹ mstsc, remote desktop connection, rdp client

Windows, System Component

Remote Desktop Connection client. You dey run am to reach another host. E no be Session/TermService on top di machine wey dey receive RDP.

## Wetin you need know

mstsc na di RDP client, no be di host Session/TermService.

mstsc.exe na Remote Desktop Connection, di inbox client. TermService (Remote Desktop Services) for di other PC dey accept di session. rdpclip.exe na clipboard inside session. msrdc.exe na di newer Store / AVD client. To close mstsc no dey off incoming RDP for dis PC.

- **E safe?**: Check the running file path, signature, and publisher. Name alone no fit confirm say e safe.

  **Na im be di RDP host?**: No. Dis na di client

  **I fit end am?**: Dat Remote Desktop window go close

Feex tok say

If I open Remote Desktop Connection, na mstsc I dey expect. I no dey stop TermService for my laptop to close dat window, and I no dey look for msrdc unless na di Store client I launch.

## Wetin be mstsc.exe?

mstsc na di RDP client, no be di host Session/TermService. You dey run Remote Desktop Connection here. Di PC wey you dey connect go dey run Remote Desktop Services. msrdc.exe na different client binary.

## Wetin e dey do?

E dey open RDP window to host, gateway, or .rdp file. E no dey accept inbound sessions and e no dey redirect clipboard by itself (na rdpclip dey do dat one inside session).

## Wetin make am dey run?

You open Remote Desktop Connection, .rdp file, or script wey call mstsc. If incoming RDP dey enabled, na host setting, no be dis process.

## Inspect the running instance

Inside Windows PowerShell, this read-only query show matching process IDs, creation times and executable paths on this PC. (pcm)

`Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Process | Where-Object { $_.Name -eq 'mstsc.exe' } | Select-Object ProcessId, ParentProcessId, CreationDate, Name, ExecutablePath | Format-List`

No result or a path we no fit access is inconclusive. Protected processes fit restrict access, and process IDs fit be reused. Keep personal paths local. (pcm)

Use the [file-identity guide](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/system/verify-executable-path-signature/) to compare signatures and product metadata. A filename alone no fit establish safety. (pcm)

## E dey safe?

Check dis running file

System32 mstsc.exe na di Microsoft client. Any mstsc.exe inside Downloads no be am. To see dis file no mean say TermService dey run on dis PC.

Compare the recorded location with the actual file. A familiar folder alone no fit establish identity. (pcm)

`C:\Windows\System32\mstsc.exe`

- Inbox Remote Desktop Connection
- Host service na TermService, no be dis file
- Newer client: msrdc.exe

## I fit end am?

E dey close dat RDP window

To end mstsc.exe dey disconnect dat client session. Di remote host fit keep di session disconnected. To stop TermService on dis PC na different, server-side change.

## I fit comot am?

No

No delete mstsc.exe. You fit unpin di shortcut. To uninstall di Store Remote Desktop app dey comot msrdc, no be dis inbox client.

## E suppose start with Windows?

.rdp shortcut fit start am. Incoming RDP na Remote Desktop settings, no be Startup Apps for mstsc.

## Measure resource use

| CPU and memory   | Compare several observations for the same PID and workload. This entry get no independently measured universal baseline. (pcm)               |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Disk and network | Attribute activity to the actual process and current task; a filename alone no fit establish expected destinations or transfer volume. (pcm) |

## File information

| Executable name            | mstsc.exe                                                                          |
| -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Recorded installation path | C:\Windows\System32\mstsc.exe                                                      |
| Publisher                  | Microsoft Corporation                                                              |
| Signature check            | Inspect the actual file; this entry no dey certify its certificate identity. (pcm) |

## Common wahala dem

### People dey off Remote Desktop for Settings make dem fit close client window

Dat one dey change di host. Dis process na only di client wey you open. End di window, leave TermService alone unless na inbound RDP you mean.

### Clipboard no work and dem go reinstall mstsc

rdpclip.exe wey dey inside session na im get clipboard redirect. Repair dat one for di host session, no be to replace System32\mstsc.exe.

## How to troubleshoot

Diagnose before you change anything wey fit scatter things.

### Confirm say na Remote Desktop Connection you open, no be Windows App / MSRDC

Open file location. System32\mstsc.exe na dis article. Program Files\Remote Desktop\msrdc.exe na di newer client.

### For inbound RDP, check Settings > Remote Desktop, no be dis process

TermService na di host. To end mstsc on top laptop no dey publish dis PC.

## Technical details

Technical details

| Image name | mstsc.exe                        |
| ---------- | -------------------------------- |
| Role       | Remote Desktop Connection client |

## Check the identity of running file

A filename alone no fit establish safety. Verify the actual path, signature and product identity. (pcm)

## Related

Dis entities connect to dis article. Type dey show for every link.

[rdpclip.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/process/rdpclip.exe/)[msrdc.exe: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/process/msrdc.exe/)[Wetin bi Windows process: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/system/what-is-a-windows-process/)[Check an executable path and digital signature: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/system/verify-executable-path-signature/)[Read Task Manager and compare process activity: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager/)[Windows processes: Category](https://feex.it/wiki/process/windows/)

## Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. [How we dey do research](https://feex.it/wiki/research/).

- [Microsoft Learn: mstsc ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/mstsc)· Remote Desktop Connection client
- [Microsoft Learn: Remote Desktop clients ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/clients/remote-desktop-clients)· mstsc na di inbox client, no be di host service
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on top Windows PCs. No be lab benchmark.
- [Microsoft Sysinternals: Sigcheck ](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/sigcheck)· Dey explain how to check file signatures. Dis reference no establish the identity or safety of any particular running file.
- [Microsoft: Get-CimInstance ](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/cimcmdlets/get-ciminstance)· Read-only local process-query method. (pcm)
- [Microsoft: Win32_Process properties ](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/cimwin32prov/win32-process)· Documents process IDs, executable paths, creation dates and parent-ID reuse. (pcm)

## Dis article make sense to you?

Yes or no dey enough. Choose reason if you want, or add short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of dis page. Specs, sources, and the full story still dey inside the article.

- **Type**: Windows Process

  **Publisher**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Executable**: mstsc.exe

  **Typical path**: C:\Windows\System32\mstsc.exe

  **Record context**: Feex Wiki reference entry

Recorded source status: Feex Reviewed: Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification.

---

Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/process/mstsc.exe/)

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