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Fix: You Cannot Proceed Because Authentication Is Required
Don’t get locked out of your remote session
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
If you are trying to connect from a remote desktop and are getting an error that the connection has been denied, then this is most likely because you have not authenticated yet.
When you start a Remote Desktop Connection, it will prompt you to enter the credentials of the computer you are connecting to. You cannot proceed before your authentication details have been verified.
The reason it requires authentication is that RDP is intended to be used by an administrator. An administrator can connect to any computer on the network and manage it remotely. If it were left unsecured, anyone could connect to your computer and use it.
This would put the user’s data at risk as anyone with access could take advantage of their details for unscrupulous activities. Sometimes, you may encounter anRDP authentication errorbecause of your settings.
Why won’t my remote desktop connection connect?
There are a few reasons why your remote desktop connection won’t connect. Here are the most common ones:
If you suspect any of the above could be the cause of the error, proceed to our advanced troubleshooting steps.
How can I fix the you cannot proceed because authentication is required error?
1. Check your network connection
Make sure that your computer is connected to the Internet. If it’s not, then your remote desktop session may not be able to connect.
Your connection may also be temporarily unavailable or experiencing issues. Check the status of your connection and try again.
2. Update software
If you are getting this error, it means that your RDP connection is using a version of the RDP protocol that is not supported by the server.
To fix this problem, you will need to update the RDP protocol on your computer. You can install a newer version of the Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client software on your computer from the Windows Update or Microsoft website.
3. Disable firewalls
When you getyou cannot proceed because authentication is requirederrors, it’s usually because of a firewall. The most common firewall is Windows Firewall and the second most common are third-party firewalls.
Your firewall may be preventing remote access. Try to disable your firewalls and antivirus software, and then check if the issue persists. If you are able to access the website after disabling the firewall, then add exceptions for RDP.
4. Edit the network level authentication
5. Uninstall recent Windows updates
Whereas it is always recommended to keep up with the latest Windows updates as soon as they are available, they can sometimes cause problems.
Some updates cause more problems than they fix. One such problem is the RDP authentication error. If you have recently installed new updates, reverse the action and see whether the error persists.
How do I disable Remote Desktop Network Level Authentication?
By default, network-level authentication is enabled on the Remote Desktop client. This means that all of your users must have a valid domain account in order to connect to a remote computer.
If you have not configured your environment to use network-level authentication, you can disable it by following these steps:
And that’s how to solve the remote desktop you cannot proceed because authentication is required error. You may also come acrossthe local security authority cannot be contactederror but our detailed guide gives you a step-by-step process to bypass this issue.
In case yourremote session is disconnected, we also have an expert guide on the same so be sure to check that out too.
Let us know of any additional thoughts you may have on this topic down below.
More about the topics:Remote Desktop Connection
Claire Moraa
Windows Software Expert
Claire has a knack for solving problems and improving the quality of life for those around her. She’s driven by rationality, curiosity, and simplicity, and always eager to learn more about Microsoft’s products. With a background in teaching and reviewing, she breaks down complex topics into easily understandable articles, focusing mostly on Windows 11, errors, and software.
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Claire Moraa
Windows Software Expert
With a background in teaching and reviewing, she breaks down complex topics into easily understandable articles, focusing mostly on Windows 11 errors.
