RDP Server Certificate Location

This section provides a tutorial example on how to locate the RDP server certificate in the 'Remote Desktop' certificate store under the 'Computer Account' using the 'certlm.msc' command.

In previous tutorials, we learned how to view and install server certificate presented by the remote system to your local client system.

Now let's see how we locate and manage the server certificate on remote system. May be as a system administrator of the remote system, you want to replace the current self-signed certificate with a good certificate signed by a trusted Root CA.

The first question is then where is the server certificate is located on the remote system? In which certificate store?

The answer is that the RDP server certificate is located in the "Remote Desktop" certificate store under the "Computer Account".

Note that you cannot access the "Remote Desktop" certificate store with the "certmgr.msc" command, because it only displays certificate stores under your current login account.

To access the "Remote Desktop" certificate store under the "Computer Account", you need to run the "certlm.msc" command, because it displays certificate stores under the local "Computer Account".

Remote Desktop Certificate Store
Remote Desktop Certificate Store

If the "certlm.msc" command is not available on your Windows system, you can create a new Certificate Console for the "Computer Account" yourself:

1. Run "mmc.exe" command as an administrator. A new empty console displayed.

2. Click "File > Add/Remote Snap-in..." menu. The Snap-in type selection screen displayed.

3. Double click on "Certificate". The account selection screen displayed.

4. Select "Computer Account". And finish creating the console. The "Certificates (Local Computer)" console is listed in the left panel.

5. Open the certificate console, And open the "Remote Desktop" certificate store. The RDP server certificate is listed.

Remote Desktop Certificate Store
Create Certificate Console for Computer Account

Table of Contents

 About This Book

 Introduction of PKI (Public Key Infrastructure)

 Introduction of HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)

 Using HTTPS with Google Chrome

 Using HTTPS with Mozilla Firefox

 HTTPS with Microsoft Edge

 Using HTTPS with Apple Safari

 HTTPS with IE (Internet Explorer)

 Android and Server Certificate

 iPhone and Server Certificate

 Windows Certificate Stores and Console

RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) and Server Certificate

 Running "Remote Desktop Connection" Using RDP

 Showing RDP Server Certificate Failed Error

 Viewing and Installing RDP Server Certificate

RDP Server Certificate Location

 macOS Certificate Stores and Keychain Access

 Perl Scripts Communicating with HTTPS Servers

 PHP Scripts Communicating with HTTPS Servers

 Java Programs Communicating with HTTPS Servers

 .NET Programs Communicating with HTTPS Servers

 CAcert.org - Root CA Offering Free Certificates

 PKI CA Administration - Issuing Certificates

 Comodo Free Personal Certificate

 Digital Signature - Microsoft Word

 Digital Signature - OpenOffice.org 3

 S/MIME and Email Security

 PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) Terminology

 Archived Tutorials

 References

 Full Version in PDF/EPUB