What is Remote Desktop Connection?

Mac users can clear the dropdown history by using Terminal commands. This method may seem a bit technical, but it's effective and safe when executed correctly.

Is clearing dropdown history safe?

Yes, clearing the dropdown history is safe. It doesn't affect your ability to connect to remote devices in any way. It only removes the list of recent addresses for privacy and user experience purposes.

Can I recover cleared entries?

Unfortunately, once you clear the dropdown history, the entries are permanently deleted. Be sure to back up any connections you want to keep before clearing the history.

How often should I clear the history?

The frequency of clearing the history depends on your usage. If you frequently connect to different remote devices, you may want to clear it more often to avoid clutter. However, there's no strict rule, so it's a matter of personal preference.

Is there a way to automate this process?

Yes, there are third-party tools and scripts available that can automate the process of clearing the dropdown history. Be cautious when using such tools, and ensure they come from reputable sources to avoid security risks.

Clear Remote Desktop Connection Dropdown History

Every time you connect to a remote server or Windows VPS using the native Windows Remote Desktop Connection client (mstsc.exe), Windows automatically saves the hostname or IP address into a recent connection history dropdown list and the local Windows Registry.

While convenient for frequent connections, this cached history can expose internal server IP addresses, ports, and usernames on shared workstations. This guide explains how to clear the Remote Desktop Connection history on Windows (via 1-line PowerShell command and Registry Editor) and macOS (via Windows App and Terminal).

Privacy & Security on Shared PCs: Prevents coworkers, family members, or unauthorized users from viewing the exact IP addresses and hostnames of your private servers.
Removes Broken & Outdated Entries: Deletes expired VPS IPs, old test machines, and mistyped connection strings from the dropdown list.
Prevents Accidental Connection Attempts: Stops users from accidentally clicking old server profiles with outdated credentials.

Method 1: Clear RDP history on Windows using PowerShell (Fastest)

You can wipe all cached RDP history entries and remove the local Default.rdp file instantly with one PowerShell command:

On your local PC, right-click the Start menu and select Windows PowerShell or Terminal.

Paste and run the following command:

# 1. Clear Registry MRU (Most Recently Used) list
Remove-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Default' -Name "MRU*" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

# 2. Clear Registry Server Cache
Remove-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Servers\*' -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

# 3. Delete Hidden Default.rdp file from Documents folder
Remove-Item -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\Documents\Default.rdp" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

When you next launch mstsc.exe, the Computer dropdown box will be completely blank.

Method 2: Clear RDP history manually via Windows Registry Editor

If you prefer inspecting and deleting individual connection entries manually:

Step 1: Delete Registry MRU entries

Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Default
In the right pane, you will see entries named MRU0, MRU1, MRU2 (Most Recently Used).
Select and delete all MRU* string values (do not delete the Default string itself).

Step 2: Delete cached server folders

Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Servers
Expand the Servers key. You will see sub-folders for each IP address or server name you connected to.
Right-click on any IP folder you want to remove and click Delete.

Step 3: Delete the hidden Default.rdp file

Open File Explorer and navigate to your Documents folder (C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents).
In the top menu, click View > Show > Hidden items.
Locate the hidden file named Default.rdp and press Delete.

Method 3: Clear RDP history on macOS (Mac)

On Apple macOS running Microsoft Remote Desktop or Windows App:

Option A: From the application interface

Open Windows App (or Microsoft Remote Desktop) from Launchpad.
Locate the connection card for the server you wish to remove.
Right-click (or secondary tap) the card and select Delete.

Option B: Via macOS Terminal (Complete Reset)

To completely reset all saved preferences and cached connection cards on Mac, open Terminal and run:

defaults delete com.microsoft.rdc.macos
rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.rdc.macos/Data/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.rdc.macos.plist

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does clearing history delete my remote server data?

No. Clearing history only removes the saved IP address and login shortcut from your local computer’s client. Your remote server, files, and Windows VPS remain completely unaffected.

Instead of relying on the dropdown menu, configure your connection settings once in Remote Desktop Connection and click Save As… to generate a standalone .rdp file (e.g. WorkServer.rdp) that you can store in an encrypted folder or private directory.