What is the RDP file format?
A .rdp file stores remote connection configuration parameters for Remote Desktop Protocol sessions. It is a plain-text file where each line follows the pattern name:type:value - for example, full address:s:server.example.com or screen mode id:i:2 - and can be opened or edited with any text editor.
What do .rdp files contain?
Besides server address and authentication data, .rdp files store information such as:
- Remote Desktop window size and screen mode,
- color depth,
- custom keyboard shortcuts,
- automatic disk mounting, printer redirection, and port numbers,
- programs to be launched after the connection has been established.
Multiple .rdp files
.rdp files are saved in the *Documents* folder by default when using Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc.exe) on Windows. When connecting to more than one remote machine, the folder may contain multiple .rdp files with different settings for each connection. For grouping many connections into one place, Microsoft also supports .rdg group files.
.rdp files and different operating systems
Remote Desktop Protocol is not limited to Windows - Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS support it too, through clients such as Remmina and xfreerdp. Each platform stores .rdp files in its own system-specific location.
Security & safety
RISK: MEDIUMThe danger with .rdp is social engineering, not the format. Attackers email malicious .rdp files (notably in 2024 campaigns) configured to silently redirect your local drives, clipboard and devices to an attacker-controlled server the moment you connect - exposing your data. Treat unexpected .rdp attachments like any other attachment: never open one you didn't request, and before connecting, right-click → Edit (or open in Notepad) to check the 'full address' and the redirect settings. The "unknown publisher" warning on double-click is normal for unsigned .rdp files but should make you verify the source.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open RDP files
Windows2 apps
Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc.exe)
Built-in Double-click the .rdp to launch Remote Desktop and connect; or right-click → Edit to change settings.
Notepad / any text editor
Built-in Right-click → Open with → Notepad to read or edit the connection parameters directly. 
macOS1 app
Windows App (Microsoft Remote Desktop)
Free Open the .rdp to import the connection, then click to connect to the Windows host. 
Linux2 apps
Android1 app
Windows App (Microsoft Remote Desktop)
Free Import the .rdp file to add the PC, then tap to connect.
Windows App (Microsoft Remote Desktop)
Free Open the .rdp in the app to add the connection, then tap to connect. Technical details
deep spec| Format type | Plain-text; each line follows the pattern name:type:value |
| Developer | Microsoft Corporation |
| MIME type | application/x-rdp |
| Text encoding | UTF-8 or UTF-16 LE; files saved by mstsc.exe on Windows typically use UTF-16 LE with a byte-order mark (BOM) |
| Value type tokens | s (string), i (integer), b (binary blob encoded as hex byte pairs) |
| Mandatory host key | full address:s: - specifies the target server hostname or IP address |
| Screen mode control | screen mode id:i: set to 1 (windowed) or 2 (full-screen); resolution governed by desktopwidth:i: and desktopheight:i: |
| Color depth | session bpp:i: - supports 8, 15, 16, 24, or 32 bits per pixel |
| Authentication settings | username:s:, domain:s:, and authentication level:i: (0 = no check, 1 = warn, 2 = require NLA) |
| Device redirection | Separate keys toggle drives (drivestoredirect:s:), printers (redirectprinters:i:), clipboard (redirectclipboard:i:), and audio (audiomode:i:) |
| RD Gateway tunneling | gatewayhostname:s: and gatewayusagemethod:i: route connections through a Remote Desktop Gateway server |
| RemoteApp mode | remoteapplicationmode:i:1 plus remoteapplicationprogram:s: launches a single published application instead of a full desktop |
| Bandwidth adaptation | bandwidthautodetect:i:1 and networkautodetect:i:1 enable adaptive graphics quality based on detected link speed |
| Multi-monitor support | use multimon:i:1 spans the session across multiple monitors; selectedmonitors:s: restricts which monitors are used |
| Connection type hint | connection type:i: accepts values 1-7 (modem through LAN) to manually set network quality assumptions |
| Alternate shell | alternate shell:s: specifies a custom executable to launch on connection instead of the default desktop shell |
| Released | 2001 (Remote Desktop / RDP 5.1, Windows XP) |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | learn.microsoft.com |
RDP conversions
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