How to Install SSL Certificate on Remote Desktop Services?

Steps to Install SSL Certificate on Remote Desktop Services

SSL Certificates are used to secure the Remote Desktop Services (RDS) as it encrypts the data being transmitted between the remote user and RDS server. In this guide we will discuss the steps to install SSL Certificate on a Remote Desktop Service.

The Prerequisites for Installing an SSL Certificate on Remote Desktop Services

Private Key File
Certificate Signing Request (CSR) File
Server Certificate File
Intermediate Certificate File

Go to Start > Administrative Tools > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Gateway Manager
To access the Properties settings for your Remote Desktop Gateway Manager, simply right-click on ‘RD Gateway Server‘ within the Console tree.
Now, select the SSL Certificate tab and click on Import a certificate to continue with the RD Gateway Certificates
To upload your SSL Certificate, select the ‘Browse and import certificate‘ option, locate it in its saved location, and click ‘Open‘.
To securely access your Private Key > please enter the password you created > click on Import Certificate and hit OK
Restart your server and you are good to go. You have successfully installed an SSL certificate on your Remote Desktop Services

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are having trouble installing your SSL certificate, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Make sure that the Certificate Authority (CA) is trusted. Certera, Comodo, and Sectigo are the most trusted SSL Certificate Authorities.
Check if the Private Key and CSR data is matching
Ensure the Intermediate Certificates properly installed on your server.

FAQs

Q: How to I tell if my SSL Certificate installed correctly?

You can use an online SSL checker tool to verify the certificate installed properly or not. Alternatively, you can view your website’s secure connection by clicking on the padlock icon in the address bar of your browser.

Q: Where is my RDP Server Certificate Located?

You can locate your RDP server certificate on the Remote Desktop. Simply run this command: certlm.msc.

Q: How do I import a certificate from a remote desktop?

Go to Connection Broker and open the Server Manager.
In the left navigation pane, locate Remote Desktop Services and click on it.
Click Tasks > Edit Deployment Properties.
From the Configure the deployment window click on Certificates.
Tap on “Select existing certificates” and navigate to the location where you saved the certificate. Make sure the certificate file is in PFX format.
Import the certificate.