Overview

If you administer Windows servers you may sometimes find Remote Desktop (RDP) users cannot reconnect to their Remote Desktop Sessions due to local PC issues. The resolution to this issue is to remotely force user sign out via Task Manager.

This method will work on all Microsoft Server versions above version 2012 R2.

Warning

This method will close everything the user is working on without saving their work.

Instructions

  1. Connect to the server as an Administrator using Remote Desktop:
    how to force a user sign out on a windows server
  2. Right Click on the Start Menu:
    how to force a user sign out on a windows server
  3. Select Task Manager:
    how to force a user sign out on a windows server
  4. Select the Users tab:
    how to force a user sign out on a windows server
  5. Right Click the user you need to sign off and click Sign Off:
    how to force a user sign out on a windows server
  6. In the new popup window, click Sign out user:
    how to force a user sign out on a windows server

The user has now been forcefully signed out of the server, all their applications have been closed.

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