Remote Desktop, a technology that allows computer access and control from different locations, has become the backbone of remote collaboration. With the ability to operate a computer as if the user were in front of it directly, Remote Desktop opens up new opportunities in work efficiency and resource management.
However, it is not uncommon for users to face an error message stating that Remote Desktop cannot verify the identity of the remote computer. This issue is often caused by time and date differences between client and server computers, resulting in failures in the authentication process. The impact not only hinders access but also decreases productivity and disrupts workflows that should be smooth.
In this article, we’ll dig deeper into the causes of this issue and present practical solutions to address it, ensuring that your remote collaboration remains productive and seamless.
Understanding Identity Verification Issues
When we try to access a remote computer via Remote Desktop, sometimes we are faced with an error message stating that the system cannot verify the identity of the intended computer. This message not only stops the connection process but also raises concerns about security and data integrity.
This issue arises when the Remote Desktop tries to connect to the server computer and fails the authentication process because the system cannot confirm that the intended computer is the real one. The error message that appears is usually “Remote Desktop cannot verify the identity of the remote computer because there is a time or date difference between your computer and the remote computer.”
The most common cause of this problem is the time and date difference between the client computer—the computer you’re using to access—and the server computer—the computer you’re trying to access. Remote Desktop relies heavily on security protocols that require synchronous time and date to ensure that communications are secure and verified.
Steps to Identify the Problem
Identifying time and date configuration issues on the Remote Desktop is important to ensure a smooth and secure connection. Here’s how to check and configure the time and date on client and server computers.
Checking the Time and Date Configuration on the Client Computer
- Go to Control Panel and select Date and Time.
- In the Date and Time tab, click Change date and time... to ensure the time and date match your time zone.
- Select Internet Time and click Change settings… to synchronize the time with the accurate Internet time server.
Checking the Time and Date Configuration on the Server
- Access the server via Remote Desktop or directly.
- Follow the same steps as on the client computer to check and set the time and date.
- Make sure the server is set to sync with a trustworthy time source, such as the NTP server.
By ensuring that the time and date on both systems are in sync, you can reduce the risk of identity verification issues occurring on Remote Desktop.
Solutions and How to Overcome
After identifying identity verification issues on the Remote Desktop, the next step is to implement a workaround to synchronize time and date and prevent similar issues in the future.
Sync Time and Date
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Use the w32tm /resync command to force a time synchronization with the configured time server.
- Verify synchronization with the command w32tm /query /status.