The command: "rwinsta" is on Windows 12, 11, 10, .. , MS Server 2025, 2022, 2019, .. available
The examples for the command "rwinsta"
The
`rwinsta` command is used in the Windows Command Prompt to end a remote desktop session. Here are some examples of using the
`rwinsta` command:
### View running remote desktop sessions:
Example 1: View all running sessions:
qwinsta
This command displays all current remote desktop sessions on the system, including session ID and status.
### Ending remote desktop sessions:
Example 2: Ending a specific session by ID:
rwinsta 2
This command ends the remote desktop session with ID 2. Replace the
"2" with the actual session ID you want to end.
Example 3: Ending all sessions of a specific user:
for /f "skip=1 tokens=2" %s in ('qwinsta ^| find /I "Username"') do rwinsta %s
This command uses
`qwinsta` and
`find` to get all session IDs for a given username and then uses
`rwinsta` to end each of those sessions. Replace
"username" with the actual username.
### Hints:
- Make sure you have sufficient permissions to end remote desktop sessions, especially if you are doing so on a remote computer.
- When controlling a remote computer and ending sessions, you can run the command on the target computer or connect remotely using tools such as PowerShell Remoting.
- Use
`qwinsta` before
`rwinsta` to check session ID(s) before terminating sessions.
These examples are intended to give you an idea of ??how the
`rwinsta` command can be used in different scenarios. Depending on your specific requirements, the parameters may vary. Use
`rwinsta/?` for a complete list of options and parameters.
"rwinsta" Excerpt from Microsoft Windows Help
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.3693]
(c) Copyright 1985-2023 Microsoft Corp.
C:\\WINDOWS>
Reset the session subsytem hardware and software to known initial values.
RESET SESSION [/SERVER:servername] [/V]
sessionname Identifies the session with name sessionname.
sessionid Identifies the session with ID sessionid.
/SERVER:servername The server containing the session (default is current).
/V Display additional information.
Important information, tips for the "rwinsta" command
There are a few important points to note when using the `rwinsta` command:
### Network Security Considerations:
1. Firewall: Check the firewall settings on the target computer to ensure that the command is not blocked by a firewall.
2. Encryption: When ending remote desktop sessions from a remote computer, use secure methods such as PowerShell Remoting over an encrypted connection.
### Connection to remote computer:
3. Local or remote execution: Note that you can run `rwinsta` on both the local computer and on a remote computer by establishing a remote session or using tools such as PowerShell Remoting.
### Session identification:
4. Proper Session ID: Make sure to provide the correct session ID if you want to end a specific session. Preferably use `qwinsta` to view the current sessions and their IDs.
5. Ending your own sessions: Be careful when ending sessions, especially when ending other users' remote desktop sessions. However, ending your own session can be useful if, for example, you need to remotely log out of your own computer.
### Security and permissions:
6. Admin Privileges: Ending remote desktop sessions requires administrator privileges. Therefore, run the command with elevated privileges by opening Command Prompt as administrator.
7. Permissions on Remote Computers: When ending sessions on a remote computer, ensure that you have the appropriate permissions on that computer.
### Errors and logging:
8. Logging: Check the log data on both sides (local and remote host) to ensure that the session ended correctly. Errors or unexpected behavior may occur in the logs.
### Alternative methods:
9. Other options: In some scenarios, other methods such as PowerShell cmdlets (`Stop-RDSession`) could also be considered for stopping remote desktop sessions.
It is important to use the `rwinsta` command with caution, especially when running on a production system, to avoid unwanted effects on running sessions.