How can I restore a remote desktop session to the local console?

After I am finished with a remote desktop connection, I'd like to be able to restore the remote desktop to the local console so that the user doesn't have to re-enter the password and log back in.

How can I create a desktop shortcut to do this?

Answer

1. Create a desktop shortcut by right clicking on the desktop and selecting new, then select shortcut.


2. 
   

   In the text field enter:

   
   

   %windir%\System32\tscon.exe 0 /dest:console (See below)

   
   


3. Right click the newly created shortcut, click properties.


4. Click the shortcut tab, and click the Advanced button.


5. Check the "Run as administrator" box and click OK.

If this doesn't work, try changing the number zero (tscon.exe 0 /dest...) in step 2 to the number one, and if it doesn't work, keep incrementing it until your remote desktop is released.

Alternately, open up a shell with start menu, run, cmd. Type qwinsta Enter, and look for the ID of the session that is in the active state (it will have a > character at the start of its session name). That's the number you need to use in step 2.

When you want to restore the console desktop, just double click on the shortcut and allow the administrator access.