How to Send Ctrl-Alt-Delete in a Remote Desktop Session?

Control-Alt-Delete is a combination of keys that regular users press to end an application task or reboot the operating system.

IT teams and MSPs also use the Ctrl-Alt-Delete sequence in a remote desktop session to open Task Manager, and restart or shut down another device.

Key takeaways:

• You can use Ctrl+Alt+Delete in a remote session not only in Windows but for Linux and MacOS too. See how you do that below.
• Ctrl+Alt+Del does more than opening Task Manager or shutting down the device.
• Heimdal’s Remote Desktop works on an agent-to-agent, dashboard-to-agent, and dashboard to no agent remote desktop connection type

What Does Ctrl Alt Delete Do?

The Ctrl-Alt-Delete shortcut enables you to access Task Manager. Pressing Task Manager opens a menu where you can check:

• the status of all currently running processes,
• the CPU’s performance
• app history
• existing users, etc.

In case you have a frozen program on a device, the Ctrl Alt Delete command enables you to force stop it. If the operating system freezes while waiting for an application to complete, you can use Control Alt Delete in two ways:

• to force quit applications, after you access the task manager
• to reboot the machine

You can also send Ctrl Alt Delete to lock the computer, get to the change password option, shut down, or restart the computer. Specific settings differ depending on which version of Windows you use.

If you send the Ctrl Alt Del command in Windows 10 or 11, you’ll see the following menu pop-up:

• Lock
• Switch user
• Sign out
• Change password
• Task Manager

The selection of keys and the requirement that they are pressed at the same time are meant to make it more difficult to reboot the system accidentally.

As well as the “reboot” keyboard command, it is frequently referred to as a “three-finger salute”, an allusion to Microsoft’s Bill Gates. It is also known as the “Vulcan nerve pinch”, which is a Star Trek reference.

CTRL + ALT + DEL in Windows Remote Computer

Enable a remote desktop connection and create a remote user.

Pressing the Ctrl-Alt-Delete sequence of keys when connected to a remote computer will not work on the distant device. It will perform locally, on your device. what you need to do

1. Click on “Start,” then “Run,” entering “mstsc,” and then click “OK.” to launch the Remote Desktop software.
2. Click on “Start,” then “Run,” and then click “OK.” to launch the Remote Desktop.
3. In the “Remote Desktop” box, type in the IP address or computer name of the remote computer and press the “Enter” key.
4. To connect to the remote computer, enter your username and password into the appropriate fields and press Enter.
5. While you are seeing the Remote Desktop window, simultaneously press the “CTRL,” “ALT,” and “END” keys. Instead of executing the standard CTRL-ALT-DEL command on your local computer, it will run on the remote machine.

CTRL-ALT-DEL on Chrome Remote Desktop

With Chrome Remote Desktop, you may also connect to another computer from anywhere in the world (CRD). Please keep in mind that you will need Google Chrome installed on your computer. In addition, you can send Ctrl-Alt-Delete commands from any location in the world using CRD.

Follow these steps in order to send CTRL-ALT-DEL on the Chrome remote desktop:

1. Download and install Chrome Remote Desktop on both your controlling PC and the target computer.
2. Start CRD on the computer that will control the game.
3. Choose “Continue” from the pop-up window, to approve permissions.
4. From the “Get started” menu bar, select “Enable remote connections” under “My Computers” from the drop-down list.
5. Following that, enter a PIN for the target desktop.
6. Download and install the Chrome Remote Host Service.
7. After you launch CRD and choose the target desktop, you will be able to visit the target desktop using Google Chrome.
8. After you have entered the PIN, you will be able to begin controlling the remote desktop.
9. Open the “Send keys” option from the drop-down menu at the top of the screen.
10. Press “Ctrl-Alt-Del” from the little drop-down menu that appears.

This approach is compatible with Android devices as well. It allows you to connect to the remote desktop using the phone that you use on a daily basis. While the actual setup procedure differs, all you need to do is entry a PIN. After that, you will be able to access the desktop from any location in the world. The “Send keys” menu works in the same manner as well.

Although using CRD affects the resolution and processing performance, its primary advantage is how Chrome and Google operate together. A Google account makes it simple to establish a remote connection with any computer of your choosing.

CTRL-ALT-DEL on MacOS

If you send the Ctrl-Alt-Delete command to a remote Mac, it will open the Force Quit Applications window on that computer.

To issue the command, go to Actions -> Ctrl-Alt-Delete from the application’s main menu.

The Force Quit choices will appear on the screen.

If you want to read more about remote desktop support for Mac, see this article.

CTRL-ALT-DEL in Linux

Unlike in Windows, if you press Ctrl-Alt-Delete in Linux it opens the log-off menu and/or reboots the system or terminates apps. The result depends on what Linux distribution you use.

You can, however, enable the same key combination to open the Task Manager in Linux. Although actually, it will show you the Gnome’s system monitor. Gnome does in Linux what task manager does in Windows.

Here are the steps:

1. Click on Show Applications, at the bottom of the applications bar.
2. Type “shortcut” in the search box.
3. After Keyboard Shortcut shows up, click on Settings.
4. Scroll down Keyboard Shortcuts settings right to the bottom. There you will see a “+” icon. Click on it.
5. In the Add Custom Shortcut box, at the “Name” field, type “Task Manager”. Then type “gnome-system-monitor” in the “Command” one.
6. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del simultaneously on “Set Shortcut”.

If for any reason you decide to restore the default Gnome’s Ctrl+Alt+Del key combination, repeat the operation. Then replace ”gnome-system-monitor” with ”gnome-session-quit”.

If you use MATE instead of Gnome and want to do the same thing, follow the steps:

1. Go to the menu bar and click on the magnifier icon to open your shortcut settings. It’s near “Applications Places System“.
2. After “Application Finder” shows up, type “shortcut”.
3. On the right side you will see “Keyboard Shortcuts”. Select it, then click the “Launch” button.
4. Click the “+Add” button in the Keyboard Shortcuts window.
5. In the “Custom Shortcut” box write “Task manager” in the name field. Then type “gnome-system-monitor” in the “Command” field.
6. Click on the “Apply” button.
7. Now you’re back to the Keyboard Shortcuts window. At the bottom of the shortcuts list is the one you just added. It is disabled, but not for long. Click on “Disabled” and change its status to “New shortcut”.
8. Press the key combination you want for the task manager: Ctrl+Alt+Del. A warning will appear stating the key combination is already in use for the Shutdown menu. Press “Reassign”.

Now the Keyboard Shortcuts shows the new shortcut was added properly.

If you want to revert, repeat all the steps and replace “gnome-system-monitor” with “gnome-session-quit” in the “Command” field.

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FAQs on Ctrl+Alt+Delete

Can you do Ctrl Alt Delete on remote desktop?

Yes, you can send Ctrl Alt Delete on remote desktop in various operating systems. I explained above how you can use this shortcut in a remote session in Windows, Linux and MacOS.

How do I open task manager without Ctrl Alt Delete?

In Windows you can use Ctrl+Shift+Escape instead of Ctrl Alt Delete. This sequence will directly open the Task Manager.

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Livia Gyongyoși

Communications and PR Officer

Livia Gyongyoși is a Communications and PR Officer within Heimdal®, passionate about cybersecurity. Always interested in being up to date with the latest news regarding this domain, Livia's goal is to keep others informed about best practices and solutions that help avoid cyberattacks.