This issue often occurs because the host server is configured to require a specific security layer that the client cannot provide (e.g., SSL vs. RDP Security). We need to force the host to negotiate the correct security layer.
The (often accompanied by extended error code 0x7 ) is a connection failure that occurs when a client cannot establish a secure link with a remote server. Unlike simple "wrong password" errors, this code typically points to underlying issues with network stability , expired security certificates , or client-server compatibility . Primary Causes of Error 0x904
This error typically presents with a message similar to:
The self-signed certificate used by the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) service has expired and failed to renew automatically.
If the error persists, temporarily disable NLA on the server side via Group Policy (under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Security ) to see if it resolves the handshake issue.