A premium option for power users. It offers a very similar "tree view" structure but with extensive scripting and automation capabilities.
Remote Desktop Connection Manager 2012 (version 2.7) is a lightweight, standalone utility from Microsoft. Unlike the built-in mstsc.exe (Remote Desktop Connection), which only handles one session at a time, RDCMan lets you:
It’s essentially a tabbed RDP manager—perfect for help desks, MSPs, and sysadmins who manage dozens or hundreds of Windows machines daily.
Microsoft originally hosted RDCMan on the Microsoft Download Center under the filename RDCMan.msi. That link was taken down in 2017 after security researcher Jimmy Bayne discovered that RDCMan stored encrypted user credentials in .rdg files. Although the encryption was weak, the tool remained popular.
The official remote desktop connection manager 2012 link is no longer on Microsoft.com.
However, Microsoft later open-sourced the tool and republished it on GitHub. While the GitHub version is newer (versions 2.7, 2.8, etc.), the "2012" version you are searching for is effectively version 2.2 or 2.7, which maintains the same feature set as the classic 2012-era tool.
This is the most dangerous part of the equation. Because Microsoft removed the official download from microsoft.com (after the CVE-2020-0765 XML external entity injection bug), many third-party sites now host infected versions.
If you are searching for the Remote Desktop Connection Manager 2012 link, do not download random .exe files from file-hosting sites. These often contain malware or unpatched vulnerabilities.
Recommendation:
Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) version 2.7, originally released around the Windows Server 2012 era, was officially retired by Microsoft but has since been updated and re-released as part of the Sysinternals Current Download Link
You can download the latest supported version (v2.93) from the official Microsoft Sysinternals RDCMan page
. This version includes critical security fixes that were missing from the older 2014/v2.7 releases. The University of Texas at El Paso - UTEP Legacy & Reporting Features
If you are specifically looking for "reports" or connection history related to this tool, consider these native methods: Action Log Viewer
: To view the history of remote connections across your network, you can use tools like the ManageEngine Action Log Viewer , which tracks remote control sessions. Windows Event Viewer
: Detailed connection and disconnection reports are stored locally. Navigate to
Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > TerminalServices-LocalSessionManager for session events. Registry History
: To see a list of recently used connections (MRU), check the registry key: remote desktop connection manager 2012 link
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Default ManageEngine Configuration for 2012/2012 R2 If you are setting up RDCMan to manage older Windows Server 2012
environments, ensure the following are enabled on the target servers: Allow Remote Connections : This must be toggled on in System Properties > Remote Settings Firewall Rules : Ensure the RDP listener port (default 3389) is open. Advanced Settings
: On Server 2012, these settings are typically accessed via the Server Info section of the Charm Bar or the Server Manager console specific connection report (like uptime or user logs), or do you need help migrating your legacy .rdg files to the new version?
Setting up a Remote Desktop Connection to Windows Server 2012
The official link to download the modern, secure version of Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) is available on the Microsoft Learn Sysinternals page.
While the tool gained major popularity during the Windows Server 2012 era—specifically with the release of version 2.7 in 2014—Microsoft briefly discontinued it in 2020 due to a critical security vulnerability (CVE-2020-0765). It has since been revived as part of the Sysinternals Suite and is now actively maintained. Essential Download Links
Latest Official Version: Download RDCMan from Microsoft Sysinternals (Recommended for all users).
Legacy Version 2.7: While official Microsoft links for the 2014/2012-era version 2.7 have been retired for security reasons, some community archives like Aaron Sadler's blog or SourceForge still host the installer for historical or legacy lab use. Note: These legacy versions contain unpatched vulnerabilities. Evolution from 2012 to Today A premium option for power users
The version often associated with the 2012 era was RDCMan v2.7, released in late 2014 to provide robust support for Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8. Remote Desktop Connection Manager v3.12 - Microsoft Learn
The official version of Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) from the 2012–2014 era has been discontinued due to security vulnerabilities. However, Microsoft has since integrated it into the Sysinternals suite, where it is actively maintained. Official Download Link
You can download the latest, secure version of RDCMan directly from the Microsoft Sysinternals RDCMan page. Current Version: 3.12 (as of early 2026). Direct Download: Download RDCMan.zip.
Format: It is a portable executable (RDCMan.exe) that does not require a formal installation process; simply extract the ZIP file to your preferred directory. Historical Context (2012 Era)
Version 2.2: This was the primary version available around 2010–2012.
Version 2.7: Released in November 2014, this version added support for Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8.
Status: These older versions (2.2 and 2.7) are no longer officially supported or hosted by Microsoft because they contained a major security flaw (CVE-2020-0765) that could allow unauthorized file access. Why Use the New Version?
The modern Sysinternals version (v3.x) is designed to run on Windows Server 2016 and higher but remains the safest way to manage multiple RDP sessions from a single interface. It includes the same tree-view grouping and credential management features that made the 2012 version popular among IT administrators. Remote Desktop Connection Manager 2012 (version 2
If you are looking for a more advanced tool for larger environments, reviewers from Devolutions often recommend Remote Desktop Manager as a comprehensive alternative. Remote Desktop Connection Manager v3.12 - Microsoft Learn
4 Feb 2026 — Download. ... Run now from Sysinternals Live. Runs on: * Client: Windows 11 and higher. * Server: Windows Server 2016 and higher. Microsoft Learn Remote Desktop Connection Manager v3.12 - Microsoft Learn