Problem: error 0x204 in Windows App for macOS

Sam 0 Reputation points
2026-09-07T09:57:09.05+00:00

I have a problem with application for rdp connection on macOs (Windows Apps).

My setup:

  1. Windows Laptop
  2. Macbook air
  3. Brand new macbook neo
  4. Old macbook.
  5. Windows server (remote host, configured, working for years)

**The problem:
**I installed Windows Apps on macbook air, and macbook neo to be able to connect to my server. I configured the connection (Using numeric IP,port). On both laptops the connection was working perfectly for 1-2 hours. I connected and disconnected several times.

Later, i needed to connect to my server, and I received 0x204 error ("We couldn't connect to the remote pc. Make sure PC is turned on.... "). This happened to my both macbooks (air and neo), while my windows laptop connects to the server perfectly, meaning that problem isolated somewhere within those two macs.

After a lot of troubleshooting that did not help me (including reinstallation, cleaning cache, wifi configurations etc..), i installed 3rd party RDP client on the mac, that surprisingly was working. So have to use that.

Next day i tried the Windows Apps, and it connected me immediately with no issue, but after few hours it stopped working again with 0x204 issue.

I dont use VPN, or some custom configuration.
Everything except server is in the same stable wifi network.

Summarizing:

  1. Macbook neo, Macbook air
  2. when using "Windows Apps" randomly working, randomly not working with 0x204 error
  3. when using 3rd party apps working always, so the problem is Windows Apps for sure
  4. Windows laptop -> Always working with built in RDP
  5. Old macbook -> It was working no problem for a year before, but not used now. (i didnt mention it before)

I tried All recommendations possible that i found on forums, spent around 5 hours working out this problem.
Will appreciate any help.

Windows for home | Other | Apps
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  1. Alex-L 12,555 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-08T07:23:58.8933333+00:00

    Hi Sam

    Based on your testing, this does not appear to be a problem with the Windows Server itself, it points more toward a Windows App for macOS client issue or a compatibility/network handling issue within the app itself rather than an RDP configuration problem on the server. Similar reports of intermittent 0x204 errors on macOS have been discussed by other users using Microsoft Remote Desktop/Windows App for Mac.

    A few things worth checking:

    1. In Windows App, delete the saved PC entry and recreate it from scratch.
    2. Try connecting using both the IP address and the hostname (if available).
    3. Disable any saved Gateway configuration if you are connecting directly.
    4. Check whether macOS is changing network priority (Wi‑Fi, VPN, Ethernet, etc.), as this has been identified as a cause of some Mac-specific 0x204 issues.
    5. Verify you are running the latest version of Windows App from the Mac App Store.
    6. When the failure occurs, try opening a Terminal on the Mac and test whether the RDP port is reachable from that Mac at the same time. If the port is reachable but Windows App still fails while the third-party client connects, that further points to a Windows App issue.

    Since you've already reinstalled the app, cleared caches, and confirmed that another RDP client works consistently, I would suggest submitting feedback from within Windows App and opening a support case with Microsoft, as this may require investigation of the macOS client logs.

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    2 people found this answer helpful.

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