Update: In all cases that we’ve managed to identify, the issue is occurring when the user tries to use the MAC version of Remote Control in order to connect to a Windows 10 PC. Most users are reporting that the issue only started occurring after they upgraded to Sierra.
What is causing the ‘The certificate or associated chain is not valid’ error?
We investigated this particular issue by looking at various user reports and the repair strategies that are commonly used to resolve this particular problem. From our investigations, it seems like there are multiple potential culprits that might end up triggering this error message: If you’re struggling to resolve this particular error message, this article will provide you with several troubleshooting strategies that other users in a similar situation have successfully used to either circumvent or resolve the “The certificate or associated chain is not valid”.
Method 1: Modifying the Guest’s Preference Remote Authentication method
This is by far the most effective solution out of the bunch. The vast majority of affected users have reported that the “The certificate or associated chain is not valid” error was resolved after they updated a Remote Desktop Connection preference from the guest computer to ‘Always connect, even if authentication fails’. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this: If you’re still seeing the ‘The certificate or associated chain is not valid’ error when you try to connect, move down to the next method below.
Method 2: Installing the latest version of Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection
As it turns out, this particular issue can also occur if the Microsoft Remote Desktop version that you’re using is severely outdated. Several affected users have reported that the ‘The certificate or associated chain is not valid’ error was no longer occurring after they upgraded to the latest RDC version. Upgrading to the latest Remote Desktop Connection version is extremely easy – just visit this link (here) and download the latest version. Your MAC system will automatically override your current installation and replace it with the latest one. If this method is not applicable or you already have the latest Remote Desktop Connection version, move down to the next method below.
Method 3: Allowing Remote connections on the Host computer
Another potential scenario in which the ‘The certificate or associated chain is not valid’ error will occur is if the host computer (the one that you’re trying to connect to) doesn’t allow a remote connection. Several users struggling to resolve the same issue have reported that the issue was fixed as soon as they enabled remote connections from the System Properties menu. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:
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