Remote Desktop (RDP) session freezes or disconnects [Fix]

In this article, we will talk about some solutions that you can try if your Remote Desktop (RDP) session freezes or disconnects on Windows 11/10. Remote Desktop (RDP) is a feature that allows you to connect to another user remotely. This feature is not available in Windows 11/10 Home Edition.

Fix Remote Desktop (RDP) session freezes or disconnects

If your Remote Desktop (RDP) session freezes or disconnects, the following solutions will help you resolve the issue. Before you proceed, we suggest you install the latest Windows Update (if available).

Check your internet connection
Uninstall the recent Windows Update
Force RDP to use only TCP protocol
Disable Persistent bitmap caching
Disconnect your printer
Modify Windows Registry

Let’s see all these fixes in detail.

1] Check your internet connection

If your remote Desktop session disconnects frequently, it might be due to a weak or unstable internet connection. Therefore, check your internet connection. If possible, connect your system with an ethernet cable.

2] Uninstall the recent Windows Update

Microsoft recommends users keep their Windows computers up to date by installing the latest Windows Updates. Sometimes, Windows Updates cause issues with the users’ computers. Therefore, in this case, you can uninstall that particular Windows Update. If this issue started occurring after installing a recent Windows Update, you can uninstall that update.

3] Force RDP to use only TCP protocol

By default, the Remote Desktop (RDP) on Windows uses both TCP and UDP protocols. This sometimes causes issues with the Remote Desktop. Force RDP to use only TCP protocol and see if it helps. The steps to do this are as follows:

Open the Run command box by pressing the Win + R keys. Type gpedit.msc and click OK. This will open the Local Group Policy Editor.

Now, navigate to the following path:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Connection Client

Double-click on the Turn Off UDP On Client option on the right side. Select Enabled. Click Apply and then click OK to save the changes. Restart your computer and check if the issue persists. If this does not fix the issue, you can revert the changes.

4] Disable Persistent bitmap caching

You can also try disabling the Persistent bitmap caching for Remote Desktop (RDP) on Windows and see if it works. The following steps will help you:

Open Remote Desktop Connection on your PC.
Click Show Options.
Go to the Experience tab.
Uncheck the Persistent bitmap caching checkbox.

5] Disconnect your printer

If you have connected a wireless or network printer to your system, the issue might be occurring due to that. We suggest you disconnect the printer from your system and see if the Remote Desktop (RDP) session freezes this time.

6] Modify Windows Registry

If the Remote Desktop (RDP) session still freezes or disconnects, you can modify the Windows Registry. Perform this modification carefully as incorrect modifications in Registry can make your system unstable. We recommend you create a System Restore Point and back up your Registry before proceeding. This will let you restore your system to a healthy state if any problem occurs.

Press the Win + R keys to open the Run command box. Type regedit and click OK. Click Yes in the UAC prompt. This will open the Registry Editor. Now, navigate to the following path:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services\Client

To easily reach the above path, copy it and paste it into the address bar of the Registry Editor. Hit Enter after that.

Make sure that the Client key is selected on the left side. Look for the fClientDisableUDP value on the right side. If the value is not there, create it manually. To do so, right-click in the empty space on the right side and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this newly created value as fClientDisableUDP.

Double-click on the fClientDisableUDP value and enter 1 in its Value data. Click OK to save the changes. Close the Registry Editor and restart your system for the changes to take effect.

If this does not help, follow the steps provided below:

Go to the following path in the Registry Editor.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client

Look for the UseURCP value on the right side. If the value does not exist, create it manually by following the same method discussed above. Name the newly created value as UseURCP. Now, double-click on the UseURCP value and enter 0 in its Value data. Click OK to save the changes. Restart your computer.

That’s it. I hope this helps.

Why does my RDP session keep freezing?

There can be many reasons why your Remote Desktop session keeps freezing. Sometimes, outdated Windows versions cause issues, whereas, sometimes, the latest Windows Updates cause issues. This issue also occurs when the RDP attempts to use both TCP and UDP protocols.

How do you troubleshoot RDP connectivity issues?

To troubleshoot and fix the connectivity issues with RDP on Windows 11/10, first of all, check your internet connection. You can also try some fixes, like checking the status of the RDP protocol on a local computer, checking whether a GPO is blocking RDP on a remote computer, etc.