How to Troubleshoot RDP Session Timeout

This post mainly introduces how to troubleshoot RDP session timeout on Windows and Windows Servers. Follow the steps listed here to save you from trouble.

By @Ellie Last Updated November 24, 2022

RDP session timeout

“I’m running Windows 2016 server. I utilize Remote Desktop Connection to connect to Windows 10 Enterprise. But the timeout period before the RDC requires me to re-enter my password appears to be fairly short, 5 to 10 minutes. How can I increase this timeout so I don’t have to input my password as frequently?”

How to troubleshoot RDP session timeout

RDP session keeps disconnecting can be pretty annoying. To configure timeout options for RDP, the changes need to be made on the host computer. Here in this post, we’ll introduce how to troubleshoot the RDP session timeout problem on Windows 10.

Step 1. Press Win + R to invoke the Run dialog box. Type in “gpedit.msc” and hit OK to open Registry Editor.

Step 2. Navigate here: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Session Time Limits. Find the following three settings on the right pane:

  • Set time limit for disconnected sessions
  • Set time limit for active but idle Remote Desktop Services session
  • Set time limit for active Remote Desktop Services session

Step 3. Click Set time limit for disconnected sessions, set it to Enabled and then select Never.

Step 4. Click Set time limit for active but idle Remote Desktop Services session, set it to Enabled and then select Never.

Step 5. Click Set time limit for active Remote Desktop Services session, set it to Enabled and then select Never.

Note: The above-mentioned setting configurations also apply to Windows Server 2016. Therefore, if you encounter an RDP session timeout on Server 2016 when connecting from a Windows 10, you can configure your Server 2016 following the same steps above.

Another way to configure the time limits of RDP on Server 2016 is using Server Manager.

 Step 1. Click the Windows icon and then open Server Manager.

Step 2. Under Dashboard, click Remote Desktop Services.

Step 3. Navigate here: Collections > YourCollection > Tasks > Edit Properties. (Replace YourCollection with your remote session.)

Step 4. Click Session, set all the following three options to Never:

  • End a disconnected session
  • Active session limit
  • Idle session limit

AnyViewer: Free, stable, and long-lasting remote desktop software

If you’re tired of RDP session keeps disconnecting, you can use stable and long-lasting remote desktop software AnyViewer to keep your remote session always stay online. AnyViewer is developed by a strong technical team, which can provide you with free, stable, and long-lasting remote connections. Basically, as long as you are connected to the internet, the remote session with AnyViewer will keep going on.

AnyViewer provides you with two ways to remotely connect to another computer. Providing you’re trying to connect to a Windows 10 from a Windows Server 2016:

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Step 1. Download, install and launch AnyViewer on both Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10.

Step 2. On Windows Server 2016, go to Log in, and then click Sign up. (If you already have signed up on its official website, you can log in directly)

Step 3. Fill in the signup information.

Step 4. Then you can see you successfully logged in to AnyViewer. Your device will automatically be assigned to the account you've logged in to.

Step 5. Log in to the same AnyViewer account on Windows 10, then you can achieve a direct connection by clicking One-click control.

Note: You can also upgrade your account to a Professional or Enterprise plan. Then you'll have the following rights:

  • You can assign more devices to the same account and then achieve a one-click connection to more computers.
  • You can connect to another computer in privacy mode, which means you can black the screen and block the mouse and keyboard of the remote computer to protect your privacy.

Conclusion

If RDP session timeout is driving you crazy, you can try to use the methods we mentioned in this post to configure Remote Desktop time limits. Or, you could also use another free remote desktop software AnyViewer, which can provide you with fast, stable, and long-lasting remote connections.