What to Do When the Remote Desktop Option Is Greyed Out?

Remote Desktop option is greyed out

"I have my computer to Windows 10 recently. But something went wrong. When I try to change the options to allow remote connections on Remote Desktop, both options are grayed out (like shown below). I can't change it. What can I do to fix this? "

Why is Remote Desktop option greyed out?

Many users have reported that sometimes the Remote Desktop option is greyed out when they were trying to connect Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 computer remotely. This normally refers to the “Allow remote connections to this computer” option is invariable and by default, and the“Don’t allow remote connections to this computer” option is invariable and checked. If the remote desktop connection is greyed out and by default, then this almost probably happens due to a Policy setting. To enable remote desktop settings in Windows 10 its necessary to change some settings

What to do when the Remote Desktop option is greyed out?

To help users fix the "allow Remote Desktop option is greyed out" issue and achieve Remote Desktop connections successfully, two solutions are posted below.

Solution 1. Set Allow users to connect remotely by using Remote Desktop Services to “Enabled”

Step 1. Press Win + R and then type in “gpedit.msc” to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 2. Navigate here: Computer configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Connections. Locate and double-click Allow users to connect remotely using Terminal Services.

Step 3. Set it to Enabled. Then click OK.

Solution 2. Check if the value data of fDenyTSConnections is set to 0

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

Step 2. Navigate here: Computer > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Terminal Server.

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Step 3. On the right pane, double-click the fDenyTSConnections entry to edit its properties.

Step 4. In the properties window, input 0 in the Value data field. The meanings of 0 and 1 are put below. Then click OK to save changes.

0 = Allow users to connect remotely using Terminal Services / Remote Desktop

1 = Disallow users to connect remotely using Terminal Services / Remote Desktop

Step 5. Reboot your computer and check to see if you can now connect to the Remote Desktop connection.

Free RDP alternative for Windows 10: AnyViewer

Some of you may find that the above-mentioned option is too complicated and want to find an easy way to remotely access a computer. You could also download an alternative to Remote Desktop, which is called AnyViewer. It is free, safe, and fast remote access software for multiple Wndows versions, including Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 and Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012 R2, making it possible for you to remote into PCs and establish a remote desktop connection anywhere, anytime over the internet. 

AnyViewer has several advantages over Remote Desktop, look at the following:

• Remote Desktop requires an IP address or computer name to achieve remote connection, while AnyViewer doesn’t.
• Remote Desktop requires the two devices to be under the same network, while AnyViewer doesn’t.
• Remote Desktop can’t be used to connect to Windows 10 Home edition (some other editions as well), while AnyViewer supports any devices running iOS 10.0 or later and multiple Windows versions on PCs.

Option 1. For unattended remote access with one-click

If you are trying to remotely access your own remote devices, then you can sign up for AnyViewer to achieve unattended remote access.

Step 1. Download, install, launch AnyViewer on both computers.

Step 2. 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 the two devices, then click Remote control to achieve unattended remote access.

Note: If you want to assign more devices to achieve unattended remote access, then you can upgrade your account to a Professional or Enterprise plan. Also, 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.

Option 2. Two more connection methods of AnyViewer

If you're trying to provide remote support to others, then you can try to use the following two connection methods.

Connection method 1. Send a control request

Step 1. On the client computer, input the device ID of the host computer and then click Connect.

Step 2. Click Send a control request to your partner.

Step 3. On the host computer, click Allow to make the connection successful.

Connection method 2. Input security code

Step 1. On the host computer, go to Settings > Recipient. Tick the third option and then set the permanent security code.

Step 2. On the client computer, input the device ID of the host computer and then click Connect. Choose Input security code and enter the code. Click OK to achieve remote access.

▶ Note: If you need to start a remote session from iPhone or iPad, you need to download AnyViewer iOS app from Apple Store on your iOS device. 

Conclusion

This post mainly introduces two solutions to help resolve the Remote Desktop option is greyed out problem. If you're facing this problem right now, try them and see if they can help. Besides, we also provide you with another option, you can use AnyViewer, a great Remote Desktop alternative. If you're trying to find an free and easy remote desktop tool, you can try it.