Fix Remote Desktop app issues on Windows 10 April Update

Not a single day passes without new bug reports concerning the Windows 10 April Update. Today, we’ve got a new bug on the list: Remote Desktop applications often fail to work on the latest Windows 10 OS version, as this user reports:

Just upgraded our Win 10 clients to Feature Update 1803 and am having issues with Remote Desktop Applications not rendering some/most drop down menus. Pre-1803 updated Windows 10 (and all other flavors of Windows) display these menus just fine. For Example: Adobe DC Pro via RDS: Click on File… Drop down does not render BUT you CAN click the menu items as if they are being displayed.

It seems that Microsoft rolled out some RDP updates in March, but it’s still unclear what these updates bring. The good news is that the OP managed to find a quick workaround to fix these Remote Desktop issues. Changing the Remote Desktop group policy either locally or via GPO in an AD environment on all Terminal Servers and Remote Session Hosts should fix the problem. More specifically, you need to disable the ‘Use advanced RemoteFX graphics for RemoteApp’ key.

Go to Computer Configuration/Policies/Admin Templates/Windows Components/Remote Desktop Services/Remote Desktop Session Host/Remote Session Environment: Use advanced RemoteFX graphics for RemoteApp – Disabled.

This quick fix worked on many environments but keep in mind that it may break other apps.

Just a heads up, the ‘fix’ for this may break other apps. I have BlueBeam Revu as a Remote app and this fix completely breaks it. Entire window disappears when run in full screen. Restoring it down allows it to be displayed, but as soon as you do anything in the program it goes invisible again.

Have you encountered any similar Remote Desktop issues after upgrading to the Windows 10 April Update? Did you fix them in a different manner? Let us know in the comments below.

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