The Issue – When using Windows Remote Desktop client the remote screen turns black right after login and you have no control. The issue can affect workstations and servers, laptops or desktops and happens in Windows 7 through Windows 10 with most any version of Windows server. The apparent cause is Screen Caching and accessing a system with different display resolution or RDP window sizes.
The Solution[s] – Try each bullet below
- Task Manager – While logged in and stuck on the black screen of death
- Press CTRL+ALT+END or on laptops CTRL+ALT+FN+END. This calls Task Manager and in most cases you’ll immediately see the Desktop
- If only Task Manager but no Desktop appears try running Explorer from Task Manager: File > New Task > Explorer.exe
- Display Resolution – Connect at same resolution as the remote host
- Click Show Options on main Remote Desktop screen
- Display tab > Display Configuration > Adjust Display size [to the size of your remote hosts display]
- Cache – Delete & disable the RDP bitmap cache:
- Delete your local RDP Cache: C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Cache
- Disable Persistent Bitmap Caching on the Experience tab
- RDP Service – Access the remote computers Computer Management or Services MMC and cycle the Remote Desktop Services service.
- Launch your Services MMC using an account with admin level access on the remote machine
- Right click Services at top left > choose Connect to Another Computer
- Right click Remote Desktop Services, choose Restart
Prevention
- Confirm your account has full administrative rights on the remote system [member of local administrators group]
- Disable bitmap caching for your RDP connections
- Access the remote computer using consistent resolution – Full screen may help
- Confirm both systems video drivers are up to date
Resources
asked • Jul 25, '21 | HarshaJK-6782 answered • Nov 10, '21
Hello,
We are using Windows-10 for Desktop application. Since we hare accessing all the PCs from remote, when we try to connect the PC, Black screen is getting and after sometime Message is popping " Failed to reconnect to your remote session. Please try to reconnect again". Once this message appeared, It wont be connected until PC restarted. Once PC restarted, 2-3 time RDP will be connected, after that again same will appear. We tried basic which seen in google like Disable persistent bitmap cache etc. but issue is still persisting.
Comment
Many people, including me and many, have problems with this. However, there is a lot of information full of confusion. An easy way for those who have this problem in ARP connection. This problem is mostly caused by the ARP connection being left open.
SOLUTION: FOR DC SERVER: Write a rule from Server GPO. In case of disconnection or exit, log out within 5 minutes. Hello to everyone, If there are programs that need to remain open on the current server, apply the rule only for computers that will connect.
*Note! * Doing 5 minutes will minimize possible risks.*
TERMINAL SERVER: Apply the rule you will create on the DC Server only for the terminal server or apply it to the users who will connect.
If you have difficulty in creating rules, just write an answer.
I had this issue after I installed Oracle VM and a Lubuntu image. Right after the Oracle installation everything was fine and I also managed to install Lubuntu. I've done everything through RDC. Suddenly, the screen went black. I haven't restarted the computer or done anything worth mentioning at all, it just happened. This all happened in one single session.
I then tried restarting the computer manually, I tried all of the above settings which helped other people and I also uninstalled Oracle VM. Nothing helped.
In the end, I restored my computer to the state before I installed Oracle VM with a restore point that was generated automatically by my computer. Now RDC works again and I'm able to see the screen.
tl;dr: use a restore point if RDC used to work but doesn't work anymore
Using Remote Desktop the remote screen turns black right after login and you have no control. The issue appears to be caused by Screen Caching and accessing a system with different display resolution or RDP window sizes.
Solution
There are numerous potential root causes for the above issue with their respective solutions. Refer to the following article for step-by-step troubleshooting: //superuser.com/questions/976290/windows-10-remote-desktop-connects-with-black-screen-then-disconnects .
General prevention tasks include the following:
- Disable bitmap caching for your RDP connections
- Confirm RDP account has full administrative rights on remote system
- Access the remote computer using consistent resolution – Full screen may help
- Confirm both systems’ video drivers are up to date