GPO tool

Group Policy made searchable

A free ADMX browser or comparison tool for IT administrators. Search policies, find registry keys, and see exactly what each setting writes to the Windows Registry. Or compare two GPO backups to see exactly what has changed between them.

Select a product
  • Select a category.

Set time limit for active Remote Desktop Services sessions

This policy setting allows you to specify the maximum amount of time that a Remote Desktop Services session can be active before it is automatically disconnected.

If you enable this policy setting, you must select the desired time limit in the Active session limit list. Remote Desktop Services will automatically disconnect active sessions after the specified amount of time. The user receives a warning two minutes before the Remote Desktop Services session disconnects, which allows the user to save open files and close programs. If you have a console session, active session time limits do not apply.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, this policy setting is not specified at the Group Policy level. By default, Remote Desktop Services allows sessions to remain active for an unlimited amount of time.

If you want Remote Desktop Services to end instead of disconnect a session when the time limit is reached, you can configure the policy setting Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsRemote Desktop ServicesRemote Desktop Session HostSession Time LimitsEnd session when time limits are reached.

Note: This policy setting appears in both Computer Configuration and User Configuration. If both policy settings are configured, the Computer Configuration policy setting takes precedence.

Registry Information

VendorMicrosoft
ProductTerminal Server
CategoryRemote Desktop Services › Remote Desktop Session Host › Session Time Limits
Applies toComputer & User Configuration
Supported onWindows XP
Registry Key[HKLM|HKCU]SOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows NTTerminal Services

Policy Settings

Active session limit :

Registry Key[HKLM|HKCU]SOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows NTTerminal Services
Value NameMaxConnectionTime
TypeREG_DWORD
Values
  • Never (0)
  • 1 minute (60000)
  • 5 minutes (300000)
  • 10 minutes (600000)
  • 15 minutes (900000)
  • 30 minutes (1800000)
  • 1 hour (3600000)
  • 2 hours (7200000)
  • 3 hours (10800000)
  • 6 hours (21600000)
  • 8 hours (28800000)
  • 12 hours (43200000)
  • 16 hours (57600000)
  • 18 hours (64800000)
  • 1 day (86400000)
  • 2 days (172800000)
  • 3 days (259200000)
  • 4 days (345600000)
  • 5 days (432000000)