Allow desktop composition for remote desktop sessions

Supported OS tags: WindowsServer2008

This policy setting allows you to specify whether desktop composition is allowed for remote desktop sessions. This policy setting does not apply to RemoteApp sessions. Desktop composition provides the user interface elements of Windows Aero, such as translucent windows, for remote desktop sessions. Because Windows Aero requires additional system and bandwidth resources, allowing desktop composition for remote desktop sessions can reduce connection performance, particularly over slow links, and increase the load on the remote computer. If you enable this policy setting, desktop composition will be allowed for remote desktop sessions. On the client computer, you can configure desktop composition on the Experience tab in Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) or by using the "allow desktop composition" setting in a Remote Desktop Protocol (.rdp) file. In addition, the client computer must have the necessary hardware to support Windows Aero features. Note: Additional configuration might be necessary on the remote computer to make Windows Aero features available for remote desktop sessions. For example, the Desktop Experience feature must be installed on the remote computer, and the maximum color depth on the remote computer must be set to 32 bits per pixel. Also, the Themes service must be started on the remote computer. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, desktop composition is not allowed for remote desktop sessions, even if desktop composition is enabled in RDC or in the .rdp file.

This policy has no additional user input fields.

• Computer
  Always show desktop on connection

  At least Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
• User
  Always show desktop on connection

  WindowsServer2008
• Computer
  Configure compression for RemoteFX data

  At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
• Computer
  Configure H.264/AVC hardware encoding for Remote Desktop Connections

  At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10
• Computer
  Configure image quality for RemoteFX Adaptive Graphics

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• Computer
  Configure RemoteFX Adaptive Graphics

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• Computer
  Do not allow font smoothing

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2
• Computer
  Enable enhanced shell experience for RemoteApp

  At least Windows 11 Version 22H2
• Computer
  Enable RemoteFX encoding for RemoteFX clients designed for Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• Computer
  Enforce Removal of Remote Desktop Wallpaper

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional
• Computer
  Limit maximum color depth

  Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
• Computer
  Limit maximum display resolution

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7