Policy

Start a program on connection

Windows 11 25H2

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Policy overview

Key metadata and intent for this policy.

ClassComputer
CategoryWindows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Remote Session Environment
Supported onAt least Windows Server 2003

Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2003, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016, WindowsVista

Configures Remote Desktop Services to run a specified program automatically upon connection. You can use this setting to specify a program to run automatically when a user logs on to a remote computer. By default, Remote Desktop Services sessions provide access to the full Windows desktop, unless otherwise specified with this setting, by the server administrator, or by the user in configuring the client connection. Enabling this setting overrides the "Start Program" settings set by the server administrator or user. The Start menu and Windows Desktop are not displayed, and when the user exits the program the session is automatically logged off. To use this setting, in Program path and file name, type the fully qualified path and file name of the executable file to be run when the user logs on. If necessary, in Working Directory, type the fully qualified path to the starting directory for the program. If you leave Working Directory blank, the program runs with its default working directory. If the specified program path, file name, or working directory is not the name of a valid directory, the RD Session Host server connection fails with an error message. If the status is set to Enabled, Remote Desktop Services sessions automatically run the specified program and use the specified Working Directory (or the program default directory, if Working Directory is not specified) as the working directory for the program. If the status is set to Disabled or Not Configured, Remote Desktop Services sessions start with the full desktop, unless the server administrator or user specify otherwise. (See "Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon\Run these programs at user logon" setting.) Note: This setting appears in both Computer Configuration and User Configuration. If both settings are configured, the Computer Configuration setting overrides.

Internal name
TS_START_PROGRAM_2
Policy ID
3ab1a3e9b7f8
Elements
2

Registry values

How enabled and disabled states update the registry.

No explicit registry values are set for enabled or disabled states.

Policy elements

Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.

ElementTypeRegistry mappingConstraints & behavior
Program path and file name
ID TS_PROGRAM_NAME
text
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services\InitialProgram
Type REG_SZ
None
Working Directory
ID TS_WORKDIR
text
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services\WorkDirectory
Type REG_SZ
None

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