Highlights
➔ If your RDP is not responding, there is no need to reboot your entire Windows server, as full server restarts can cause downtime, disconnect users, and interrupt critical services.
➔ You can quickly fix RDP issues by simply restarting the RDP service with 3 easy methods: Task Manager, Services.msc, and Windows PowerShell.
➔ This approach helps restore access faster while keeping your server and applications running smoothly.
Introduction
When your Remote Desktop (RDP) suddenly stops responding, the first instinct is often to reboot the entire Windows server.
But let’s be honest, that’s not always practical!
A full restart can interrupt running applications, disconnect users, and cause unnecessary downtime, especially if your server is hosting live websites or critical services!
The good news is that you don’t always need to reboot the server to fix RDP issues. In many cases, simply restarting the RDP service can quickly bring your remote connection back to life without affecting the rest of your system.
In this guide, we will show you how to safely restart RDP on a Windows server without a full reboot, so you can get things back on track with minimal disruption.
Also Read: How To Connect To A Windows VPS using RDP?
Ways to Restart RDP Service Without Restarting Windows Server
You have 3 methods to restart your RDP Service:
- By Using Task Manager
- By Using Services.msc
- By Using Windows PowerShell
Let’s discuss each method in detail.
Also Read: How to Access your Windows VPS using RDP on Apple Mac
1. Restarting RDP Service Using Task Manager
The Task Manager is a System Monitoring Tool for every Windows computer.
➔ You can access the Task Manager by right-clicking the Start button, selecting Task Manager from the menu, and pressing Enter.
➔ The 2nd method to open your Task Manager is to press the key combination ‘CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.’
➔ Select the ‘Services’ Tab; it is the last amongst all the tabs. From the list below the Services Tab, find ‘TermService’ and right-click on its name. Click on Restart, and you are done.
Also Read: How to Fix Remote Desktop Connection Has Stopped Working?
2.Restarting RDP Service Using Services.msc
‘Services.msc’ is a Windows command. This method, too, is simple like the former one.
➔ Log in to the server and press the ‘Win+R’ key combination to execute the Run command on the server.
➔ Type ‘Services.msc’ in the space and press ‘OK.’
➔ Right-click the Remote Desktop Services to open the alternate menu. Click ‘Restart’ to start the Remote Desktop Services and re-establish the lost connection.
➔ The Services console (services.msc) allows you to use the buttons on its toolbar.
➔ The last button restarts the selected service. Select ‘Remote Desktop Services’, then click the Restart button on the toolbar. Your RDP services get started, and your connection is established.
Also Read: How to Check Users Logged in to Remote Desktop?
3.Restarting RDP Service Using Windows PowerShell
As the name suggests, this method requires technical skills. Let’s consider that you have logged into the server. Right-clicking the Start button or pressing the ‘Win+X’ keys to open the menu should be your next step.
➔ Select ‘Windows PowerShell (Admin)’ & press Yes when the UAC Dialog Box prompts you.
The real beauty of this method lies in typing the command in the correct format.
➔ Here are your 2 commands:
★ Option 1:
| Restart-Service -Force -Name “TermService” |
★ Option 2:
| Restart-Service -Force -DisplayName “Remote Desktop Services” |
Also Read: Windows PowerShell Basic Commands Cheatsheet For You
Wrapup
Restarting RDP without rebooting the entire Windows server is a simple yet powerful way to fix connection issues without causing unnecessary downtime. Instead of disrupting all running services, you can quickly restore remote access by restarting just the required services.
By following the steps in this guide, you can handle RDP glitches more efficiently, keeping your server stable and minimizing impact on users and applications. It’s a smart approach every server administrator should know, saving both time and hassle when things don’t go as expected.