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Updated on in How to, Troubleshooting

RDP Wrapper Issues: 6 Problems and Solutions

Author: Durga Prasad
Durga Prasad Article author

RDP Wrapper is a popular tool that you can use to run multiple Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connections if your Windows version doesn’t offer native support for this feature. 

In this article, we’ll learn various workarounds to fix “RDP Wrapper not supported” issues on your Windows computer. We’ll also talk about an alternative solution, HelpWire, to solve rdpwrap issues if you’re looking for a stable and efficient way to run RDP connections without having to patch your system files.

Warning:  RDP Wrapper modifies your system files, which may render your system unstable and bring security risks. Since Microsoft offers no native support for RDP Wrapper, Windows updates could affect system functionality. This may need you to fix the issue manually. Risks, such as license policy violations and system vulnerabilities, may also occur if you edit termsrv.dll or rdpwrap.ini.

Problem 1: "Listener State: Not Supported" Error in RDPConf.exe

In RDPConf.exe, you see the status “Running” for Service State and “Installed” for Wrapper State, but “Not Supported” for Listener State. This means you’ve installed RDP Wrapper on your Windows computer and the tool is in an active state. However, the tool has not been properly connected to the RDP service. 

What’s the Reason Behind this Problem? The Listener State may show as unsupported because updates in Windows replace important system files, such as termsrv.dll. But the RDP Wrapper relies on this file to function. It will be incompatible if you don’t update rdpwrap.ini to recognize the changed termsrv.dll file. 

And when that happens, you may see this error – “Listener State: Not Supported”. Also, your antivirus software or Windows Defender may block RDP Wrapper, so it can’t make system changes, aggravating the RDP Wrapper listener state not supported issue.

How to Resolve the “Listener State: Not Supported” Error

  1. Download the updated rdpwrap.ini file:

    • Visit the RDP Wrapper GitHub repository. 

    • Go to the Issues section where users share modified rdpwrap.ini files. Download the most recent file onto your computer.

  2. Replace the rdpwrap.ini file:

    • Go to: C:\Program Files\RDP Wrapper\

    • Replace the old rdpwrap.ini with the most recent file that you have downloaded.

  3. Restart Remote Desktop Services:

    Once you’re done replacing the file, restart the Remote Desktop Services. 

    • Launch Command Prompt (Admin). Run the following commands:

    net stop termservice

    net start termservice

    • Check if the status for “Listener State” has changed to “Listening” by running RDPConf.exe.

Problem 2: "RDP Wrapper Not Supported" Error in RDPConf.exe

When you open RDPConf.exe, you see this error message “RDP Wrapper Not Supported” in Windows 11, inside the diagnostic section. This means RDP Wrapper is not working on your system.

What’s the Reason Behind this Problem? If the RDP Wrapper can’t recognize the current Windows version, you may face the above error. When you update your Windows system, it modifies the termsrv.dll file, which changes how Remote Desktop functions. 

You will see the “Not Supported” message in RDPConf.exeif you have an outdated RDP Wrapper version installed on your computer or the tool’s configuration file, rdpwrap.ini, is incompatible with the latest Windows versions. 

How to Resolve the “RDP Wrapper Not Supported” Issue

Follow the steps below if you face the issue “RDP Wrapper Not Supported Windows 11”:

  1. Uninstall RDP Wrapper:

    • Launch Command Prompt (Admin). Run the command below:
    cd C:\Program Files\RDP Wrapper\ uninstall.bat

    • After uninstalling the tool, restart your Windows computer.

  2. Download and install the updated RDP Wrapper:

    • Go to the GitHub Repository to download the RDP Wrapper’s latest version.

    • Extract the files and execute install.bat on your computer 

    • Run the RDPConf.exe file and find out if you see the status “Supported” displayed for RDP Wrapper.

Problem 3: Broken RDP Wrapper Due to Windows Updates

RDP Wrapper worked fine on your computer. But after you installed a Windows update on the same computer, RDP Wrapper stopped working. So, when you open RDPConf.exe, you may see the message “Not Supported”, “Not Listening”, or simply fail to function for the RDP Wrapper. 

What’s the Reason Behind this Problem? RDP Wrapper uses the termsrv.dll file to execute multiple Remote Desktop connections on a computer. When Windows updates replace or modify termsrv.dll files with a new version, RDP Wrapper can’t function correctly on the computer.

How to Resolve the “Windows Update Broke RDP Wrapper” Issue

If the Windows update has broken the RDP Wrapper functionality in your computer, follow the steps below to resolve the issue:

  1. Determine Windows version: Find out what version of Microsoft Windows is running on your computer. 

    • Run: winver

    • Jot down the Windows build number (e.g., 10.0.22621).

  2. Get a patched and compatible termsrv.dll file:

    • Go to GitHub Issues and search for various compatible and patched termsrv.dll files.

    • Back up the existing file: For safety, it’s recommended to back up the current termsrv.dll file. Run the following commands to back up the file:
    copy C:\Windows\System32\termsrv.dll

    C:\Windows\System32\termsrv.dll.bak

  3. Replace the termsrv.dll file:

    • Retain the file ownership:
    takeown /F C:\Windows\System32\termsrv.dll

    • Rename the old file version (termsrv.dll.bak). Now, paste the patched file version to replace the file with the latest and most compatible one.

  4. Restart RDP: 

    After replacing the file, you may want to restart the RDP service to ensure the changes are applied successfully. 

    net stop termservice

    net start termservice

    • Execute RDPConf.exe to check if the RDP Wrapper works on your computer and the status has changed from “Not Supported” to “Supported”.

Problem 4: Remote Desktop Connection Fails, But RDPConf.exe is "Installed" and "Running"

You can’t set up a remote desktop connection to a system despite the RDPConf.exe showing “Installed” and “Running” for the RDP Wrapper on your computer.  

What’s the Reason Behind this Problem? You may face this issue if RDP connections are blocked by Windows Firewall or another service is using port 3389. 

How to Resolve Remote Desktop Connection Failures, Despite RDPConf.exe "Installed" and "Running"

Even after the RDP Wrapper is installed and running on your computer, you may face trouble connecting to a system remotely via RDP. If that’s the issue with you, here’s how to solve it.

  1. Find if Port 3389 is open:

    • Run:
    netstat -an | find "3389"

    • If it yields no result, launch port 3389 in Windows Firewall.

  2. Go to Windows Firewall settings:

    Enable “Remote Desktop” for both Public and Private networks.

Problem 5: Only a Single Connection Allowed in RDP Wrapper

Although RDP Wrapper is installed and running on your computer, only a single user can connect to a remote computer at a time. This means you can’t establish multiple connections simultaneously, which is a need in business environments. 

What’s the Reason Behind this Problem? Windows Group Policy settings restrict the number of simultaneous remote desktop sessions. This could be the reason why you’re facing the issue.

How to Resolve the “Only a Single Connection Allowed” Issue in RDP Wrapper

Follow the steps below if the RDP Wrapper doesn’t allow simultaneous connections:

  1. Change Windows Group Policy settings:

    • Launch gpedit.msc. Run:

    Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Remote Desktop Services → Remote Desktop Session Host → Connections>

    • Enable this – “Limit number of connections”. Set the number to 999999.

Problem 6: Blocked RDP Wrapper

You have installed RDP Wrapper on your computer, but Remote Desktop is still not working.

What’s the Reason Behind this Problem? If Windows Group Policy settings or registry settings block Remote Desktop access, you may face this problem.

How to fix the Blocked RDP Wrapper

If RDP Wrapper is blocked by Windows registry or Group Policy settings, do this to unblock it:

  1. Change Windows registry Settings:

    • Launch Regedit. Go to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server

    • Set fDenyTSConnections to 0.

By applying the above fixes, you should be able to use RDP Wrapper without any issues. However, if you face these issues frequently, resolving them would consume a lot of time. In this case, you may want to switch to a better remote desktop solution that offers more effective and trouble-free remote desktop access. HelpWire is an excellent solution. Let’s explore the tool.

Alternative Solution: HelpWire for Efficient Remote Desktop Access

HelpWire is an excellent remote desktop solution that you can use to connect to systems and carry out troubleshooting, tech support, and other tasks without hassles. 

Compared to RDP Wrapper, which is prone to many technical issues, HelpWire is a secure and reliable tool to enable remote desktop access. It provides more stable and unattended remote access without requiring manual fixes. 

So, if you are an IT professional or a business owner with frequent remote access needs, HelpWire is a great option for you. It will give you ironclad security features and advanced functionalities, such as multi-user remote desktop access, automatic updates, client management, and more.

Why Choose HelpWire for Remote Desktop Access?

Businesses from across the globe choose HelpWire for their remote desktop access needs for a number of reasons. Let’s understand what makes HelpWire special:

  • • Remote Access & Control: It’s stable and requires no extra system modifications.
  • • Unattended Access: You can enjoy secure unattended access without the fear of breaking after system updates.
  • • Secure Messaging: HelpWire protects your messages in real time during remote sessions.
  • • Client Management: You get a client management feature to be able to track system performance, session issues, and more and resolve them quickly. 
  • • Role-Based Access (RBA): HelpWire offers role-based access (RBA) permissions to ensure only the right people with the right level of access can access your resources. This makes it more secure than RDP Wrapper.
Tags:
RDP Wrapper, Tips & Tricks