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Remote Desktop Slow? Try These Fixes

Author: Helga York
Helga York Article author
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Due to the amount of bandwidth required by an RDP session, they are often slow even on high-end hardware and good networks, but this can be exacerbated further by a network issue. In this article, we will explain how to minimize lag or find out the source of said issues.

Diagnose the RDP Performance Problem

It’s important to know the source of your lag, and whether you can affect the situation in the first place. This can be done with the help of the Windows Terminal, and the ping command. As an example, open the terminal by clicking Win+X and selecting it from the menu.
The Windows Terminal being opened via Win+X

From the terminal window, you can ping the IP address of the computer you’re trying to connect to, and see if there is any lag.

Pinging a local server
It’s also useful to ping 8.8.8.8, which is a common way to check your internet connection. If the local address of the other computer shows a large ping, but your connection to 8.8.8.8 is fine, then the problem is not with your computer.
Pinging 8.8.8.8, a public Google server

How to Reduce Remote Desktop Lag with Settings

  1. Open the Remote Desktop Connection client by searching for it on the Windows menu bar.

    Search bar used to find the Windows Remote Desktop Connection client

  2. Open “Show Options”.

    The button to expand options is located at the bottom right

  3. Open the Display tab. Here, you can reduce the stream resolution and color depth to reduce the required bandwidth.

    The minimal color depth is 15 bit, which is suitable for support work

  4. Under the Experience tab, you can also select a mode that will potentially reduce lag.

    Intended connection quality ranges from modem to 10 Mbps LAN

  5. Finally, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc and select the Details tab.

    The Task Manager with the Details tab highlighted on the left

  6. Search for “mstsc”, right-click the process, and set the priority higher.

    Task priority can be set from the context menu
The performance should improve, and if it doesn’t, try to diagnose your connection.

HelpWire: an Internet-based Alternative to RDP

If a direct link is working poorly, try HelpWire, a free remote access app for Windows, Linux, and macOS. An internet connection can sometimes bypass local network issues, especially if the host or the guest is behind NAT. HelpWire is a free remote desktop service with all the features necessary for customer support – or simply helping your close ones.

Whether it’s multiple monitors, or poor reception, HelpWire has settings to ensure that every session host is supported. And if you have a HelpWire account, you can also save session history and organize support teams.

How to Start Using HelpWire

  1. Get the portable HelpWire client on the guest computer – the host computer does not need one yet.

    OS selection on the HelpWire website

  2. HelpWire needs firewall access, so allow it when prompted.

    Windows Security access confirmation

  3. Copy the link that you get when launching HelpWire and use email or a messenger to give it to the host.

    The link can be regenerated or copied with the nearby buttons

  4. The link leads to a temporary client, generated for every HelpWire session. The session host should download and launch it.

    A HelpWire client download in progress

  5. Finally, the session should be approved by clicking “Grant access”.

    For safety reasons, the session can't be started without a manual confirmation

Frequently Asked Questions

Remote computer access is usually very taxing, since it’s basically a video of the host’s screen being recorded and streamed to your machine. In addition, the source of the problem could simply be bad network connection, and not necessarily yours.

Ping the other computer, then a different remote server. If the remote connection works fine but a local one doesn’t, then the problem isn’t on your end, since Internet traffic still has to be routed over the local network.

Tags:
RDP, Windows