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Updated on Published on July 21, 2025 in How to

Remote Desktop Slow? Try These Fixes

Author: Helga York
Helga York Article author
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An RDP session streams the remote screen to your computer, so it depends on the bandwidth and latency of the network between the two machines. This article shows how to find where the slowdown comes from and which Remote Desktop settings reduce it.

 If you’d rather skip the diagnostics and settings tweaks below, try HelpWire. It uses a direct connection when possible, with relay as a fallback.

Quick Comparison: Remote Desktop vs HelpWire

 

Remote Desktop (RDP)

HelpWire

Connection path

Performance depends on the bandwidth and latency of the network between the two machines

Uses a direct connection when possible, with relay as a fallback

Reaching a device behind NAT or on another network

Needs port forwarding or a VPN

Connects over the internet, using relay when a direct connection isn’t possible

Speed vs. image quality

Adjusted manually via Show Options → Display/Experience (see below)

Same trade-off, via a speed/quality priority setting

Starting a session

Requires enabling Remote Desktop and network access if the machines aren’t on the same network

Share a link; the other side opens it

If you’d rather try to fix the RDP connection itself first, start by finding out where the slowdown is actually coming from.

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 pressing 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: Internet-Based Alternative to RDP

If RDP stays slow after these fixes, or you need to reach a computer on another network, try HelpWire, a remote support app for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It uses a direct connection when possible and falls back to a relay when a direct path isn’t available.

HelpWire is remote support software for IT teams and technicians. You can also use it when a friend or relative needs help with their computer.

HelpWire supports multi-monitor setups — you can view up to two screens at a time — and lets you prioritize speed over image quality on slower connections. And if you have a HelpWire account, you can also save session history and manage your team’s access.

How to Start Using HelpWire

  1. Install the HelpWire operator app on your own computer – the other person’s computer doesn’t need anything installed 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 other person.

    The link can be regenerated or copied with the nearby buttons

  4. The link leads to a temporary HelpWire client app. The other person should download and launch it on their computer.

    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 remote computer, then ping a public server such as 8.8.8.8. If the public server responds quickly but the remote computer doesn’t, your own connection is likely fine and the delay is on the remote side or somewhere between you.
Tags:
RDP, Windows