Part of:Addressing issues with Windows 11 remote desktops
What to do when a Windows 11 Remote Desktop keeps freezing
Windows 11 Remote Desktop sessions can freeze due to updates, configuration issues or network problems. Learn how IT admins can troubleshoot and prevent RDP freezes.
When Windows 11 Remote Desktop sessions freeze, the impact extends beyond individual users. For IT leaders responsible for endpoint management and hybrid workforce productivity, frozen remote sessions can interrupt access to business-critical applications and delay operational workflows.
Problems with the Remote Desktop client -- MSTSC.EXE -- on Windows 11 can lead to freezing and hanging sessions. When sessions hang, employees can lose access to line-of-business applications, internal systems and enterprise data hosted in remote environments.
Some general remote desktop best practices, such as making sure remote desktop users have a strong network connection with low latency and accounting for external peripheral hardware, can resolve some of these issues. However, a recent Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) issue has made frozen sessions much more common.
This freezing on Windows 11 is tied to the Windows 11 22H2 release. While Microsoft addressed the underlying bug in later cumulative updates, organizations with inconsistent endpoint patch levels or mixed device configurations can still encounter the issue.
How to fix an RDP session that keeps freezing
Microsoft RDP can run on TCP or UDP, with UDP delivering a more stable connection. However, UDP is tied to the Windows 11 22H2 release issue. Remote desktop administrators can disable UDP with Group Policies as a workaround if they cannot apply the KB5022360 update to all of their clients.
To do this, create a Group Policy Object and browse to Computer Configuration > Administrative templates > Windows components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Connection client.Here, select the group policy Turn Off UDP On Client and enable the policy (Figure 1).
This fix is just a workaround for the underlying problem, however, so running Windows Update is the preferred and more permanent option.
Figure 1. Group Policy setting Turn Off UDP On Client in the Remote Desktop Connection client configuration.
Consider desktop environments beyond traditional RDP
Many organizations now rely on hosted desktop environments such as Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365 instead of connecting directly to physical machines. While these platforms still rely on the Remote Desktop Protocol, the infrastructure supporting the connection is managed in the cloud. If freezing issues occur in these environments, administrators should review host session health, client versions and endpoint network conditions to determine whether the issue originates from the endpoint device or the hosted desktop environment.
Troubleshooting remote desktops in these environments often starts with the same fundamentals as traditional RDP sessions: validating endpoint connectivity, confirming the client software version and verifying that recent Windows updates have been applied. Administrators should also check platform-specific monitoring tools to determine whether the issue stems from the endpoint device, the session host or the broader remote desktop infrastructure.
How to deploy the latest Windows updates to all remote desktops
Maintaining consistent Windows update levels across a distributed device fleet can be challenging, especially in hybrid environments where laptops often operate outside the corporate network for extended periods. This is especially true for the common hybrid work environment with laptops that aren't domain-joined but Microsoft Entra ID hybrid-joined.
Windows administrators used to roll out Windows updates with Windows Server Update Services on all machines, but now they need new methods to ensure all machines have the updates. This is especially important for updates that have a significant effect on performance and UX, such as the update that fixed the freezing issue.
Windows Update for Business, which integrates with Microsoft Intune endpoint management, allows administrators to monitor update compliance across Windows devices and verify that clients are running builds that address stability issues. With Windows Update for Business, it's possible to run reports on all Intune-enrolled Windows 11 client devices and check if they are running the latest Windows 11 build with the issue fixed. IT administrators should use Intune or a management tool with similar capabilities to Windows Update for Business to check the compliance of end-user devices.
In hybrid work environments, consistent patching and endpoint configuration management are critical to maintaining reliable remote access experiences for distributed employees.
Frozen remote sessions can interrupt access to business-critical applications and delay operational workflows.
How to manage Windows updates to prevent version inconsistency
To proactively prevent these version consistency issues, admins can manage Windows update rollouts. This way, if Windows releases a harmful or malfunctioning Windows build, desktop administrators can block it from being installed.
Admins should also test every release and Windows update before deploying it within their organization. Make sure a test script can run on a test device when a new update is released and keep the RDP client open for an extended period during testing.
While this process can be time-consuming, testing new Windows builds against remote access workflows and critical enterprise applications helps IT teams identify stability issues early and maintain reliable remote connectivity across the organization. As remote access continues to support hybrid work environments, maintaining consistent endpoint configurations and update policies is essential to ensuring remote desktop reliability at scale.
Editor's note: This article was updated to reflect current Windows Remote Desktop environments and expanded to include guidance for cloud-hosted desktop platforms.
Chris Twiest works as a technology officer at RawWorks in the Netherlands, focusing on the standardization and automation of IT services.
