Fixed: Idle Timer Expired Keeps Popping Up [3 Solutions]
This post introduces how to fix idle timer expired keeps popping up when using RDP. If you are facing the same problem, you are going to the right place. We prepare several tested solutions for you. Read on to learn more!
By Hester / Updated on December 13, 2024
Why do I keep getting idle timer expired?
Hi, I, like most, use RDP to do some critical work on my remote computer at once. As of yesterday ‘idle timer expired’ keeps popping up across my monitor from time to time. If I didn’t notice it, I will get logged off, I need to then re-log on, re-open my now potentially lost work, and start again. Why do I keep getting idle timer expired? How to keep the RDP session alive?”
- Question from a user
“Idle timer expired” occurs if a policy setting enforces a time limit for idle Remote Desktop sessions. If an active session has not received user input for the time that is specified in the policy setting, the session disconnects.
How to fix idle timer expired keeps popping up
RDP is a Windows built-in remote desktop tool that is widely used among users. However, “idle timer expired” may cause a lot troubles to many users. Here in this part ,we will cover how to avoid session timeout.
Solution1. Configure timeout settings in Group Policy
The first solution is to change RDP session timeout group policy.
Step 1.Press Win+R, type in "gpedit.msc”, and hit OK to open Local Group Policy Editor.
Step 2. Go to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Session Time Limits. Click Set time limit for disconnected sessions on the right pane.
Step 3. Tick Enabled and select Never beside End a disconnected session, then press OK to take effect.
Step 4. Back to Session Time Limits interface, click Set time limit for active but idle Remote Desktop Services session, tick Enabled, and select Never beside Idle session limit. Click OK after that.
Step 5. Back to Session Time Limits interface, click Set time limit for active Remote Desktop Services session, tick Enabled, select Never beside Active session limit, and hit OK.
Solution2. Add a registry key
When idle timer expired keeps popping up, you can also add a registry key to keep the RDP session alive.
Step 1. Press Win + R, type in “regedit”, and press Enter.
Step 2. Navigate to: Computer > HKLM\SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Terminal Server. Right click WinStations, and select New>DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Step 3. Name it as KeepAliveEnable, set the value data to 1, and tick “Decimal” under Base, then click OK to take effect.
Solution 3. Switch to RDP alternative without time limit
If both the solutions do not work out or you don’t want to perform the complicated settings. You can switch to the best RDP alternative AnyViewer to perform remote tasks without time limit.
As all-in-one remote desktop software, AnyViewer supports safe attended/unattended remote access, high-speed file transfer, convenient remote support, etc. Besides, it has the following advantages over RDP:
- No time limit.
- Fast & Stable remote connection.
- Over-internet supported.
- Windows compatible. (including Windows Home/Standard edition)
- Considerate built-in options. (chat, image quality, resolution, etc.)
Download AnyViewer on your devices, and then we will show you how to establish a remote session.
Step 1. Launch AnyViewer on host computer, go to Log in, and click Sign up.
Step 2. Fill the information and click Sign up.
Step 3. Launch AnyViewer on client computer, log in to the same account, and the client PC will be assigned to the account automatically.
Step 4. Go to Device, select the computer you want to remote into, and click One-click control.
Then you can see the remote computer and control it, there are a lot of built-in operations in the toolbar for you to improve the efficiency.
- Notes:✎...You can also upgrade to a Professional or Enterprise plan then the following rights will thereafter be yours:
- Assign more devices.
- More concurrent connection channels for an Enterprise plan.
- More simultaneous sessions.
- Transfer unlimited files at once.
- ...
Conclusion
This post introduce how to fix idle timer expired keeps popping up when performing RDP. If you are not familiar with the settings mentioned above, we recommend you use AnyViewer to achieve one-click remote control without time limit.
