If you are actively using remote connections to your workstations, Windows servers or RDS farms using the RDP protocol, it is likely you have come across a problem when the clipboard is not working in a Remote Desktop session. So you cannot transfer [copy/paste] a text or files between your computer and a remote host. The problem occurs both in Windows Server and in desktop Windows versions.
Two scenarios are possible: copying files/data using RDP is not allowed on a remote server or rdpclip.exe process has crashed in the current user session.
RDP Clipboard [Rdpclip.exe] Stops Working in Remote Desktop Session
If the clipboard in RDP session has stopped working unexpectedly, and Paste option in the context menu has become inactive, it is easier to end the current RDP session correctly [logoff] and re-connect. This will fix the Remote Desktop clipboard issue for sure. However, it is not always convenient, because you have to re-open all apps in your RDP session again. Fortunately, there is a way to restore correct clipboard operation in a RDP session without logging off.
Rdpclip.exe is responsible for clipboard operation between your local computer and the Remote Desktop host. A separate rdpclip.exe process is started for each remote user session when they connect to the Remote Desktop. Using the Task Manager, you can kill the rdpclip.exe [RDP Clipboard Monitor] process and run it manually [Task Manager -> File -> Start new task -> rdpclip -> Enter].
Usually it helps to restore the remote clipboard operation quickly. Make sure if copy/paste [Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V] is working in the RDP session.
Remember that in order to copy data via the RDP clipboard, the following conditions must be met:
- The remote clipboard must be enabled in the settings of the RDP client you are using to connect to a remote computer. Check Clipboard in the Choose the devices and resources that you want to use in your remote session section in the Local Resources tab of the built-in mstsc.exe client;
- Copying and pasting data using the clipboard must also be allowed on the RDP/RDS host [see below for how to do this].
How to Allow/Prevent Copy and Paste via RDP Clipboard on Windows?
You can enable or disable the use of the RDP clipboard on the Windows host for copy and paste operations by using Group Policy or Registry settings.
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- Run the Local Group Policy Editor: gpedit.msc
- Go to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Remote Desktop Services -> Remote Desktop Session Host -> Device and Resource Redirection;
- To prevent copying data to/from a remote server using the clipboard of a RDP session, set Enabled for the following policies:
Do not allow Clipboard redirection [Clipboard redirection is used to copy text or files using the clipboard in RDP]
Do not allow drive redirection [Drive mapping/redirection allows a user to get access to their local drives in a RDP session. It is also used when copying files]
- If you want to force using the RDP clipboard, change the values of the settings to Disabled [by default, using RDPClip to copy data between a local computer and a remote RDP host is allowed]
- Update the Group Policy settings using gpupdate /force. In order new settings to be applied to users, they must end their RDP sessions [using logoff instead of disconnect] or wait for automatic disconnection of user sessions according to RDS timeouts.
If you are using RDS hosts running on Windows Server, you can disable the clipboard and the local drives redirection in the collection settings: Remote Desktop Services -> Collections -> Tasks -> Edit Properties -> Client Settings. Uncheck Clipboard and Drives options in the Enable redirecting for the following section.
If you want to deny copying to/from a RDP session for users only, but not the administrators, you can change the NTFS permissions on the executable C:\windows\system32\rdpclip.exe. To do it, uncheck Read/Execute permissions for the built-in Users group in the file’s security properties and remove the group from the list [you will have to change the file owner from TrustedInstaller to another one first].
In this article, you will learn about, How to enable Copy and Paste [Clipboard] in Remote Desktop? This is a quick article, in which we have covered Windows, macOS, Android, and IOS platforms.
What is Clipboard?
The clipboard is a temporary buffer content, in which content will be stored temporarily in system RAM. For example, if you copy anything, temporarily that content/input will be copied in the Clipboard.
How to enable Copy and Paste [Clipboard] for Remote Desktop in Windows?
If you are having a Windows Operating system [7,10, etc], you already have a Remote Desktop Connection application installed on the system.
1. Get started by searching “Remote Desktop Connection” or “mstsc” in the search box.
2. Click on “Show Options” → “Local Resources“.
3. Check the option “Clipboard” within “Local devices and resources“.
How to enable Copy and Paste [Clipboard] for Remote Desktop in Android?
1. Open the “Remote Desktop” application by Microsoft Corporation.
2. Click on “•••” → “Edit”
3. Navigate to the “Device & Audio Redirection” and check the option “Clipboard” as shown in the below Image.
4. Click on “Save“, to keep the changes.
How to enable Copy and Paste [Clipboard] for Remote Desktop in macOS?
1. Download the “Microsoft Remote Desktop” client from the Mac App Store.
2. Now open the “Microsoft Remote Desktop” application and click on “PCs“, next click on “+” → Add PC.
3. Navigate to the “Devices & Audio” option.
4. Check the “Clipboard” option.
5. Click on “Add/Save” to keep the changes.
How to enable Copy and Paste [Clipboard] for Remote Desktop in IOS?
1. Download the “Microsoft Remote Desktop” client from the Apple App Store.
2. Now open the “Microsoft Remote Desktop” application and click on “PCs“, next click on “+” → Add PC.
3. Navigate to the “DEVICES & AUDIO REDIRECTION” section, and “enable/turn on” the “Clipboard” option.
4. Click on “Save” to keep the changes.
How to troubleshoot the clipboard?
Sometimes copy and paste feature doesn’t work due to any reason. If you caught up in an issue like this, then follow the below steps to fix it,
1. Navigate to Windows → Task Manager.
2. Navigate to “Processes“.
3. Select the process “rdpclip.exe” then click on “End task“.
4. Now, click on File → Run new task.
5. Enter “rdpclip.exe” → OK.