Set time limit for active but idle Remote Desktop Services sessions

This policy setting allows you to specify the maximum amount of time that an active Remote Desktop Services session can be idle (without user input) before it is automatically disconnected.

If you enable this policy setting, you must select the desired time limit in the Idle session limit list. Remote Desktop Services will automatically disconnect active but idle sessions after the specified amount of time. The user receives a warning two minutes before the session disconnects, which allows the user to press a key or move the mouse to keep the session active. If you have a console session, idle session time limits do not apply.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the time limit is not specified at the Group Policy level. By default, Remote Desktop Services allows sessions to remain active but idle for an unlimited amount of time.

If you want Remote Desktop Services to end instead of disconnect a session when the time limit is reached, you can configure the policy setting Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Session Time Limits\End session when time limits are reached.

Note: This policy setting appears in both Computer Configuration and User Configuration. If both policy settings are configured, the Computer Configuration policy setting takes precedence.

Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional

Idle session limit:


  1. Never
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value0
  2. 1 minute
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value60000
  3. 5 minutes
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value300000
  4. 10 minutes
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value600000
  5. 15 minutes
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value900000
  6. 30 minutes
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value1800000
  7. 1 hour
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value3600000
  8. 2 hours
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value7200000
  9. 3 hours
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value10800000
  10. 6 hours
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value21600000
  11. 8 hours
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value28800000
  12. 12 hours
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value43200000
  13. 16 hours
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value57600000
  14. 18 hours
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value64800000
  15. 1 day
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value86400000
  16. 2 days
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value172800000
  17. 3 days
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value259200000
  18. 4 days
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value345600000
  19. 5 days
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
    Value NameMaxIdleTime
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value432000000


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Administrative Templates (Computers)

Administrative Templates (Users)