Troubleshoot copy and paste errors with Remote Desktop

This article describes how to troubleshoot copy and paste errors with Microsoft® Windoes® Remote Desktop.

This article applies to Windows® 2008, 2012, and 2016.

Check client settings

Before going into OS-specific troubleshooting, you should first check your own client settings by using
the following steps:

1. Open the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) client that you use to connect to your server.
2. Navigate to the Local Resources tab.
3. Make sure that you check the Clipboard option because this allows you to copy and paste text.
4. Click More, check the Drives option, click OK, and then click OK again.

Checking the Clipboard option enables copying and pasting only for text, and not for files. If you only
need to copy and paste text, and not files, you can stop here.

Windows 2008

For Windows 2008, use the following steps:

1. Launch Remote Desktop Host Configuration from the server.
2. Under Connections, right-click the connection and select Properties.
3. Click on the Client Settings tab.
4. Uncheck Clipboard for copying and pasting for text, and for files, make sure Drive is unchecked.

Windows 2012

For Windows 2012, use the following steps:

1. Open Server Manager.
2. Select Remote Desktop Services.
3. Select Collections.
4. Select Tasks and then choose Edit Properties.
5. Under the Client Settings tab, make sure both Clipboard and Drive are enabled.

Windows 2016

For Windows 2016, you need to control these settings within the Group Policy instead of using
the Server Manager.

1. Launch gpedit.msc.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host.
3. Ensure Do not allow Clipboard redirection is set to Not Configured or Disabled.

After you try all these troubleshooting steps, you might need to restart the server or open the
Task Manager and end the rdpclip process.