How to Restart Terminal Services (Remote Desktop Services) in Windows

Terminal Services, now known as Remote Desktop Services (RDS), is a crucial component of Windows operating systems, allowing users to access applications and data remotely. While generally stable, there are situations where restarting the service becomes necessary to resolve issues like connection problems, application errors, or general sluggishness. This comprehensive guide details various methods to restart Terminal Services on Windows servers and desktops, providing step-by-step instructions and considerations for each approach.

Understanding Terminal Services (Remote Desktop Services)

Before diving into the restart procedures, it’s important to understand what Terminal Services/RDS is and its role in a Windows environment.

• Core Functionality: RDS enables multiple users to simultaneously access and run applications on a central server. These users connect to the server via the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).
• Components: RDS comprises several key components, including the Remote Desktop Session Host (RD Session Host), Remote Desktop Connection Broker, Remote Desktop Gateway, and Remote Desktop Licensing server.
• Use Cases: RDS is widely used in businesses for centralized application deployment, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), and remote access solutions.
• Troubleshooting Needs: Restarting the RDS service can resolve various issues, such as:
• Users being unable to connect to the server.
• Applications freezing or crashing within remote sessions.
• Performance degradation across remote sessions.
• Licensing problems preventing new connections.

Methods to Restart Terminal Services

Here are several methods to restart Terminal Services, ranked generally from least disruptive to more impactful:

1. Restarting the Service via Services.msc

This is the most common and often the safest way to restart Terminal Services. It involves using the Services management console.

1. Open the Services Management Console:
• Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type services.msc and press Enter.
2. Locate the Remote Desktop Services:
• In the Services window, scroll down to find the service named Remote Desktop Services (or Terminal Services on older Windows versions).
3. Restart the Service:
• Right-click on Remote Desktop Services.
• Select Restart from the context menu. Windows will attempt to gracefully shut down and restart the service.
4. Verify the Restart:
• After the service restarts, its status should show as Running.
• Test remote connections to ensure the service is functioning correctly.
5. Troubleshooting if the Restart Fails:
• Check the Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc) for any errors related to the Remote Desktop Services that might explain why the restart failed.
• Ensure that the service’s dependencies are also running (see the Dependencies tab in the service’s properties).

2. Restarting the Service via Command Prompt

The command prompt offers a quick and efficient way to restart Terminal Services, especially for automation or remote administration.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
• Click the Start button.
• Type cmd.
• Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
2. Stop the Service:
• Type the following command and press Enter:

net stop "Remote Desktop Services"

• (or, for older systems)

net stop "Terminal Services"

• Confirm the service is stopped successfully. The command prompt will display a message indicating whether the service stopped without errors.
3. Start the Service:
• Type the following command and press Enter:

net start "Remote Desktop Services"

• (or, for older systems)

net start "Terminal Services"

• Verify the service starts successfully.
4. Alternative using sc command:
• The sc command is another way to control services.
• To stop: sc stop "Remote Desktop Services"
• To start: sc start "Remote Desktop Services"
5. Troubleshooting Command Prompt Restart Issues:
• Ensure the command prompt is running with administrator privileges.
• Double-check the service name for typos (case-insensitive, but spaces and special characters matter).
• Examine the System event log for error messages related to the service start or stop failure.

3. Restarting the Service via PowerShell

PowerShell provides a more robust and scriptable way to manage services, including Terminal Services.

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator:
• Click the Start button.
• Type powershell.
• Right-click on Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator.
2. Restart the Service:
• Type the following command and press Enter:

Restart-Service -Name "Remote Desktop Services" -Force

• The -Force parameter ensures that the restart is attempted even if there are dependent services.
3. Alternative Stop and Start Commands:
• To stop the service: Stop-Service -Name "Remote Desktop Services" -Force
• To start the service: Start-Service -Name "Remote Desktop Services"
4. Checking the Service Status:
• Use the command: Get-Service -Name "Remote Desktop Services" to verify that the status shows as ‘Running’.
5. Troubleshooting PowerShell Restarts:
• Ensure PowerShell is running with administrative privileges.
• Check the spelling of the service name.
• Look at the PowerShell error output for specific details about the failure.

4. Restarting the Server

This is the most drastic method and should only be used as a last resort if the other methods fail. Restarting the entire server will interrupt all services and user sessions.

1. Save All Work and Notify Users:
• Before restarting the server, ensure all users are notified and have saved their work. Unsaved data will be lost.
2. Restart the Server:
• Click the Start button.
• Click the Power icon.
• Select Restart.
3. Alternative Restart via Command Line:
• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Type shutdown /r /t 0 and press Enter.
• The /r switch indicates a restart, and /t 0 sets the timeout to 0 seconds.
4. Alternative Restart via PowerShell:
• Open PowerShell as Administrator.
• Type Restart-Computer -Force and press Enter.
• The -Force parameter ensures that the computer restarts without prompting for confirmation.
5. After the Restart:
• Verify that the server restarts successfully and that Terminal Services is running.
• Check the Event Viewer for any startup errors.

Important Considerations and Best Practices

• Notify Users: Before restarting Terminal Services, always notify users to save their work and log off. This prevents data loss and ensures a smooth transition.
• Schedule Downtime: If possible, schedule restarts during off-peak hours to minimize disruption to users.
• Check Dependencies: Before restarting Terminal Services, ensure that its dependent services are running. These services might include licensing services, network services, and database services.
• Review Event Logs: After restarting the service, review the Event Viewer for any errors or warnings related to Terminal Services. This can help identify the root cause of the issue and prevent future problems.
• Consider a Rolling Restart: In larger environments with multiple RDS servers, consider performing a rolling restart. This involves restarting one server at a time, allowing users to connect to other servers while the first one is restarting. This minimizes downtime and ensures continuous access to applications and data.
• Monitor Performance: After restarting Terminal Services, monitor its performance closely to ensure that the issue has been resolved and that the service is functioning optimally. Use performance monitoring tools to track CPU usage, memory usage, and network traffic.
• Persistent Issues: If restarting the service doesn’t resolve the underlying issue, further troubleshooting may be necessary. This could involve checking system logs, examining application configurations, or contacting Microsoft support.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are some common issues you might encounter and how to troubleshoot them after restarting Terminal Services:

• Users Still Cannot Connect:
• Firewall: Ensure the Windows Firewall (or any other firewall) allows RDP traffic (typically port 3389).
• Network Connectivity: Verify that the client machine has network connectivity to the server.
• User Permissions: Confirm that the user account has the necessary permissions to connect via Remote Desktop. Check the “Remote Desktop Users” group.
• RD Session Host Configuration: Check the RD Session Host configuration for any settings that might be limiting connections (e.g., maximum number of connections, time limits). This can be found in the RD Session Host Configuration tool (tsconfig.msc).
• Applications are Still Crashing:
• Application Logs: Examine the application event logs for errors related to the crashing applications.
• Resource Constraints: Check CPU and memory usage on the server. If resources are constrained, consider upgrading the server’s hardware.
• Application Compatibility: Ensure that the applications are compatible with the server’s operating system and RDS environment.
• Driver Issues: Check for updated drivers for video cards or other hardware components.
• Performance Remains Slow:
• Resource Monitoring: Use Performance Monitor to identify resource bottlenecks (CPU, memory, disk I/O, network).
• User Profile Issues: Large or corrupted user profiles can slow down performance. Consider cleaning up or recreating user profiles.
• Group Policy: Review Group Policy settings that might be affecting performance (e.g., disk quotas, software installation policies).
• Network Latency: Check network latency between the client and the server. High latency can significantly impact performance.
• Licensing Errors:
• License Server Availability: Verify that the Remote Desktop Licensing server is running and reachable.
• License Configuration: Check the RD Session Host configuration to ensure that it is properly configured to use the licensing server.
• Sufficient Licenses: Ensure that you have enough RDS licenses for the number of users connecting to the server.

Automating Terminal Services Restarts

In some situations, you might want to automate the process of restarting Terminal Services, especially if it needs to be done regularly. This can be achieved using scheduled tasks or PowerShell scripts.

• Scheduled Task:
• Create a new scheduled task in Task Scheduler.
• Configure the task to run at a specific time or on a specific schedule.
• Set the action to run a PowerShell script or a command to restart the service. For example, the action could be:
• Program/script: powershell.exe
• Add arguments (optional): -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\scripts\RestartRDService.ps1"
• PowerShell Script:
• Create a PowerShell script (e.g., RestartRDService.ps1) with the following content:

# Restart-RDService.ps1
# Restart the Remote Desktop Services

Write-Host "Stopping Remote Desktop Services..."
Stop-Service -Name "Remote Desktop Services" -Force

Write-Host "Starting Remote Desktop Services..."
Start-Service -Name "Remote Desktop Services"

Write-Host "Remote Desktop Services restarted."

# Optionally log the event to the event log
Write-EventLog -LogName Application -Source "RestartRDService" -EventId 1000 -EntryType Information -Message "Remote Desktop Services restarted by scheduled task."

• Adjust the script as needed for your environment.
• Make sure the script is properly secured and that the user account running the scheduled task has the necessary permissions to restart the service.

Conclusion

Restarting Terminal Services (Remote Desktop Services) is a common troubleshooting step that can resolve various issues. By understanding the different methods available and following best practices, you can effectively manage and maintain your RDS environment. Remember to always notify users, schedule downtime when possible, and review event logs to ensure a smooth and reliable remote access experience. If simple restarts don’t resolve the issues, further investigation into application logs, server resources, and network connectivity may be required.