This guide shows you how to keep your Windows Server session active indefinitely — even after you disconnect from Remote Desktop — by configuring session time-limit policies in the Local Group Policy Editor.
Step-by-Step: Configure Session Time Limits via Group Policy
Step #1: Open the Start Menu
Click the Start Menu or press the Windows key.
In the search bar, type group, then click Edit group policy.
Step #2: Open the Local Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor window will open, showing several folders in the left pane.
Step #3: Expand Administrative Templates
In the left panel:
Click Computer Configuration to reveal more folders below it.
Expand Administrative Templates
Step #4: Open Windows Components
Inside the expanded Administrative Templates, scroll down and click:
Windows Components
Step #5: Navigate to Remote Desktop Services
Scroll down until you find Remote Desktop Services, expand it, and click Remote Desktop Session Host.
Step #6: Open Session Time Limits
Click Session Time Limits. You'll see several policy settings related to session timeouts.
Step #7: Edit the Disconnected Session Setting
Right-click Set time limit for disconnected sessions and click Edit (or select it and click the policy setting link on the left).
Step #8: Enable the Policy
On the left, select Enabled. Once set, the End a disconnected session option at the bottom becomes editable.
Make sure that option is left on Never.
Click Apply.
Click OK.
Repeat this for all three of the following settings:
Set time limit for disconnected sessions
Set time limit for active but idle Remote Desktop Services sessions
Set time limit for active Remote Desktop Services sessions
Step #9: Open Command Prompt
After enabling the policy, open the Start Menu again and search for Command Prompt (or press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter).
Step #10: Update the Group Policy
Run this command and press Enter:
gpupdate /force
You should see:
Computer Policy update has completed successfully.
User Policy update has completed successfully.
Result
Your Windows Server session will now remain active indefinitely, even if you disconnect from Remote Desktop.
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