Windows APP/ remote desktop performance is too high.

Question

We are currently facing an issue where Windows App / Remote Desktop disconnects and forces the application to exit unexpectedly during operation. After the disconnection, the Windows desktop becomes abnormal, specifically with the Explorer (explorer.exe) process failing to load or behaving incorrectly.

Based on our investigation so far, we have observed that Windows is consuming an abnormally high amount of local memory when this issue occurs. This problem has been reported by multiple users within our company, not just a single case.

We have already attempted the following mitigation steps:

Updated the graphics driver (via Check update online)

Installed the latest Windows patches

Increased physical memory (from 4 GB to 8 GB)

However, these actions have not resulted in significant improvement, and the issue continues to occur.

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Moved from: Windows Insider program | Windows Insider preview | Performance and maintenance

Answer 1

Thanks for checking that. It sounds like the Windows App itself is the main culprit, especially since memory spikes and auto-updates keep bringing back the issue. Downgrading helps temporarily, but the forced upgrade explains why it returns. A couple of things to confirm: do you have the Microsoft Store auto-update enabled, and is this happening on all machines or just those running your internal time-tracking app? For now, you can try disabling Store updates or using Group Policy to block automatic app updates, then keep the stable version installed. Also, when the virtual memory warning appears, can you check if the paging file is set to “System managed” or a fixed size? If it’s fixed, increasing it might help. Let me know if you can share the Windows App version that works best and whether the issue happens only when the tracking app is active.

Answer 2

Hi Dean, I appreciate you sharing the details. From what you’ve described, the issue seems tied to a memory leak or resource overload during Remote Desktop sessions, which causes Windows to disconnect and Explorer to crash. Let’s start with a few quick checks: when the problem happens, can you open Task Manager and confirm which process is consuming the most memory? Also, are these sessions using features like audio redirection, printer mapping, or clipboard sync? Disabling those in the RDP client settings often helps. If you can, try restarting the “Remote Desktop Services” and “Explorer” processes instead of rebooting the whole machine to see if stability returns. Lastly, have you noticed if this happens more on Windows 11 or after a recent update?

Regards,

Rez

Answer 3

It seems that you are experiencing performance issues with Windows applications and Remote Desktop, particularly with high memory consumption and unexpected disconnections. Here are some troubleshooting steps and considerations that may help address the problem:

1. Monitor Resource Consumption: Use Task Manager to check for any processes that are consuming an unusual amount of memory or CPU. This can help identify if a specific application or service is causing the issue.
2. Session Leaks: As mentioned in the context, session leaks can occur, particularly due to non-Microsoft software or security applications that interact with RDP sessions. Consider uninstalling or disabling any non-Microsoft software temporarily to see if the issue persists.
3. Memory Leaks: If you suspect a memory leak, monitor the memory usage over time. If it increases without being released, it may indicate a leak in an application. Restarting the Remote Desktop Services (RDS) service can temporarily alleviate the issue, but it will disconnect all users.
4. Performance Tuning: Optimize applications for Remote Desktop Session Host by minimizing background processing, reducing the frequency of state checks, and disabling unnecessary startup processes. This can help reduce CPU and memory usage.
5. Update Non-Microsoft Software: Ensure that all third-party applications, especially those that interact with RDP, are fully updated. Sometimes, outdated software can cause compatibility issues leading to high resource consumption.
6. Check for Black Screen Issues: If users are experiencing black screens, ensure that the appropriate updates for Windows and the Remote Desktop services are applied, as specific updates address these issues.
7. Increase Virtual Machine Resources: If applicable, consider increasing the size of the virtual machine or reducing the number of concurrent users to improve performance.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to gather more detailed logs or performance data and possibly reach out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

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References:

• Remote Desktop Service is currently busy message during RDP connections
• Poor performance or application problems during remote desktop connection
• Performance Tuning Remote Desktop Session Hosts