About setting up a dedicated shell for RemoteApp when configuring RemoteApp on Windows Server 2025

Question

In a Windows Server 2025 environment, I am configuring RemoteApp in a WorkGroup. When specifying a program on the [Environment] tab of [Local Users and Groups (Compmgmt.msc)] and connecting via Remote Desktop, pressing ALT + TAB to switch between running applications does not display the preview screen list; instead, the running applications switch sequentially. I want to be able to display the preview screen list. (I assume that the value of alttabsettings in the dedicated shell for RemoteApp is set to 1 during RemoteApp configuration, and I would like to know if there is a way to change the alttabsettings value in the dedicated shell for RemoteApp.)

Answer 1

Dear 貴之 大塚,

Thank you for describing the behavior observed when using RemoteApp in a Windows Server 2025 WorkGroup environment. The ALT + TAB preview screen list is not displayed because RemoteApp sessions use a dedicated shell that handles window switching differently. The alttabsettings value is set by design during RemoteApp configuration and cannot be modified through supported settings. The recommended approach is to use the Remote Desktop client settings to control how key combinations are applied. By adjusting the option Apply Windows key combinations to "On the remote computer," ALT + TAB will behave consistently with the full desktop experience. This ensures that the preview list is displayed when switching between applications inside the RemoteApp session.

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Thank you so much!!

Best regards,

QQ.

Answer 2

In the provided information, there is no documented way to configure or override an alttabsettings value specifically for the “dedicated shell for RemoteApp” on Windows Server 2025, nor any setting that changes the ALT+TAB behavior within a RemoteApp session in the way described.

The available documented RemoteApp-related shell and graphics controls are:

1. Enhanced shell experience for RemoteApp
   • Policy: TS_SERVER_REMOTEAPP_USE_SHELLAPPRUNTIME
   • Location (ADMX):
     • Computer Configuration → Windows Components → Remote Desktop Services → Remote Desktop Session Host → Remote Session Environment
   • Registry:
     • Key: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
     • Value name: UseShellAppRuntimeRemoteApp
   • Behavior:
     • Enabled or Not configured → RemoteApp sessions use the enhanced shell experience (default file associations, Run/RunOnce keys, etc.).
     • Disabled → RemoteApp sessions fall back to legacy shell behavior.
   • This setting does not expose any alttabsettings parameter or ALT+TAB list/preview control.
2. Advanced graphics for RemoteApp (RemoteFX-style enhancements)
   • Policy: TS_SERVER_ADVANCED_REMOTEFX_REMOTEAPP
   • CSP path: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_TerminalServer/TS_SERVER_ADVANCED_REMOTEFX_REMOTEAPP
   • Behavior:
     • Enabled or Not configured → RemoteApp programs use advanced graphics (transparency, live thumbnails, seamless moves).
     • Disabled → RemoteApp programs do not use these advanced graphics.
   • This affects graphics capabilities but does not provide a documented knob for ALT+TAB behavior or an alttabsettings value.
3. Hi-Def RemoteApp client behavior
   • There is a client-side registry value EnableAdvancedRemoteFXRemoteAppSupport under:
     • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client
   • Setting this to 0 disables Hi-Def mode on the RDP client to work around display issues.
   • This is a client-side workaround for rendering artifacts and does not document any alttabsettings control or preview-list behavior for ALT+TAB.

Within the available documentation, RemoteApp shell behavior is controlled only at the level of “enhanced shell experience vs. legacy shell” and “advanced graphics on/off.” No supported method is documented to change an alttabsettings value or otherwise force the classic ALT+TAB preview list specifically inside the dedicated RemoteApp shell on Windows Server 2025.

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References:

• Policy CSP - RemoteDesktopServices
• Policy CSP - ADMX_TerminalServer
• Display issues occur when you deploy applications through RemoteApp Hi-Def mode