How to Fix a Blurry Screen in Windows Remote Desktop (RDP)

How to Fix a Blurry Screen in Windows Remote Desktop (RDP)

Working with Windows Remote Desktop (RDP) is often essential for accessing remote systems. However, one frustrating issue that users frequently encounter is a blurry or low-resolution screen, which can severely impact productivity. In this blog, we will explore the common causes of a blurry screen in RDP and provide actionable solutions to fix this issue.

Understanding the Problem

When you connect to a remote machine using RDP, the visual quality of the display is highly dependent on several factors, including your local display settings, network connection, and the configuration of both your local and remote machines. The most common reasons for blurry text and images during an RDP session are:

• Display Scaling Issues: If your local machine is using display scaling, especially anything other than 100%, it can cause the remote desktop screen to appear blurry.
• Low Bandwidth Connection: A slow or unstable network connection may cause RDP to reduce the quality of the display to maintain performance.
• Misconfigured DPI Settings: The DPI (dots per inch) settings on the local or remote machine may not be optimized for RDP sessions, leading to poor display quality.
• Session Resolution Mismatch: If the resolution settings between the host and remote machines do not match, you may experience blurry text or stretched images.

Fixing the Blurry Screen Issue in Windows RDP

Below are several steps you can take to resolve the blurry screen problem when using RDP.

1. Adjust Display Scaling Settings

One of the most common causes of blurry screens in RDP is incorrect display scaling on the local machine. By default, Windows automatically scales displays to accommodate different resolutions, but this can sometimes cause issues with RDP. Here’s how to address it:

1. Check the Display Settings:
   • Right-click on your desktop and select Display settings.
   • Under the Scale and layout section, check the scaling percentage. If it’s set to anything other than 100%, try changing it to 100%.
2. Adjust Scaling for RDP:
   • Open the Remote Desktop Connection app.
   • Click on Show Options at the bottom left.
   • Go to the Display tab, and under Display configuration, adjust the screen resolution. Ensure that Smart Sizing is unchecked, as this can sometimes blur the display.

   Note: After making these changes, disconnect and reconnect to your remote session to see if the issue is resolved.

2. Tweak Advanced Settings in RDP

There are a few advanced settings within the Remote Desktop Connection app that can help improve display quality.

1. Disable Bitmap Caching:
   • Open the Remote Desktop Connection app.
   • Click Show Options and go to the Experience tab.
   • Uncheck Persistent bitmap caching. This can sometimes improve display clarity, especially on high-latency connections.
2. Adjust the Network Connection Speed:
   • In the same Experience tab, select LAN (10 Mbps or higher) if you are on a fast connection. This will ensure that the RDP session prioritizes visual quality.
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3. Configure DPI Settings on the Remote Machine

If you’re using a high-DPI display on your local machine, mismatched DPI settings between your local and remote machines can cause a blurry screen. Here’s how to fix it:

1. Change DPI Settings on the Remote Machine:
   • Connect to your remote machine via RDP.
   • Right-click on the desktop and select Display settings.
   • Under Scale and layout, adjust the DPI settings to match those of your local machine.
2. Disable DPI Scaling for the Remote Desktop Application:
   • On your local machine, find the Remote Desktop Connection app (usually located in C:\Windows\System32\mstsc.exe).
   • Right-click on the app and select Properties.
   • Go to the Compatibility tab and click on Change high DPI settings.
   • Check the box that says Override high DPI scaling behavior and select System (Enhanced) from the dropdown menu.

    

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   After applying these changes, restart the RDP session.

4. Use Group Policy Editor to Force Specific Settings

If you have administrative access, you can enforce specific RDP settings via Group Policy Editor. This can help when individual settings do not seem to resolve the issue.

1. Open the Group Policy Editor:
   • Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the Remote Desktop Settings:
   • Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Remote Session Environment.
3. Enable “Use the hardware default graphics adapter for all Remote Desktop Services sessions”:
   • This setting ensures that RDP sessions use the full capabilities of the graphics adapter, which can improve visual quality.

   Note: You may need to reboot the remote machine for these settings to take effect.

5. Check and Optimize Network Performance

Blurry screens in RDP can sometimes be a result of poor network performance. While upgrading your internet connection may not always be feasible, you can still optimize the settings for your current connection.

1. Reduce Background Network Usage:
   • Ensure that no other applications on your network are consuming excessive bandwidth during your RDP session (e.g., streaming, large downloads).
2. Enable Quality of Service (QoS):
   • If you are on a corporate network, ask your network administrator to enable QoS for RDP traffic. This will prioritize RDP packets over other types of data, leading to smoother performance.

Conclusion

Blurry screens in Windows RDP can be a major hindrance, but fortunately, the solutions are often straightforward. By adjusting display scaling, tweaking advanced settings, configuring DPI settings, and optimizing your network connection, you can significantly improve the clarity and performance of your remote desktop sessions.

Have you faced any other challenges with Windows RDP? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll help you troubleshoot further!

How to Fix a Blurry Screen in Windows Remote Desktop (RDP) (F.A.Q)