RPA LE scripts will not run on minimized RDP session

Issue

Resolution

Microsoft Windows includes a Remote Desktop application allowing users to connect to a remote computer. Oftentimes, users will install RPA LE on a remote computer and access it through Remote Desktop. If the user minimizes the Remote Desktop application, the remote session will switch to a GUI-less mode that does not display windows or controls. RPA LE cannot interact with these applications when this occurs, causing the script to stop.

Depending on the software (application) you use to establish your remote connections, you can implement the following settings there. This article explains how you implement it in your Windows Registry Editor. Note: These changes should only be made if you are comfortable working in and modifying the Windows registry.

Choose one to prevent Remote Desktop from switching to a GUI-less mode when minimized.

The following steps must be completed under a Windows profile with administrative privileges on the host computer (the one accessing the machine with the robot, therefore, the user computer):

1. Close all Remote Desktop sessions
2. Launch the Registry Editor by typing regedit.exe in Windows Run command
3. Locate the following registry key:
   a. To change the settings for all user accounts:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftTerminal Server Client
4. Create a new DWORD value in this key named RemoteDesktop_SuppressWhenMinimized
5. Specify 2 as the value data
6. If you are using a 64-bit version of Windows, you should also add the RemoteDesktop_SuppressWhenMinimized value to the following keys under Wow6432Node:
   a. To change the settings for all user accounts:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftTerminal Server Client
7. Reboot the computer for the changes to take effect

Additionally, it can be relevant to disable RD clipboard redirection to prevent the user and robot from overlapping when copying and pasting things simultaneously. To prevent this, complete the following steps on the host/user computer using a Windows profile with administrative privileges.

1. Close all Remote Desktop sessions.
2. Launch the Registry Editor by typing regedit.exe in the Windows Run command.
3. Locate the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftTerminal Server Client
4. Create a new DWORD value in this key named DisableClipboardRedirection
5. Specify 1 as the value data.
6. If you are using a 64-bit version of Windows, you should also add the DisableClipboardRedirection value to the following keys under Wow6432Node:
   a. To change the settings for all user accounts:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftTerminal Server Client
7. Reboot the computer for the changes to take effect.