Simon Brown • Oct 30, 2024While working in a remote environment where you must transfer files daily, imagine your copy-and-paste function stops working one day. This can be frustrating, right? Well, the issue is common, and luckily, it's easy to fix with various dependable approaches.
If we understand the potential reasons for the remote desktop copy and paste not working, the root cause arises from the RDP settings. This leads to the disabling of clipboard sharing, but by adjusting the RDP settings or considering alternatives, we'll explore how to overcome this situation. Thus, review the details to the end and get your clipboard function running again like nothing happened before.
Before we move to the solutions, do you know what causes remote desktop copy and paste not working in RDP settings? If not, this section covers various reasons why clipboard features are not enabled in your operating systems. Hence, dive into the details and explore the root causes so that you can find the fix that suits your preferences.
When it comes to resolving the copy and paste from remote desktop issues, there are many methods that you can try. However, note that not all the methods are dependable, as minor changes can affect the overall functionality of the devices. Therefore, here are 5 comprehensive approaches you can consider initiating the clipboard features in remote connections, without affecting the data or device.
As discussed before, one reason you are unable to copy and paste information from a remote desktop is that the clipboard function is not enabled. Here is how to do it from the local resource settings of the Windows Remote Desktop Protocol software:
Step 1. Start by opening the Windows RDP application and locate the "Local Resources" tab in the top toolbar. There, you can see the "Clipboard" feature under the “Local Devices and Resources” tab, which you must enable if it wasn't before. Once done, access the “General” tab, and you are ready to copy and paste it into the remote desktop.
Step 2. Then, enter the "Username" and "Computer" credentials under the Logon Settings section and hit the "Connect" button.
Step 23 Upon tapping, you will be directed to a new screen where you have to insert the device username and password before hitting the "OK" button.
Other than enabling the clipboard from RDP settings, consider terminating the rdpclip.exe process from the remote connection. Rdpclip.exe is a small but necessary tool in Windows that facilitates copy-and-paste functionality between local and remote operating systems. This tool functions in the background and lets the clipboard transfer data from one platform to another via copy-and-paste.
Hence, if you are facing a clipboard malfunctioning, terminate the rdpclip.exe process from the remote device. Doing so will rest the procedure, clearing all the glitches or errors that were preventing the copy and paste to the remote desktop. Thus, adhere to the following guide to fix this issue using this workable method:
Step 1. Initiate the rdpclip.exe terminating process by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your remote computer to fetch the task manager. Once displayed on the screen, navigate to the "Details" tab and search for "rdpclip.exe" from the running system list.
Step 2. When you find it, right-click on it to open an options menu, where you have to choose "End Task" from the list of options to terminate the process.
Step 3. When the process is finished, run it again on your device and enable the clipboard feature by heading to the "File" tab. There, click and choose the "Run New Task" option to start the rdpclip.exe process from scratch.
Step 4. On the new pop-up named "Create New Task," type "rdpclip.exe" and press the "OK" button to enable the clipboard feature on the remote desktop.
Group policy is basically a feature in Windows that enables administrators to manage the settings of the users or operating systems in the network. This policy controls various aspects of systems, such as software installation, security settings, or user permissions, eliminating the need to manually adjust the computers.
Hence, if you can't copy-paste from the remote desktop, there is a chance that the "Do Not Allow Clipboard Redirection" is not disabled or configured on the remote desktop. Therefore, here we have detailed stepwise guidance through which you can disable the Restrict Clipboard Redirection settings:
Step 1. Run the Group Policy editor on the remote desktop by pressing Windows +R keys and type “gpedit.msc” in the “Run” dialog box displayed on the screen. This will open the editor where you have to choose “Computer Configuration” from the right panel of the screen.
Step 2. Next, choose the “Administrative Templates” from the list of options at the left and pick the “Windows Components” option.
Step 3. After doing this, locate the “Remote Desktop Services” tab, where you have to select the “Remote Desktop Session Host” option.
Step 4. Moving on, hit the "Device and Resource Redirection" from this tab and choose the "Restrict Clipboard Transfer from Client to Server" option.
Step 5. Lastly, a new window will appear where you have to change the radio button option to "Disabled" and then click the "Ok" button to access the clipboard feature in the remote device.
Another solution to access the copy-paste to remote desktop function is by enabling clipboard redirection from the registry of the client operating system. By enabling the clipboard, redirection will boost the users' productivity, making copying and pasting data seamless.
However, while doing so, note that any invalid details in the registry can affect the device's functionality, requiring you to rest it. Thus, below are the steps that ensure safe and secure clipboard redirection to the client computer registry. Still, it is advised to keep a backup of the registry in case of any damage.
Step 1. Start by entering the “regedit” after pressing the Window + R keys and accessing the "Run” dialog box on your operating system. As you type it into this dialog box, hit the "OK" button to proceed.
Step 2. Then, head to the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client" tab and choose the "DisableClipboardRedirection" entry from the right side of the screen.
If the value is already set to 0, it's okay, but if it is set to 1, change it to 0, and clipboard redirection will be enabled on the client's computer. Afterward, restart your device and authenticate whether the copy and paste function in RDP is functioning.
Still, if the RDP clipboard is not working and you are unable to copy and paste the data from the remote platform to local devices? By enabling clipboard redirection on the remote computer through our mentioned guide, you can easily make use of the clipboard feature.
Step 1. On the host device, press the Window + R keys to open the Run dialog box, where you have to type “regedit” to navigate to the Registry Editor.
Step 2. From the editor, head to computer and then “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE” option and access the “Systems” folder. After that, pick the “CurrentControlSet” folder and proceed further.
Step 3. Moving on, choose the "Control" option and expand it to pick "Terminal Server" from the list. Then, head to "WinStations" and expand the feature further.
Step 4. Upon expanding the WinStations option, you have to choose the "RDP-Tcp" option, which will take you to a list of data types. There, search for "fDisableClip” to fetch a new pop-up.
Step 5. On this pop-up, set the value to 0 and click the "OK" button. After that, close the Registry Editor and run the copy-and-paste function again to see if it's working.
For some reason, if your remote desktop clipboard is not working after following the above-mentioned methods, we have a reliable alternative for you: Avica Remote Desktop. Using this software, users can remotely access devices on platforms like Windows, Android, iPadOS, iOS, or macOS with enhanced compatibility. Once remotely accessed, one can use its built-in features like file transfer to share documents of any format and size.
Moreover, while moving files from one device to another, its Clipboard tool enables you to copy and paste text or files from the remote side. For that, you simply have to use the shortcut CTRL+C to copy and CTRL+V to paste on local devices. The best part is that you can select more than one document simultaneously while enjoying its as low as 10ms lag-free performance. If the data you are moving is sensitive, you can prevent unattended access with Avica end-to-end AES-256 encryption.
Now, proceed to see how you can copy and paste remote desktop files on a local device using the Avica Clipboard feature.
Feel free to easily download Avica software by clicking the button below. If you require additional information about Avica product downloads, please visit the dedicated Avica download page. Rest assured, Avica guarantees safety and ensures that all products acquired from their official website or app store are free from viruses. You can confidently download Avica from these trusted sources.
To enable copy-paste remote desktop with Avica, start by accessing the updated version of this software on both PCs and then go to your host device. There, toggle the “Allow Remote Access to this Device via Your Credentials” option to fetch the credentials, including "Avica ID" and "Password."
Moving on to the client PC, insert the credentials under the "Remote Session" and press the "Connect" button. This will direct you to a pop-up where you have to enter the password and then press the "Connect" button again to remotely access the device.
Finally, open the files on the remote device and select the data you want to copy. To do so, right-click the text to fetch the menu showing the "Copy" option. Alternatively, you can simply use the shortcut "Ctrl + C" to copy and the "Ctrl + V" keys to paste the text on your local device.
In conclusion, there comes a need when you just want to copy and paste the files instead of dragging them from the remote device. Therefore, many remote desktops allow copy-paste, but sometimes, this can cause issues if the clipboard settings are disabled.
To overcome this concern, this guide has covered various methods and resolved the clipboard redirection on remote devices. From all the discussed approaches, Avica remote desktop software is recommended as the innovative clipboard tool makes data sharing seamless for users.
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