Windows Components › Remote Desktop Services › Remote Desktop Session Host › Remote Session Environment › RemoteFX for Windows Server 2008 R2
Optimize visual experience when using RemoteFX
Supported on Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 (and their subsequent Service Packs) only
What it does
This policy setting allows you to specify the visual experience that remote users will have in Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) connections that use RemoteFX. You can use this policy to balance the network bandwidth usage with the type of graphics experience that is delivered. Depending on the requirements of your users, you can reduce network bandwidth usage by reducing the screen capture rate. You can also reduce network bandwidth usage by reducing the image quality (increasing the amount of image compression that is performed). If you have a higher than average bandwidth network, you can maximize the utilization of bandwidth by selecting the highest setting for screen capture rate and the highest setting for image quality. By default, Remote Desktop Connection sessions that use RemoteFX are optimized for a balanced experience over LAN conditions. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, Remote Desktop Connection sessions that use RemoteFX will be the same as if the medium screen capture rate and the medium image compression settings were selected (the default behavior).
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
In Intune
Native Intune setting: Yes — Policy CSP
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_TerminalServer/TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphicsADMX_TerminalServer on Microsoft LearnADMX-backed: Windows ships this template, so it is set with the template's own values, without an import.Windows builds listed: 10.0.22000, 10.0.19043.1202, 10.0.19042.1202, 10.0.19041.1202.
From Microsoft's Policy CSP DDF files (DDF v2 Files, February 2026), read 18 Oct 2026.
Options
| Option | Type | Registry value | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen capture rate (frames per second)Default: Medium (default) | Drop-down list | VGOptimization_CaptureFrameRate |
|
| Screen Image QualityDefault: Medium (default) | Drop-down list | VGOptimization_CompressionRatio |
|
Configure and deploy
Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.
Enabled · Computer · template defaults
Registry file (.reg)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services]
"VGOptimization_CaptureFrameRate"=dword:00000002
"VGOptimization_CompressionRatio"=dword:00000002
PowerShell
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
function Set-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}
function Remove-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return
}
foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Optimize visual experience when using RemoteFX
# Name: TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: TerminalServer.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Name 'VGOptimization_CaptureFrameRate' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 2
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Name 'VGOptimization_CompressionRatio' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 2
These deployment candidates come from the ADMX template; they are separate from the native CSP mapping above.
- The OMA-URI is an inferred ADMX-backed Policy CSP candidate derived from the source ADMX file name and policy name.
- Some Microsoft policies use built-in Policy CSP pages whose area names don't match the ADMX file name, so verify the candidate against Microsoft Learn before deployment.
ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_TerminalServer/TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphicsADMX SyncML candidate
<SyncML xmlns="SYNCML:SYNCML1.2">
<SyncBody>
<Replace>
<CmdID>1</CmdID>
<Item>
<Meta>
<Format>chr</Format>
<Type>text/plain</Type>
</Meta>
<Target>
<LocURI>./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_TerminalServer/TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics</LocURI>
</Target>
<Data><enabled/>
<data id="TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_ScreenCaptureRate" value="1"/>
<data id="TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_ScreenImageQuality" value="1"/></Data>
</Item>
</Replace>
<Final/>
</SyncBody>
</SyncML>Intune remediation scripts
Detection
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
$reasons = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new()
function Test-RegistryValueExists {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return $false
}
return $null -ne (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
}
function Test-RegistryValueEquals {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Kind,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Expected
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return $false
}
$valueObject = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
if ($null -eq $valueObject) {
return $false
}
$actual = $valueObject.$Name
switch ($Kind) {
'String' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
'ExpandString' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
'DWord' { return [uint32]$actual -eq [uint32]$Expected }
'QWord' { return [uint64]$actual -eq [uint64]$Expected }
'MultiString' {
$actualArray = @($actual)
$expectedArray = @($Expected)
if ($actualArray.Count -ne $expectedArray.Count) { return $false }
for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Count; $index++) {
if ([string]$actualArray[$index] -cne [string]$expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
'Binary' {
$actualArray = [byte[]]$actual
$expectedArray = [byte[]]$Expected
if ($actualArray.Length -ne $expectedArray.Length) { return $false }
for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Length; $index++) {
if ($actualArray[$index] -ne $expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
default { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
}
}
# Policy: Optimize visual experience when using RemoteFX
# Name: TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: TerminalServer.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Name 'VGOptimization_CaptureFrameRate' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 2
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services\VGOptimization_CaptureFrameRate') | Out-Null
}
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Name 'VGOptimization_CompressionRatio' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 2
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services\VGOptimization_CompressionRatio') | Out-Null
}
if ($reasons.Count -eq 0) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
$reasons | ForEach-Object { Write-Output $_ }
exit 1
Remediation
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
function Set-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}
function Remove-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return
}
foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Optimize visual experience when using RemoteFX
# Name: TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: TerminalServer.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Name 'VGOptimization_CaptureFrameRate' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 2
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Name 'VGOptimization_CompressionRatio' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 2
History 3 retained releases
- 22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.
2 later releases left it unchanged.
Template
- Internal name
TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics- Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer- Template file
TerminalServer.admx- Release
- Windows 11 23H2 · 1.0 · file set
d784d0ea5f14a680…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics)" explainText="$(string.TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_Explain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services\" name="TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics" presentation="$(presentation.TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_LEGACY_REMOTEFX" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_SUPPORTED_ONLY_Windows7_OR_SERVER2K8R2" />
<elements>
<enum id="TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_ScreenCaptureRate" valueName="VGOptimization_CaptureFrameRate">
<item displayName="$(string.TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_ScreenCaptureRate_Highest)">
<value>
<decimal value="1" />
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_ScreenCaptureRate_Medium)">
<value>
<decimal value="2" />
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_ScreenCaptureRate_Lowest)">
<value>
<decimal value="3" />
</value>
</item>
</enum>
<enum id="TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_ScreenImageQuality" valueName="VGOptimization_CompressionRatio">
<item displayName="$(string.TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_ScreenImageQuality_Highest)">
<value>
<decimal value="1" />
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_ScreenImageQuality_Medium)">
<value>
<decimal value="2" />
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_ScreenImageQuality_Lowest)">
<value>
<decimal value="3" />
</value>
</item>
</enum>
</elements>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<dropdownList defaultItem="1" noSort="true" refId="TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_ScreenCaptureRate">Screen capture rate (frames per second):</dropdownList>
<dropdownList defaultItem="1" noSort="true" refId="TS_RemoteDesktopVirtualGraphics_ScreenImageQuality">Screen Image Quality:</dropdownList>
</presentation>Supported platforms and category
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:category:TS_GP_NODE
<category displayName="$(string.TS_GP_NODE)" explainText="$(string.TS_User_Help)" name="TS_GP_NODE" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:category:TS_LEGACY_REMOTEFX
<category displayName="$(string.TS_LEGACY_REMOTEFX)" explainText="$(string.TS_LEGACY_REMOTEFX_Comp_Help)" name="TS_LEGACY_REMOTEFX" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_SESSIONS" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:category:TS_SESSIONS
<category displayName="$(string.TS_SESSIONS)" explainText="$(string.TS_SESSIONS_Comp_Help)" name="TS_SESSIONS" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_TERMINAL_SERVER" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:category:TS_TERMINAL_SERVER
<category displayName="$(string.TS_TERMINAL_SERVER)" explainText="$(string.TS_TERMINAL_SERVER_Help)" name="TS_TERMINAL_SERVER" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_GP_NODE" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:definition:TS_SUPPORTED_ONLY_Windows7_OR_SERVER2K8R2
<definition displayName="$(string.TS_SUPPORTED_ONLY_Windows7_OR_SERVER2K8R2)" name="TS_SUPPORTED_ONLY_Windows7_OR_SERVER2K8R2" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="2" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008_R2" />
<range minVersionIndex="7" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows7_RTM" />
</or>
</definition>
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:unresolved:Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows7_RTM
<unresolved reference="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows7_RTM" />
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:unresolved:Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008_R2
<unresolved reference="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008_R2" />
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:category:TS_GP_NODE
<category displayName="$(string.TS_GP_NODE)" explainText="$(string.TS_User_Help)" name="TS_GP_NODE" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_GP_NODE">Remote Desktop Services</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_User_Help">Controls configuration of Remote Desktop Services technologies that enable access to a server running Windows-based programs or the full Windows desktop</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:category:TS_LEGACY_REMOTEFX
<category displayName="$(string.TS_LEGACY_REMOTEFX)" explainText="$(string.TS_LEGACY_REMOTEFX_Comp_Help)" name="TS_LEGACY_REMOTEFX" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_SESSIONS" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_LEGACY_REMOTEFX">RemoteFX for Windows Server 2008 R2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_LEGACY_REMOTEFX_Comp_Help">Configures all policies that apply to RemoteFX for Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:category:TS_SESSIONS
<category displayName="$(string.TS_SESSIONS)" explainText="$(string.TS_SESSIONS_Comp_Help)" name="TS_SESSIONS" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_TERMINAL_SERVER" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_SESSIONS">Remote Session Environment</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_SESSIONS_Comp_Help">Controls configuration of the user interface in Remote Desktop Services sessions </string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:category:TS_TERMINAL_SERVER
<category displayName="$(string.TS_TERMINAL_SERVER)" explainText="$(string.TS_TERMINAL_SERVER_Help)" name="TS_TERMINAL_SERVER" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_GP_NODE" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_TERMINAL_SERVER">Remote Desktop Session Host</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_TERMINAL_SERVER_Help">Controls configuration of a Remote Desktop Session Host server</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:definition:TS_SUPPORTED_ONLY_Windows7_OR_SERVER2K8R2
<definition displayName="$(string.TS_SUPPORTED_ONLY_Windows7_OR_SERVER2K8R2)" name="TS_SUPPORTED_ONLY_Windows7_OR_SERVER2K8R2" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="2" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008_R2" />
<range minVersionIndex="7" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows7_RTM" />
</or>
</definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.TerminalServer:TS_SUPPORTED_ONLY_Windows7_OR_SERVER2K8R2">Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 (and their subsequent Service Packs) only</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents">Windows Components</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents_Help">Contains settings for operating system components.</string></strings>