Windows Server Update Causes Remote Desktop Chaos
Administrators around the world are facing a crisis as the September Windows Server updates have brought Remote Desktop Services (RDS) to its knees. The issue is causing existing connections to fail, preventing new users from connecting, and in some cases, requiring a hard reset to restore functionality. This means that many organizations are currently unable to access their servers remotely, disrupting critical business operations.
The problems began after installing this month’s cumulative updates, which were released as part of Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday rollout. Many administrators have reported on Reddit that RDS servers worked normally for a few hours before connections started failing. Once a server starts failing, existing Remote Desktop sessions may not be able to disconnect or log off properly. New connection attempts can also hang during the connection process and eventually fail.
BleepingComputer has received reports from readers who say their Terminal Servers began experiencing similar problems after installing the September updates. “All terminal servers in our environment are failing (sessions dropping, no new connections possible, only solution is a hard reset) within a day,” one reader posted to our Patch Tuesday article. Another reader said Remote Desktop Services initially worked normally after installing the September update but began failing after users logged out.
According to administrators investigating Server 2022, the RDP service becomes unresponsive when users begin logging out. Debugging has revealed what appears to be a deadlock between Remote Desktop and the Local Session Manager. However, Microsoft has not confirmed this as the cause of the failures. The reports are affecting all Windows Server releases, with administrators reporting similar problems on Server 2019 (KB5122876), Server 2022 (KB5122882), and Server 2025 (KB5122871) systems.
Admins who have rolled back the September updates say doing so restores Remote Desktop functionality. However, removing the updates also removes the security fixes included in this month’s Patch Tuesday release. BleepingComputer contacted Microsoft to ask whether it is aware of the reported Remote Desktop Services problems and whether a fix or mitigation is available but had not received a response at the time of publication.
For now, administrators are left with a difficult decision: either roll back the updates and lose the security fixes, or continue to suffer through the RDS failures. This issue highlights the delicate balance between keeping systems up-to-date with security patches and avoiding critical issues like this one. As always, it’s essential for admins to carefully review update notes and test them in a controlled environment before deploying them across their network.
For those affected by this issue, rolling back the September updates is a temporary solution until Microsoft releases a fix or mitigation. However, this should not be seen as a long-term solution. Administrators are advised to closely monitor Microsoft’s response to this issue and apply any patches or workarounds recommended by the company. In the meantime, it’s essential to prioritize communication with users and stakeholders about the current situation and the steps being taken to resolve it.
Source: Bleeping Computer — 2026-09-10