Use RD Connection Broker load balancing
Verified with Windows Server 2025 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\RD Connection Broker Description
This policy setting allows you to specify whether to use the RD Connection Broker load balancing feature to balance the load between servers in an RD Session Host server farm. If you enable this policy setting, RD Connection Broker redirects users who do not have an existing session to the RD Session Host server in the farm with the fewest sessions. Redirection behavior for users with existing sessions is not affected. If the server is configured to use RD Connection Broker, users who have an existing session are redirected to the RD Session Host server where their session exists. If you disable this policy setting, users who do not have an existing session log on to the first RD Session Host server to which they connect. If you do not configure this policy setting, you can configure the RD Session Host server to participate in RD Connection Broker load balancing by using the Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration tool or the Remote Desktop Services WMI provider. Note: If you enable this policy setting, you must also enable the Join RD Connection Broker, the Configure RD Connection Broker farm name, and the Configure RD Connection Broker server name policy settings.
Registry
SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services Value name: ParticipateInLoadBalancing
Enabled: ParticipateInLoadBalancing = 1
Disabled: ParticipateInLoadBalancing = 0
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Use RD Connection Broker load balancing
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services]
"ParticipateInLoadBalancing"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Use RD Connection Broker load balancing
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ParticipateInLoadBalancing' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Use RD Connection Broker load balancing
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Name 'ParticipateInLoadBalancing' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Use RD Connection Broker load balancing
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ParticipateInLoadBalancing' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Use RD Connection Broker load balancing
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Use RD Connection Broker load balancing
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Name 'ParticipateInLoadBalancing' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Use RD Connection Broker load balancing
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ParticipateInLoadBalancing' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.