Allow .rdp files from unknown publishers
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
Path in the GPO console
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Connection Client Description
This policy setting allows you to specify whether users can run unsigned Remote Desktop Protocol (.rdp) files and .rdp files from unknown publishers on the client computer. If you enable or do not configure this policy setting, users can run unsigned .rdp files and .rdp files from unknown publishers on the client computer. Before a user starts an RDP session, the user receives a warning message and is asked to confirm whether they want to connect. If you disable this policy setting, users cannot run unsigned .rdp files and .rdp files from unknown publishers on the client computer. If the user tries to start an RDP session, the user receives a message that the publisher has been blocked.
Registry
HKCU
SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services Value name: AllowUnsignedFiles
Enabled: AllowUnsignedFiles = 1
Disabled: AllowUnsignedFiles = 0
MDM / Intune (CSP)
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_TerminalServer/TS_CLIENT_ALLOW_UNSIGNED_FILES_1 Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
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: Allow .rdp files from unknown publishers
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services]
"AllowUnsignedFiles"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow .rdp files from unknown publishers
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowUnsignedFiles' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_TerminalServer/TS_CLIENT_ALLOW_UNSIGNED_FILES_1
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow .rdp files from unknown publishers
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Name 'AllowUnsignedFiles' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow .rdp files from unknown publishers
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowUnsignedFiles' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow .rdp files from unknown publishers
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
# 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: Allow .rdp files from unknown publishers
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Name 'AllowUnsignedFiles' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow .rdp files from unknown publishers
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowUnsignedFiles' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.