How Can You Make Your Upload Speed Faster with RDP?

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) allows users to connect to and control another computer over the internet as if they were sitting right in front of it. It’s a powerful tool for remote work, gaming, file transfers, and server management. However, one common issue users face is slow upload speed when using RDP. Slow upload performance can cause lag, delay in file transfers, and poor streaming or app responsiveness.

Fortunately, there are several ways to optimize and improve your RDP upload speed. This guide explains what affects upload performance and offers practical steps to boost it effectively.

Understanding Upload Speed in RDP

Your upload speed determines how quickly data is sent from your local device to the remote desktop. For example, when you upload a file from your PC to an RDP server, your upload bandwidth and the remote server’s download speed both play critical roles.

Slow upload speed in RDP may result from:

• Limited local network bandwidth

• Poor Wi-Fi connection

• RDP settings not optimized

• Server or ISP throttling

• Background applications are consuming bandwidth

• Outdated RDP client configuration

Before applying fixes, it’s helpful to test your local internet speed using tools like Speedtest.net or Fast.com to identify whether the issue is with your network or the remote system.

1. Optimize Your Local Internet Connection

The first step in improving RDP upload performance is ensuring your own internet connection is strong and stable. Here’s how to do that:

a. Use a Wired Ethernet Connection

Wi-Fi signals can fluctuate due to interference and distance from the router. A wired Ethernet connection provides a direct, stable link with minimal packet loss — ideal for remote desktop performance.

b. Reboot Your Router and Modem

Over time, routers accumulate errors or cache that slow performance. Restart your modem and router to refresh your connection and restore speed.

c. Prioritize Bandwidth

Access your router’s Quality of Service (QoS) settings and prioritize your RDP traffic or device. This ensures other activities (like video streaming or downloads) won’t consume your upload bandwidth.

d. Limit Background Usage

Pause cloud backups, streaming, or large file uploads running in the background. They compete for bandwidth and reduce RDP performance.

2. Optimize RDP Settings for Speed

RDP offers customizable settings that can significantly affect performance. Adjust these to improve upload speed and reduce lag.

a. Lower Display Quality

In the RDP client:

• Go to Display tab

• Reduce Resolution to 1280×720 or lower

• Decrease Color depth to 16-bit

This reduces data transfer requirements, improving speed and responsiveness.

b. Disable Visual Effects

In the Experience tab of your RDP client, uncheck options like:

• Desktop background

• Font smoothing

• Animations

• Window dragging effects

These features require extra data to be uploaded continuously, which slows performance.

c. Enable “Persistent Bitmap Caching”

When enabled, RDP stores graphical data locally. This means your system won’t need to upload and reprocess repetitive images every time — saving bandwidth.

d. Use “LAN” Mode

If you’re connecting over a high-speed local network, selecting “LAN” in RDP experience settings maximizes available bandwidth. Even over the internet, enabling this can slightly improve upload performance.

3. Upgrade Your Internet Plan

Sometimes, slow upload speeds are simply due to a limited internet plan. Many ISPs provide high download speeds but low upload rates, especially in residential connections.

a. Check Your Plan

Log in to your ISP account or call customer support to verify your upload bandwidth. If it’s below 10 Mbps, consider upgrading.

b. Switch to Fiber Internet

Fiber-optic internet offers symmetrical speeds, meaning your upload speed equals your download speed. If available in your area, it’s a major upgrade for RDP users.

c. Use Business-Class Connection

Business internet plans often include higher upload speeds, lower latency, and no throttling — ideal for consistent remote desktop sessions.

4. Optimize Server-Side Settings

The remote server or PC you’re connecting to also affects upload speed. Poor configuration or overloaded resources can slow down performance.

a. Use a Server Close to Your Location

Choose an RDP server geographically close to you. The shorter the distance, the lower the latency and the faster the upload performance.

b. Check Server Bandwidth and CPU Load

If the remote server has limited bandwidth or is heavily loaded with multiple users, upload speeds will drop. Monitor resource usage via Task Manager or Control Panel.

c. Update Windows Server and RDP

Outdated RDP versions may have performance issues. Keep both Windows and RDP client/server updated to the latest version for improved optimization and speed handling.

d. Configure RemoteFX Compression

RemoteFX can compress graphics and data streams to enhance speed.
To enable:

1. Open Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)

2. Navigate to Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Remote Desktop Services → Remote Desktop Session Host → Remote Session Environment

3. Enable Configure compression for RemoteFX data and set it to Optimized for bandwidth

This reduces the amount of data uploaded during a session.

5. Use a Dedicated RDP Server or VPS

If you use RDP for business, trading, or content uploading, a dedicated RDP server or VPS (Virtual Private Server) may significantly boost performance. These servers are built with high-speed network interfaces and premium bandwidth.

Benefits include:

• Dedicated resources (CPU, RAM, bandwidth)

• Lower latency connections

• Better upload performance for heavy data users

Providers like Contabo, Hostwinds, and OVHCloud offer servers with fast SSDs and 1 Gbps or higher network speeds, which greatly enhance upload performance.

6. Use Compression Tools for File Uploads

If your primary need for higher upload speed is transferring files to the RDP server, compression tools can help.

• Use WinRAR or 7-Zip to compress large files before transferring.

• Enable NTFS compression for directories with frequently uploaded files.

• Transfer files using FTP over RDP instead of drag-and-drop; it’s faster and more stable.

By reducing file sizes, you effectively increase transfer efficiency without needing more bandwidth.

7. Disable Windows Updates and Background Services

Windows updates, telemetry, and other background services can silently consume bandwidth.

To manage them:

• Open Task Manager → Startup and disable unnecessary startup programs.

• Temporarily pause Windows updates while working over RDP.

• Disable OneDrive sync if not needed during the session.

This ensures RDP traffic uses most of your upload bandwidth.

8. Use a VPN (in Some Cases)

A VPN might increase or decrease your upload speed depending on routing. If your ISP throttles RDP traffic, using a fast VPN with nearby servers can help bypass throttling and improve upload performance. Choose VPNs known for speed, like NordVPN, ProtonVPN, or ExpressVPN.

However, avoid using VPNs located too far away, as they add latency and might slow down RDP transfers.

9. Monitor and Test Regularly

Use tools like:

• PingPlotter for latency tracking

• NetLimiter to manage app bandwidth

• RDP Performance Monitor in Windows Server

Testing regularly helps you identify bottlenecks and measure the impact of optimizations.

Conclusion

Improving your upload speed with RDP requires a combination of network tuning, configuration optimization, and hardware considerations. Start with simple changes—like using wired connections, optimizing RDP settings, and disabling background programs. Then, move on to upgrades such as better internet plans, dedicated servers, or RemoteFX configuration for maximum performance.

A well-optimized RDP connection not only speeds up uploads but also creates a smoother, more efficient remote working experience. Whether you’re transferring large files, managing servers, or editing content remotely, these adjustments can make your remote desktop sessions faster and more reliable than ever.