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JRushWFT's avatar
JRushWFT
Copper Contributor
Dec 10, 2025

Hyper-V "Enhanced Session Mode" inconsistency

Starting using Hyper-V in the summer of 2024.  It worked wonderfully - no issues at all.  Starting a couple of months ago (and I have no idea if it coincided with a Windows 11 update), Hyper-V has become very inconsistent and buggy when it comes to Enhanced Session Mode.  One day it will work perfectly:  I get prompted to select the size of the remote desktop window, and clipboard copy/paste between the host and VM works flawlessly.  The next day it will completely fail:  I don't get prompted for the window size, and copy/paste between the host and VM doesn't work.  I've tried unchecking and re-checking both the "Allow Enhanced Session Mode" setting in the "Server" section as well as the "Use enhanced session mode" setting in the "User" section.  I'm curious if anyone else has noticed recent inconsistency with enhanced session modes.

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2 Replies

  • rogerval's avatar
    rogerval
    MCT
    Dec 11, 2025

    This issue has appeared recently for several users, especially after Windows 11 updates. Enhanced Session Mode relies on:

    • VM guest services,
    • RDP stack on the host,
    • Clipboard integration components.

    If the size prompt and clipboard stop working intermittently, it usually indicates a mismatch between host and guest integration components.

    Troubleshooting steps that often resolve it:

    • Make sure the VM is fully patched (integration services come via Windows Update now).
    • Remove and re-add Enhanced Session Mode in Hyper-V settings.
    • Disable and re-enable “Enhanced Session Mode” in both Server and User sections.
    • Check that the VMConnect process has not been restricted by 3rd-party security tools.

    It appears to be a regression rather than configuration error, and several users have reported similar instability recently.

    • JRushWFT's avatar
      JRushWFT
      Copper Contributor
      Dec 11, 2025

      Thanks for your response.  Regarding the troubleshooting steps you listed:

      • I have a Windows 10 VM and a Windows 11 VM -- both have all available Windows updates.
      • I'm not sure exactly what you mean by that.  I see the settings you refer to in the next bullet, but not sure where I can "remove and re-add".
      • I've done this multiple times but to no avail.  In the Server section, I select "Enhanced Session Mode Policy" and uncheck "Allow enhanced session mode", click Apply, then recheck it and Apply again.  In the User section, I select "Enhanced Session Mode" and then perform the same uncheck/apply/recheck/apply operation on "Use enhanced session mode".
      • I do work for an organization that is taking more and more control/rights away from us, so this could be a factor.  However, the pattern isn't consistent.  It used to work ALL the time.  Over the past couple of months, it has gradually worked less and less often.  It's not to the point where I can't get enhanced session mode to work at all.

      I really hope Microsoft addresses this, otherwise we'll revert to something like VMWare.

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