RDS/Remote Apps - Shows Empty

PassRusher · 2025-06-23T19:48:24.738Z

We push out a design program through RDS/Remote Apps on a Windows Server 2022. It has been a lifesaver for remote users. They just use an RDP shortcut that is made one time and they rarely, if at all, have to go to the RDS/RemoteApp URL.

Well, we need to get to the Remote Apps URL and it is now showing empty:

image1006×507 81.1 KB

When checking it server side, the apps are all published. I’ve even unpublished and republished and they won’t come back.

In my research, one troubleshooting step said to remove the RDS role and then add it back. That I do NOT want to do.

Any other suggestions?

ode2joy · 2025-06-23T19:59:32.821Z

Do you have the correct user assignment(s) in the collection properties?

PassRusher · 2025-06-23T20:12:12.507Z

We have always had it set this way:

image537×427 11.3 KB

spiceuser-hrtgs · 2025-06-24T13:32:53.875Z

What happens if you publish a completely new collection. Leaving this one as it is. Also, curious what happens if you add an app to the existing collection. Can you see that.

PassRusher · 2025-06-24T14:05:22.764Z

Well, this could be a clue…when I try to add a new collection, it doesn’t show an RDS Pool:

image738×507 13.9 KB

PassRusher · 2025-06-24T19:45:43.601Z

I’ve asked Co-Pilot about this and it thinks I am to the point where I need to set it all up again. But it is is working for the remote users fine with the proper RDP file/shortcut. Don’t want to mess anything up. Will have to address it when we hire someone else perhaps or just use other RDP files.

I still have hope we can fix this.

spiceuser-hrtgs · 2025-06-25T01:10:00.036Z

Have you checked one the users that is working group memberships against yours? I had this same experience today, well not quite. I logged in with a da account and it was blank, login with my standard user, all apps there. I then looked and we(I) had defined domain users and not da, so not quite the same. Got me thinking about the wording in your first screenshot. All users “that have access to the collection”, what does that mean? How do they have access to the collection period? In windows there is always some security involved some where. Does RDP allow anonymous?

spiceuser-hrtgs · 2025-06-25T01:23:11.487Z

And yes, not seeing the pool is definitely not right. Was that screenshot taken directly from the TS Server? Tested with firewall off? Services look good? Definitely sounds like something is blocked or permissions issue. Is this a VM? And you said the users rarely go to the ts link but if they do, they see the apps there? Points to permissions.

PassRusher · 2025-06-25T19:18:56.336Z

spiceuser-hrtgs:

Have you checked one the users that is working group memberships against yours? I had this same experience today, well not quite. I logged in with a da account and it was blank, login with my standard user, all apps there. I then looked and we(I) had defined domain users and not da, so not quite the same. Got me thinking about the wording in your first screenshot. All users “that have access to the collection”, what does that mean? How do they have access to the collection period? In windows there is always some security involved some where. Does RDP allow anonymous?

So, I just now connected with a random, remote user. He is working fine with his RemoteApp because the RDS file/shortcut is still valid but when he goes to the URL for the main RemoteApp page, it is empty for him.

So, let’s me see if I can clarify it some more…All Domain Users have access to the RemoteApp collection and you can see where it is visible in RD Web Access.

image480×529 18.9 KB

But nothing is “visible” for anyone right now.

So basically, they never need to go to the web interface unless they need to refresh their RDP shortcut/file.

It should look like this:

image1109×770 57.4 KB

Then the first time they go to this page, they click on the ICON, it downloads an RDP file and they just use that to access the program.

Just can’t figure out why nothing is there anymore.

spiceuser-hrtgs:

And yes, not seeing the pool is definitely not right. Was that screenshot taken directly from the TS Server? Tested with firewall off? Services look good? Definitely sounds like something is blocked or permissions issue. Is this a VM? And you said the users rarely go to the ts link but if they do, they see the apps there? Points to permissions.

The screenshot was taken from the RDS server directly and same result for end users. It is now empty.

We have tested with firewall off and all the services are healthy.

It is a VM living on a Scale Computing hypervisor.

One thing I did notice but not sure if it is a factor (circled below)…it also cannot be selected or unselected.

image721×434 13.9 KB

spiceuser-hrtgs · 2025-06-25T20:50:53.544Z

Mine is set the same and also unselectable and I can see apps in the webs, Dont think thats it. The “User Groups” in yours is empty?

And what about this…

MIME Types:

If the RDP web client is not displaying correctly, check the MIME type settings in IIS for JSON files. Adding the .json MIME type can resolve display issues.

spiceuser-hrtgs · 2025-06-25T20:59:14.887Z

If the icon is still not visible, try the following:

Navigate to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Terminal Server\CentralPublishedResources\PublishedFarms{collection-name}\RemoteDesktops{collection-name}.

Then locate the ShowInPortal value and change it to 1.