Start a program on connection: registry value InitialProgram and 1 more (HKLM Terminal Services)ComputerHKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services

Policy ID: TS_START_PROGRAM_2
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Remote Desktop Services › Remote Desktop Session Host › Remote Session Environment

Registry

InitialProgram

REG_SZComputer

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Program path and file name
Value type: REG_SZ
Required: true

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services]

; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data
"InitialProgram"="<enter value>"

CMD

:: Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services" /v "InitialProgram" /t REG_SZ /d "<enter value>" /f

PowerShell

# Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Name 'InitialProgram' -PropertyType String -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null

WorkDirectory

REG_SZComputer

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Working Directory
Value type: REG_SZ

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services]

; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data
"WorkDirectory"="<enter value>"

CMD

:: Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services" /v "WorkDirectory" /t REG_SZ /d "<enter value>" /f

PowerShell

# Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services' -Name 'WorkDirectory' -PropertyType String -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null