RustDesk is a free remote desktop software and a great alternative to TeamViewer, AnyDesk, and Chrome Remote Desktop. It works on Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android. If needed, you can even set up your own RustDesk server to manage connections between devices, especially when they are not on the same local network.
However, RustDesk can sometimes run into issues. One common problem occurs when you close RustDesk via the system tray (right-click and exit). This may disable the service, preventing it from starting automatically with Windows, even though RustDesk itself launches. As a result, external connections fail because RustDesk is not connecting to the public or self-hosted server.
RustDesk Service Command-Line Arguments
A simple fix is to modify the program shortcut by adding specific command-line arguments and placing the shortcut in the Windows Startup folder.
Arguments:
--install-service -wait -VerboseExample (Default Installation Path):
"C:\Program Files\RustDesk\rustdesk.exe" --install-service -wait -Verbose
Open the Windows 10/11 Startup Folder
In Windows 10 and 11, you can access the Startup folder by executing the following command in the Run dialog (Win + R) or entering it in the Windows Explorer address bar.
shell:startup
TL;DR:
- Modify the RustDesk shortcut (Right-click => Properties)
- Append the following arguments to the target path:
--install-service -wait -Verbose
- Move the shortcut to the Startup folder (shell:startup)
