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RustDesk

Version documented: 1.2.7 Installer type: .exe (NSIS) Hives written: HKCU, HKLM, HKLM\SYSTEM

📁 Registry Paths

Path Hive Purpose
SOFTWARE\RustDesk HKLM Installation settings
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\RustDesk HKLM Uninstall entry
SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RustDesk HKLM Windows service (always-on mode)
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run HKCU Startup entry (tray mode)

🔑 Keys

HKLM\SOFTWARE\RustDesk

Value Name Type Example Data Description
InstallPath REG_SZ C:\Program Files\RustDesk Install directory

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\RustDesk

Value Name Type Example Data Description
DisplayName REG_SZ RustDesk 1.2.7 Display name
DisplayVersion REG_SZ 1.2.7 Version
Publisher REG_SZ RustDesk Publisher
InstallLocation REG_SZ C:\Program Files\RustDesk Install path
UninstallString REG_SZ "...\unins000.exe" Uninstaller

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RustDesk

Value Name Type Example Data Description
DisplayName REG_SZ RustDesk Service display name
Start REG_DWORD 2 2=Automatic, 3=Manual, 4=Disabled
Type REG_DWORD 16 Service type (own process)
ImagePath REG_EXPAND_SZ "C:\Program Files\RustDesk\rustdesk.exe" --service Service binary
ObjectName REG_SZ LocalSystem Service account

HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Value Name Type Example Data Description
RustDesk REG_SZ "C:\Program Files\RustDesk\rustdesk.exe" Tray startup entry

📝 Notes

  • When installed in "service mode" (default for unattended access), RustDesk registers as a Windows service that starts automatically.
  • Configuration and ID/password are stored in %APPDATA%\RustDesk\config\RustDesk.toml — not in the registry.
  • To check the assigned RustDesk ID without opening the GUI, read the config TOML; there is no registry key for it.
# Check service status
Get-Service -Name "RustDesk" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object Name, Status, StartType

# Disable auto-start service
Set-Service -Name "RustDesk" -StartupType Disabled

🗑️ Cleanup

# Stop and remove the service
Stop-Service -Name "RustDesk" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
sc.exe delete RustDesk

# Remove registry keys
Remove-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\RustDesk" -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Remove-Item -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RustDesk" -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" `
  -Name "RustDesk" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

📦 Package Managers

Manager ID / Command
winget winget install RustDesk.RustDesk
Chocolatey choco install rustdesk
Scoop scoop install extras/rustdesk