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Remote Desktop Printer Redirection: How-To Guide

Editorial Team Jan 9, 2024

Sharing a printer over a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connection can streamline printing tasks for users working on remote servers. Here, we outline effective methods to configure printer redirection while addressing common issues.

Table of Contents:

Common Problems with RDP Printer Redirection
Enable Local Printer in Remote Desktop Using Native Functionality
- • Enhanced Configurations for Modern Environments
Share Printer over RDP with USB Network Gate

Common Problems with RDP Printer Redirection

Printing is an essential part of virtually any modern office. In some cases, it’s as easy as installing a print driver and attaching a printer to a computer. It can also become an extremely complicated activity that involves many moving parts.

An example can be seen in organizations using Microsoft Remote Desktop Services. In this kind of environment, system administrators have to balance the needs of employees using locally attached printers with those working through virtual apps and Remote Desktop sessions.

Among the problems that might get in the way of successfully implementing RDP printer redirection are:

The server may not recognize the printer;
The remote machine is not configured properly to be a print server;
Printer redirection is disabled;
Group Policy has been configured to block printer redirection.

Users can achieve efficient and reliable printer redirection over RDP by combining built-in Windows tools with advanced options like Universal Print or third-party solutions such as USB Network Gate.

For detailed troubleshooting, refer to Microsoft’s official forum thread for additional insights into resolving specific issues.

Enable Local Printer in Remote Desktop Using Native Functionality

Native Windows functionality enables a local printer to be used in a Remote Desktop session. The following procedure demonstrates enabling a local printer in an RDP session using features built into Windows.

How to add a printer over RDP

Open Remote Desktop Connection by either of the following two methods.
- ❑ Use the Windows Run prompt and execute the “MSTSC” command.
- ❑ Navigate to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Remote Desktop Connection.
You will see the following window after opening the RDP connection. Select Options and then the Local Resources tab.
Go to the Local devices and resources section located at the bottom of the tab. Make sure the Printers selection box is checked to enable local printers to be accessed by the server. You can also click on More and then Drives to enable access from within the server to local disk drives.
Now, navigate to the General tab and in Connection Settings, click the Save button.

The local drives will be displayed in the RDP session’s My Computer as network drives. Printers are listed in the Printers and Faxes window by name followed by the word Redirected and a number. Saving the configuration ensures that every time you log into the server, your drives and printers will be accessible.

Note: This method is supported on the latest versions of Windows Server and Windows 10/11. For Azure Virtual Desktop and Intune users, additional configuration steps might be required to enable seamless printer redirection.

Enhanced Configurations for Modern Environments

For Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365, printer redirection may require additional configuration using Intune or other management tools:

Using Intune: Deploy device configuration profiles to enable or manage printer redirection.
Universal Print Integration: Microsoft Universal Print allows seamless cloud-based printing. Learn more about Universal Print here.

Common Issues and Solutions

Printer Not Redirecting:

Verify that the printer drivers are installed on both the client and the server.
Ensure that printer redirection is not disabled by Group Policy.

Performance Issues:

Limit redirected printers using Group Policy settings to reduce latency.

The steps below illustrate how to print on a Remote Desktop connection using a local printer with USB Network Gate.

1

Download and install the USB Network Gate application on the computer with the physical connection to the printer. This machine will be called the server.

2

Download and install USB Network Gate on the remote client computer that will use the printer through a Remote Desktop session.

3

Start the USB Network Gate app on the server and client machines.

4

On the server, open the app’s Local USB Devices tab. Select the USB printer you want to share and click the Share button.

5

On the client machine running the RDP session, go to Remote Devices in USB Network Gate and click Connect to establish communication with the printer.

The USB printer will be recognized by the client machine and will be visible in its Device Manager after the connection is fully established.

That’s all there is to it. Once these steps are performed, you can print to the local printer from an RDP session.

USB Network Gate benefits when you share a printer to RDP session

The advantages of using USB Network Gate rather than native functionality when configuring printer redirection for RDP sessions include:

Eliminating concern over any issues that may be hindering the operation of Windows printer redirection;
Minimizing driver installations on the terminal server;
Reducing unnecessary network changes;
Resolving problems with slow printers and issues with print spoolers crashing.

USB Network Gate offers enhanced functionality and the ability to easily implement RDP printer redirection. It also enables any type of USB device to be shared over a network.