Printer Redirection in RDS Environments

Learn how the printer redirection works in Windows Server and what are the basic steps to troubleshoot printer issues

Reisbel Machado avatar
Written by Reisbel Machado
Updated over a week ago

Local printers connected by USB or LAN can be redirected (to Cloud) by native RDP redirection giving users the option to print directly from cloud. This is only possible when the user is connected at the location of the printers. 

Printer redirection must be enabled for the client in Deployment Settings

General troubleshooting of printer issues

  1. Check if the redirection is enabled for the client (see above)

  2. Confirm that user's RDP file is redirecting local printers

3. Check the power, make sure the printer’s electrical cord is plugged into an electrical outlet and all the cables are connected correctly

4. Confirm the printer is printing from the local desktop

5. For wireless printers: make sure the printer’s wireless option is turned on and available. Most printers have button that displays a blue wireless icon when wireless is on. 

6. Try updating the printer’s drivers. Click Start, then All Programs, then Windows Update. Then click on Check for updates.

If any update shows up, Click Install Updates.

Note: Some printers work better with their own drivers installed in the server. If you decide to install any specific drivers in the server, do so for all the servers that host user sessions (USS servers and FBU server). Then you can select a specific driver for the redirected printer.

Alternative options

If RDP redirection is not working for the client, there is an option of purchasing 3rd party software that redirects the printers. An example of such software is Thinprint.

There is also an option of setting up network printers using VPN connection.

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