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Best USB for Remote Desktop: Top 5 Software

Editorial Team Editorial Team
Jun 6, 2023

Using USB devices in a remote desktop session is often challenging due to a lack of USB for Remote Desktop access. A specifically designed USB over RDP software allows you to redirect local USB devices to your remote desktop and use them as if they were directly plugged into it.

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Access USB devices over RDP

Problem:
During a remote desktop session, you will have no problem accessing a local printer or disk drive, but using other types of USB devices may not be that easy. Unfortunately, there is no standard method you can try to redirect USB to remote desktop for all your USB devices other than physically plugging a device into the remote server, which is not always possible.

Solution:
To enable access to USB for Remote Desktop, you will need to redirect USB over RDP using one of the purpose-specific software solutions today’s market has to offer. Let’s have a look at the top 5 USB for Remote Desktop solutions:

USB for Remote Desktop with USB Network Gate

best USB for Remote Desktop software

One of the best USB for Remote Desktop solutions is USB Network Gate. USB over Network Connector allows users to redirect local USB devices to the remote computer while working in an RDP session. It is a great tool for RDP USB passthrough. The software works by sharing a USB port that can be used to connect to any compatible device. You can change devices on the fly with no need to reconfigure the software when you plug in a new piece of equipment.

With a properly chosen RDP to USB software solution, you can use a 3D mouse over RDP, perform remote desktop scanning, or redirect a controller for remote desktop gaming.

Price starts from $159.95
Demo Limitations:
A 14-day trial during which you can share one physical USB device. The USB for the remote desktop client component is free and does not require an activation code.

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14-day free trial
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How to access USB devices in Remote Desktop Session

To get started with this USB over RDP solution, simply download USB for Remote Desktop solution on both machines which will be participating in the connection:

  1. 1
    First, install the USB Network Gate Server on the local machine (where the client for Microsoft RDP protocol is installed). This enables you to use the Remote Desktop Protocol to share your devices. The Remote Desktop Connection will be furnished by the client for Microsoft RDP.
  2. 2
    Next, select the remote machine that will connect to the device. It needs to have the Terminal Server already installed. You will then need to install free USB over RDP Client to enable USB redirection over RDP.
Share USB device

Additional features of USB for Remote desktop solution:

USB devices that are shared on the server can be accessed using USB Network Gate on any IP-based network such as LAN/WAN/VLAN/VPN/Internet.

  • Server and client code are merged into a single application with the option to only install the client code when needed.
  • Connect an unlimited number of clients to a shared USB device.
  • Supports the RDP and ICA protocols.
  • Share and access USB devices with USB Network Gate without any network configuration changes.
  • Specify the TCP port you want to be used in the connection.
  • Share and remove devices without rebooting your system.
  • The activity log tracks all of the program’s actions
  • Hyper-Threading Technology and multiprocessor platforms are fully supported.
  • USB devices are assigned status icons for easy identification of shared resources.
  • USB v3.0 support with USB v1.1 and v2.0 compatibility.
  • The OHCI, UHCI, and EHCI USB standards are supported.
  • Isolating a USB device and only granting access per Remote Desktop session gives you the peace of mind that other sessions cannot access the connected USB device. The device will be invisible to all other connected sessions.
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Redirect USB over RDP with FlexiHub

Another great USB for Remote Desktop solution is FlexiHub. It is a simple RDP to USB redirector that connects USB or serial devices to an RDP session using an IP network like your LAN or the Internet. Having this capability is very useful in cases where you cannot implement USB redirection to RDP directly.

Share USB device

FlexiHub benefits:

  • Easily connect and disconnect to remote serial and USB interfaces.
  • Remotely connect to any computer’s USB and serial ports.
  • Use the FlexiChat feature to communicate with other users while sharing USB and COM devices.
  • FlexiHub provides enhanced communication security by using 2048-bit SSL data encryption. This feature keeps your data private and secure while it is being transferred.
  • FlexiHub offers a private communication server.
  • Send invitations to other users to encourage them to share your network-attached USB or serial equipment.
  • Data transmission is compressed when using FlexiHub which increases communication speed and helps minimize bandwidth usage.
  • Control port and device availability by blocking selected USB and serial interfaces from being shared over your network. These devices and ports will not be accessible with FlexiHub allowing you to restrict the use of specific devices.
RDP USB Redirector

Price starts from $159.95 per year
Demo Limitations:
A free demo subscription that allows to fully test the software with 5 USB to RDP remote connections.

Connect USB device to remote desktop
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Microsoft RemoteFX

RemoteFX USB redirection is a specialized Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) feature that allows the access and utilization of USB peripherals during remote sessions where standard USB to RDP redirection isn’t enough.

RemoteFX USB supplements multiple, high-level redirection tasks like Easy Print, Port Redirection, Plug and Play Device Redirection, etc.

RemoteFX is a set of protocols for Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) that can be used to provide virtual Windows desktops over a local area network. A central Windows server hosts the virtual desktops.

Challenges when redirecting USB over RDP with RemoteFX:

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 or later version needs to be installed to run RemoteFX USB.
  • Networks must be running the TCP/IP protocol and USB drivers for each device must be installed on all virtual machines that will access the equipment.
  • Redirected USB devices cannot be accessed locally.
  • USB devices that will be accessed remotely with RemoteFX have to be physically connected before the remote desktop session is started.
  • Traffic from some devices such as USB display network adapters may be blocked by FX USB redirection. The tool does support data transmission from webcams and VOIP devices.
  • Biometric dongles cannot be used in an RDP session with RemoteFX. RDP session with RemoteFX

USB for Remote Desktop by FabulaTech

USB for Remote Desktop by FabulaTech is a USB redirector to RDP sessions software application that enables remote desktop sessions to access devices attached to a computer’s USB ports. The USB device can be used as if it were directly connected to the remote session.

The application has two components. The Workstation software is installed on a thin client or local computer that is connected to the USB device to be shared. The server portion of the app is used to redirect USB devices over RDP to remote sessions. You can connect to the device remotely using Microsoft RDP, Citrix ICA, or Teradici PCoIP.

USB for Remote Desktop benefits:

  • FabulaTech USB for Remote Desktop does not require the installation of USB device drivers on the thin client or local machine.
  • Windows and Linux operating systems are supported as remote desktops.
  • USB port redirection is supported.
  • All types of virtual machines can use the tool to access remote USB devices.
  • Auto-redirecting of hot-plugged USB devices.
  • Supports single and multi-user environments.
  • Both 32-bit and 64-bit systems are supported.
USB for Remote Desktop

Price starts from $199.95

Demo Limitations:
The 15-day trial. You can open one user session and redirect two USB devices during the trial period.

USB Redirector RDP Edition

USB Redirector RDP Edition is another application that is comprised of two components. The tool is used to redirect USB devices to RDP sessions. The Workstation component of the application makes USB devices available to virtual machines, Terminal Server, and remote desktop sessions. It provides a nice solution to redirecting USB traffic to Virtual Desktop/VDI sessions.

USB Redirector RDP Benefits:

  • The application runs as a service in the background so you don’t need to keep it open on your system. After the top is configured you can close it and it will continue to operate even after you reboot your machine.
  • Only the Server component requires a license with the Workstation available for free.
Software to share USB over RDP

Price starts from $89.99

Demo Limitations:
The 15-day trial allows one user session to redirect up to two USB devices.

USB Network Gate
Redirect USB devices over network
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14-day Free Trial available
License price starts at $159.95
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