Olga Weis
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Price starts from $89.99
Demo Limitations:
The 15-day trial allows one user session to redirect up to two USB devices.
USB Redirection allows end-users to plug external USB devices into USB ports, and access said devices during a remote desktop session. USB device redirection entails forwarding the USB device functionality from a local device(computer) to a virtual desktop via the network connection.
USB redirection works for wide area networks (WANs), and local area networks (LANs), however, it’s usually easier to use LANs because they provide more reliable network connections than most WANs.
Windows 10 users can find and download the “Remote Desktop” app from the Microsoft Store. This app makes creating remote desktop connections and connecting devices on the local network and internet very easy.
The “Remote Desktop” app replaces the built-in legacy feature: “Remote Desktop Connection”.
The “Remote Desktop” app is simple and straightforward to use, but its efficacy also depends on how users plan to connect to an RDP.
Users must also configure other settings (including forwarding the appropriate port via the router) to remotely connect with another Windows 10 machine.
While users can install the “Remote Desktop” app on any version of Windows 10, the RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) that allows connections is only available on Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Business versions. Windows 10 Home does not permit remote connections.
Although a USB device connected physically to a Windows machine is always visible by the system, after redirecting it to the machine remotely via RDP, the USB device isn’t visible or accessible anymore. How to access USB devices while logged in with an RDP, and fix the issue when a USB device is not working on the remote desktop?
A possible solution to this issue would be changing the remote desktop settings:
