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How do I enable a USB device in Remote Desktop?

Anonymous
2020-08-31T22:47:08+00:00

On my desktop PC I have a USB CD-ROM drive connected.

When I use remote desktop from my laptop to connect to my desktop PC while the USB drive shows up in Explorer in the desktop session it does not function. Windows Media player or other audio apps with run in the desktop session to not recognize the drive.

Of course everything works fine on the desktop PC when used locally.  Is there a setting to change on the desktop pc to enable USB devices to be visible when the desktop pc is being used via Remote Desktop?

Windows for business | Windows Server | User experience | Remote desktop clients

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-09-01T05:38:18+00:00

    Hi AaronBre,

    My apologies if the above steps did not work for you.

    Let's try to edit some policies to see if it would help. Perform the steps below on the computer with the USB CD Rom Drive.

    1. Click on Windows > type edit group policy > Click Edit Group Policy
    2. In the Local Group Policy Editor, go to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Removable Storage Access ->
    3. Click on the folder for Removable Storage Access. A list of entries should appear on the right side.
    4. Kindly locate All Removable Storage: Allow direct access in remote sessions and double click on it,
    5. On the new window that appears, make sure it is set to Enabled.
    6. Click Apply, Click OK.
    7. Restart your computer and then try to RDP.

    Let me know if this helps.

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-09-01T01:49:07+00:00

    Hi! I am an Independent Advisor and a Microsoft user like you. Do take note that as independent advisors we are not responsible for the development of Windows or the computer hardware and its drivers. I will try my best to help you out regarding your issue.

    Perform the steps below on the computer with the USB CD Rom Drive.

    1. Click on Start Menu.
    2. Type "Allow Remote access to your Computer", without the quotes in the search box, and click on it.
    3. Under Remote Desktop, click on Allow Remote connection to this Computer.
    4. You can try to unchecking and checking the option "Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop With Network Level Authentication".
    5. Hit Apply, Ok.
    6. Do a restart and try to RDP again to check.

    Info was found here:

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

    I hope this helps. Stay safe!

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-09-01T04:34:18+00:00

    No this did not solve the problem.  I tried toggling the "Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop With Network Level Authentication". option and it did not change the behavior.  The USB CD-ROM drive is still not active in the Remote Desktop session.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-09-01T16:21:49+00:00

    Yes. Thank you.  This was the setting I needed to change.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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