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Windows 10 smart card readers limitation

Dennis 1 Reputation point
2021-01-29T09:44:41.777+00:00

Hello.
We use in a company some computers with Windows 7 which each one has connected 30 card readers with smart cards inside and these all works with an application. Unfortunately when we want to jump from Windows 7 on Windows 10 there is a problem with card readers limitation of 10. I have found this information https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows/win32/limitation-10-smart-card-readers. I can see more than 10 card readers but only up to 10 smart cards in a device manager and the application can see only up to 10 smart cards. This happens on any computer, laptop with Windows 10 that I have tested.
We need in our company to workaround somehow this limitation because we do not want to stay with Windows 7 forever and the number of computers with that application still grows. I have not found any smart cards limit in a system registry.
Can someone from Microsoft or community help us to at least increase that limit to 30 instead of that poor 10 please?

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | Devices and deployment | Set up, install, or upgrade
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  1. S.Sengupta 24,636 Reputation points MVP
    2021-01-30T15:36:41.863+00:00

    Windows 7 and the Windows Server equivalent impose a limit of 32 card readers on a PC irrespective of the capabilities of the USB hardware. Windows 8 and 10 reduce this limit to a maximum of 10 smart card readers. The total number of USB devices of any type connected to an instance of VMWare is limited to just 20.

    I think that Linux has no such limitation.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. AliceYang-MSFT 2,106 Reputation points
    2021-02-01T09:17:46.9+00:00

    Hi,

    Sorry for the inconvenience brought to you. Please search for Feedback Hub and report this issue to our engineering teams. We should provide a solution for customers with the same issue.

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  3. AliceYang-MSFT 2,106 Reputation points
    2021-02-02T09:06:54.757+00:00

    Hi,

    Maybe you can contact Microsoft Support for business for help. If they have a workaround for this limitation, they can provide the solution for you. Or if you feel comfortable to use third party products, you can try this, Card Reader Hosting.

    Please also post the issue on other forums. Perhaps users there can provide a script or something which can override the limitation. If there is, please test the workaround and make sure it's safe to use in productive environment.

    Sorry again for the inconvenience brought to you because of the limitation.

    Please note:
    The mentioned product is owned and operated by a third party. Microsoft has no control regarding to the product's performance and reliability.

    Information posted in the given link is hosted by a third party. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy and effectiveness of information.

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