USB Redirection - Azure VM does not detect a USB to Serial Converter

Vipeen Sekharan 30

I am trying to plug in a USB to Serial converter cable to my personal laptop and detect it on Azure VM. I can see it under Device Manager > Ports (COM & LPT) > USB Serial Port (COM5) on my personal laptop. I can't see the same when I login to Azure VM.

I have already configured Redirection in Azure under Host pool > RDP Properites > Device redirection > Mostly all related ones (happy to verify if required)

On the VM, configured "Computer Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ Windows Components \ Remote Desktop Services \ Remote Desktop Session Host \ Device and Resource Redirection\ Do not allow supported Plug and Play device redirection" to disabled.

I can detect my mobile and any USB drive on the VM, just not a USB to Serial Converted.

Any assistance will be appreciated.

KarishmaTiwari-MSFT 20,387 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-02-27T08:10:49.9466667+00:00
It seems you are trying to redirect a USB to Serial Converter cable to your Azure Virtual Desktop. Is that correct?
If yes, To redirect a mass storage USB device connected to your local computer to a remote session host that uses a supported operating system for Azure Virtual Desktop, you'll need to configure the Drive/storage redirection RDP property. Enabling the USB redirection RDP property by itself won't work.

To configure the property, open the Azure portal and set the following RDP property to enable USB device redirection:

usbdevicestoredirect:s:* enables USB device redirection for all supported devices on the client.
You also need to set the following Group Policy on the user's local device:

Navigate to Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Connection Client > RemoteFX USB Device Redirection.

Select Allows RDP redirection of other supported RemoteFX USB devices from this computer.

Select the Enabled option, and then select the Administrators and Users in RemoteFX USB Redirection Access Rights box.

Select OK.

Reference document: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/configure-device-redirections#usb-redirection

Try this and let me know if you are still seeing this issue and I can further troubleshoot. Thanks.
Vipeen Sekharan 30 Reputation points

2023-02-28T05:24:44.42+00:00

I verified usbdevicestoredirect:s:* under Host pool > RDP Properites > Advanced. SS attached.

I verified the same under Host pool > RDP Properites > Device redirection. SS attached.

Configured Group Policy on my local laptop, still no luck.

Device Manager on my PC,

Device Manager on AVD (irrespective of USB-Serial converter is plugged in or not),

Thank you.
KarishmaTiwari-MSFT 20,387 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2023-02-28T06:36:56.6233333+00:00

Thanks for verifying and sharing the details. I am looking into it.

1 answer

Vipeen Sekharan 30 Reputation points

2023-03-02T23:25:27.33+00:00
Hi @Anonymous

I think I have resolved the problem. We just missed a few steps.

After setting the Group Policy on the user's local device, open an elevated Command Prompt and run the following command:

gpupdate /force

Next, make sure the USB device is compatible with Azure Virtual Desktop. To check compatibility:

Connect the USB device to local machine.

Run mstsc.exe to open the Remote Desktop client.

Select Show Options.

Select the Local Resources tab.

Under Local devices and resources, select More.

If device is compatible, it should appear under Other supported Remote FX USB devices. We can only use USB redirection on USB devices that appear in this list.

After this, the VM was able to detect it under Device Manager.

Just one drawback though, the VM keeps crashing frequently if we select many/all devices under 'More' option. Not sure why, but that's wierd.
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Mirza Irfan Anjum 0 Reputation points

2024-12-21T14:16:00.06+00:00

Hi,
I am also having the similar issue, where I am unable to redirect my local USB scanner when I access the session host through RemoteApp. Please note I am using Bastion instead of direct RDP due to security. I have already have same settings which you had. The Scanner model is EPSON-DS-1630. When I check Device manager in my Azure VM it is showing below unknown device. I am not sure that it is related to that scanner or what. However, the drives for this scanner is installed into the Azure VM and I have verified it from control panel.

Device Manger Snap shot.

I verified usbdevicestoredirect:s:* under Host pool > RDP Properites > Advanced.

I verified the same under Host pool > RDP Properites > Device redirection.

Configured Group Policy on my local laptop, still no luck.
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USB Redirection - Azure VM does not detect a USB to Serial Converter

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