Printer(s) not redirecting to Virtual Machine(s).

Question

Printer(s) not redirecting to Virtual Machine(s).

Draven Sargeant 0

When I try to go into remote desktop, and connect to the virtual machine, for some reason none of the printers want to port over to the virtual machine so I can print to those said printers within the virtual machine.

This is crucial for my job, so a fix would be awesome! I've tried multiple troubleshooting steps, such as, but not limited to:
Restarting the host PC/Virtual Machine

Uninstalled Drivers for printers, restarted the PC, reinstalled drivers.

Trying different virtual machines, which usually have the same outcome. Especially new user accounts within the virtual machine.

I even tried turning off the port forwarding option in remote desktop, launching into the virtual machine, then leaving and turning it back on.

At a loss at this point, any help would be great as it's starting to get a bit frustrating. This is happening will multiple different of my virtual machines, and wondering if there's an easy fix.

Satish Mada 350 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-08-21T10:57:28.6533333+00:00
Hi Draven Sargeant,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A portal.

To resolve the issue with printers not connecting to your virtual machine (VM) via Remote Desktop, you can try the following steps:

1.Check RDP Settings:

Ensure that printer redirection is enabled in your Remote Desktop settings:

Open Remote Desktop Connection.

Click on "Show Options" > "Local Resources".

Under "Local devices and resources", make sure the checkbox for Printers is checked.

2.Group Policy Settings:

Verify that Group Policy settings are not preventing printer redirection:

On the VM, open the Run dialog (Win + R), type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Device and Resource Redirection.

Check that Allow printer redirection is set to Enabled.

3.Update RDP Client:

Make sure you are using the latest version of the Remote Desktop client on your host PC. Updates can provide bug fixes that improve compatibility.

4.Driver Compatibility:

Ensure that the printer drivers installed on your host PC are compatible with the Virtual Machine's operating system. If the VM runs on a different Windows version, this could cause issues.

5.Check Port Connections:

In some cases, ports may need to be opened or configured to allow printer connections. Ensure that ports like 9100 (default for TCP/IP printing) are accessible.

6.Test with Basic Printers:

As a troubleshooting step, try connecting a different printer (preferably a basic one) directly to see if redirection works. If it does, the issue could be specific to the drivers of the original printers.

7.Using a Different Remote Desktop Protocol:

If the problem persists, consider trying a different remote connection protocol (like VNC or TeamViewer) temporarily to see if it allows correct printer redirection.

Please refer : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/redirection-configure-printers?tabs=intune&pivots=azure-virtual-desktop
Draven Sargeant 0 Reputation points

2025-08-21T15:22:26.3366667+00:00

Hello Satish,

I did try all of these steps, and have no luck. I noticed a label printer will re-direct over on one Virtual Machine, but not the other. I was wondering if there was a way to refresh the Virtual Machine to make it as if it was fresh, but without deleting any data?

At this point I'm not sure what it is, I've tried different VMs, some work, some don't. So far NONE of the VMs will take this Brother Printer I am trying to re-direct either.
Satish Mada 350 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-08-22T13:59:34.03+00:00

Hi Draven Sargeant,

Thank you for your response!

Could you please provide below details to assist you further on this,

1.What virtualization platform are you using (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V, VirtualBox)?
2.What operating system is running on both the host and the virtual machine?
3.Have you confirmed that printer redirection is enabled in both the RDP client settings and the VM settings?
4.Have you tested printer redirection with different printers to determine if the issue is specific to a single printer or a general problem?
5.Are there any error messages that appear when trying to connect the printers? If so, what are they?
Draven Sargeant 0 Reputation points

2025-08-22T14:05:01.06+00:00

Hello again,

As of now, we are using Azure. The servers run Windows Server 2019, I believe, as well as most of the host machine's with the printer issues is running Windows 11.

I have confirmed multiple times that printer redirection is enabled as well. And I have tested other printers. For some reason on a certain VM an old printer we do not use anymore and haven't for some time re-directs, but not the one we need.

So far, no error messages as the printer doesn't even show up in the VMs.
Satish Mada 350 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-08-25T14:02:06.65+00:00

Hi Draven Sargeant,

Thank you for the response!

To help you refresh your Virtual Machine (VM) setup on Azure while retaining your existing data, you can follow these steps:

1.Backup Your Data:
Before proceeding, ensure you have a backup of any important data. This will ensure that you do not lose anything crucial during the refresh process.

2.Create a Snapshot/Backup:
Use the Azure portal to create a snapshot of your current VM. This allows you to restore it later if needed.

3.Reset the VM Configuration:
Remove Existing VM Configuration: In the Azure portal, navigate to the settings of the specific VM and explore settings that allow you to uninstall or reconfigure network and printer settings. This can refresh the configuration.

Reset to Default: In some instances, you may be able to reset the VM to its default settings without deleting the data. Consult Azure documentation on resetting the VM configuration without data loss.

4.Reinstall Printer Drivers:
After reconfiguring the VM, reinstall the necessary printer drivers. This ensures compatibility with your current environment.

5.Test Printer Redirection Again:
Once the settings are fresh, attempt to connect to the VM via Remote Desktop and check if the printer redirection works with the required Brother Printer.

6.Monitor Performance:
Once the VM is refreshed, monitor its performance with regard to printer connections. If the issue persists, consider re-evaluating network settings or testing additional printers.

Please refer : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/backup-recovery
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/snapshot-copy-managed-disk?tabs=portal

Your answer

Draven Sargeant 0 Reputation points

2025-08-21T15:22:26.3366667+00:00

Hello Satish,

I did try all of these steps, and have no luck. I noticed a label printer will re-direct over on one Virtual Machine, but not the other. I was wondering if there was a way to refresh the Virtual Machine to make it as if it was fresh, but without deleting any data?

At this point I'm not sure what it is, I've tried different VMs, some work, some don't. So far NONE of the VMs will take this Brother Printer I am trying to re-direct either.
Satish Mada 350 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-08-22T13:59:34.03+00:00

Hi Draven Sargeant,

Thank you for your response!

Could you please provide below details to assist you further on this,

1.What virtualization platform are you using (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V, VirtualBox)?
2.What operating system is running on both the host and the virtual machine?
3.Have you confirmed that printer redirection is enabled in both the RDP client settings and the VM settings?
4.Have you tested printer redirection with different printers to determine if the issue is specific to a single printer or a general problem?
5.Are there any error messages that appear when trying to connect the printers? If so, what are they?
Draven Sargeant 0 Reputation points

2025-08-22T14:05:01.06+00:00

Hello again,

As of now, we are using Azure. The servers run Windows Server 2019, I believe, as well as most of the host machine's with the printer issues is running Windows 11.

I have confirmed multiple times that printer redirection is enabled as well. And I have tested other printers. For some reason on a certain VM an old printer we do not use anymore and haven't for some time re-directs, but not the one we need.

So far, no error messages as the printer doesn't even show up in the VMs.
Satish Mada 350 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-08-25T14:02:06.65+00:00

Hi Draven Sargeant,

Thank you for the response!

To help you refresh your Virtual Machine (VM) setup on Azure while retaining your existing data, you can follow these steps:

1.Backup Your Data:
Before proceeding, ensure you have a backup of any important data. This will ensure that you do not lose anything crucial during the refresh process.

2.Create a Snapshot/Backup:
Use the Azure portal to create a snapshot of your current VM. This allows you to restore it later if needed.

3.Reset the VM Configuration:
Remove Existing VM Configuration: In the Azure portal, navigate to the settings of the specific VM and explore settings that allow you to uninstall or reconfigure network and printer settings. This can refresh the configuration.

Reset to Default: In some instances, you may be able to reset the VM to its default settings without deleting the data. Consult Azure documentation on resetting the VM configuration without data loss.

4.Reinstall Printer Drivers:
After reconfiguring the VM, reinstall the necessary printer drivers. This ensures compatibility with your current environment.

5.Test Printer Redirection Again:
Once the settings are fresh, attempt to connect to the VM via Remote Desktop and check if the printer redirection works with the required Brother Printer.

6.Monitor Performance:
Once the VM is refreshed, monitor its performance with regard to printer connections. If the issue persists, consider re-evaluating network settings or testing additional printers.

Please refer : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/backup-recovery
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/snapshot-copy-managed-disk?tabs=portal

Share via

Printer(s) not redirecting to Virtual Machine(s).

Your answer