Shared printer over RDP not showing — redirect driver guide

Joe B.

Reviewed for technical accuracy

Specialities: Windows Server (RDS), Windows 11/10, Remote Desktop Services, Printers, Group Policy

Remote Desktop printer not showing — enable RDP printer redirection, fix Easy Print, map TS ports

Technician

Hi! We’ll get your shared printer over RDP to appear and print. A few details help: Which Windows Server version hosts the session (2016/2019/2022)? Which client OS (Windows 10/11) and RDP client (mstsc) version? Also tell me if you’re using RDS Easy Print or matching vendor print drivers on the server. Finally, is the device a USB printer shared from your PC, or a network printer (TCP/IP / WSD) you want redirected into the session?

Customer

Windows 11 Pro laptop connects to a Windows Server 2019 RDS host. My local USB HP LaserJet is shared on the laptop and prints locally, but Remote Desktop printer redirection is not working — it doesn’t show under Printers in the RDP session. We need it for an accounting app.

Technician

Understood. Common causes when a redirected printer not showing in RDP include:
• The RDP client isn’t passing Local devices and resources → Printers.
• Group Policy disables Redirect only default client printer or blocks Do not allow client printer redirection.
• Print Spooler service is hung on the server; TS ports (e.g., TS001) aren’t created.
• Easy Print driver compatibility issues; the server lacks a matching x64 vendor driver for that model.
• The client printer is using WSD or a class driver that doesn’t map cleanly; switch to a TCP/IP port with a proper PCL/PS driver.
Plan: verify mstsc settings → check GPO → restart spoolers → test Easy Print → if needed, install matching driver on the RDS host and map to TS port.

Customer

Printers are checked in MSTSC. Where exactly do I look in Group Policy for printer redirection?

Technician

On the RDS host (or in a GPO linked to the OU), open gpedit.msc / Group Policy Management and check:
1) Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Remote Desktop Services → Remote Desktop Session Host → Printer Redirection.
• Do not allow client printer redirection = Disabled.
• Redirect only the default client printer = Disabled (unless you want only the default).
• Use Remote Desktop Easy Print printer driver first = Enabled to test Easy Print. If that fails, set it to Disabled and install a vendor driver.
After changes, run gpupdate /force and restart the Print Spooler service on the server.

Customer

Policies look correct. Still nothing shows. How do I fix the spooler / TS ports?

Technician

Let’s refresh the server’s printing stack:
• On the RDS host, open an elevated PowerShell and run:
Stop-Service spooler -Force; Start-Service spooler.
• Clear stale TS00x ports in Print Management → Print Servers → Ports if there are hundreds of leftovers.
• Reconnect the RDP session; a healthy redirect will auto‑create a new TS port and a queue named like HP LaserJet (redirected 3).
If the queue still doesn’t appear, Easy Print may not support that model. We’ll add a matching printer driver on the server next.

Customer

Okay. Which driver should I install on Server 2019 for a client‑side USB HP LaserJet so RDP can map it?

Technician

Use an x64 Windows Server driver that matches the client’s model name (or a compatible Universal PCL/PS package). In Print Management → Drivers click Add Driver and load HP Universal Print Driver (PCL6) or the exact model. Matching names help RDP map the client printer to a server driver without Easy Print. After installing, reconnect — you should see the queue on a TS port.

Customer

The printer finally appears as “redirected 2” but jobs stick in queue. Any other Remote Desktop printer troubleshooting tips?

Technician

Try these advanced fixes:
• On the client, change the local printer to a Standard TCP/IP Port instead of WSD and use a stable PCL driver.
• In the server queue Advanced tab, set Spool print documents and Start printing after last page is spooled.
• Verify RemoteFX / RDP compression isn’t blocking large jobs on slow links.
• If multiple sessions use the same model, pre‑install vendor drivers and disable Use Easy Print first to avoid fallback mismatches.
• Confirm the Print Spooler account has rights to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and that antivirus excludes it.

Customer

We also have a shared network printer on the LAN. Should that be redirected or added inside the RDP session?

Technician

For RDS environments, it’s best to install network printers directly on the server using a TCP/IP port and deploy via Group Policy Preferences or Print Management shares. Use redirection mainly for local USB printers on remote PCs. This avoids instability from WSD and keeps queues persistent across sessions.

Customer

Great — the redirected printer shows and prints now. Can you summarize the RDP printer redirection fix steps?

Technician

Summary: To fix a shared printer over RDP not showing, enable MSTSC → Local devices → Printers, allow redirection in GPO, restart the Print Spooler, test Easy Print, and if needed install matching x64 drivers on the RDS host so the client device maps to a TS port. Prefer TCP/IP over WSD, and deploy network printers inside the server. Need help tailoring GPO and drivers? Open the chat.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when RDP printer redirection not working: ensure Printers is enabled in the RDP client, set GPO to allow redirection, restart spooler, try Easy Print, and if the printer still doesn’t appear, install a matching vendor driver on the Windows Server so the device maps to a TS00x port. Prefer TCP/IP port over WSD on the client.

FAQ

Step‑by‑step (Windows 10/11 client)

1. Open Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc) → Local Resources → Printers = checked.
2. Update to the latest RDP client and printer driver; prefer TCP/IP over WSD.
3. Reconnect; set the needed device as Default printer if policy allows.

Step‑by‑step (Windows Server 2016/2019/2022)

1. Check GPO: allow client printer redirection; decide on Easy Print vs vendor drivers.
2. Restart Print Spooler and clear stale TS ports if necessary.
3. Install a matching x64 driver in Print Management; reconnect and test.

Sources

• Microsoft — Remote Desktop printer redirection
• Microsoft — RDS printing and Easy Print

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