How to Set Up Windows Server 2016 Remote Desktop Printer Redirection

Remote Desktop Printer Redirection is a feature in Windows Server 2016 that allows printers connected to a client machine to be used from within a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) session. When properly configured, users can print documents from remote applications directly to their local printer without manually installing printer drivers on the server. This is an essential convenience feature for organizations deploying Remote Desktop Services (RDS) to remote workers or branch office staff.

Windows Server 2016 includes the Easy Print driver, which simplifies printer redirection by using a single generic driver on the server side that communicates with the client’s locally installed printer driver. This eliminates the need for administrators to install specific printer drivers on every session host server for every client printer.

Prerequisites

Before setting up printer redirection, confirm the following are in place: the Remote Desktop Session Host role is installed, the Remote Desktop Easy Print driver is available (included by default in Windows Server 2016), administrative access to the server and Group Policy Management Console, and client machines are running Windows 7 or later with the standard RDP client.

Step 1: Verify the RD Session Host Role

Confirm the RD Session Host role service is installed on the server:

Get-WindowsFeature -Name RDS-RD-Server

If not present, install it:

Install-WindowsFeature -Name RDS-RD-Server -IncludeManagementTools

Step 2: Enable Printer Redirection in Group Policy

Open the Group Policy Management Console on your domain controller or server. Create or edit a GPO linked to the OU containing your RD Session Host servers. Navigate to the printer redirection policy settings:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Printer Redirection

Set the following policy to “Disabled” to permit printer redirection (the default allows redirection):

“Do not allow client printer redirection” — Set this to Disabled to allow redirection. If this is Enabled, no client printers will be visible in sessions.

Additionally, configure the Easy Print driver settings. Locate the policy “Use Remote Desktop Easy Print printer driver first” and set it to “Enabled”. This ensures the Easy Print driver is used preferentially, reducing dependency on specific server-side drivers.

Step 3: Apply the Group Policy

Force a Group Policy update on the RD Session Host to apply the new settings:

gpupdate /force

Verify the policy is applied correctly:

gpresult /R

Step 4: Configure the RDP Client for Printer Redirection

On the client machine, open Remote Desktop Connection. Click “Show Options” and go to the “Local Resources” tab. Under “Local devices and resources”, check the box labeled “Printers”. This ensures that when the RDP session is established, the client’s local printers will be redirected into the session.

To set this in an RDP file, add or modify the following line:

redirectprinters:i:1

A value of 1 enables printer redirection; a value of 0 disables it.

Step 5: Verify Printers Appear in the Session

Connect to the RD Session Host. Once logged in, open the Control Panel and navigate to Devices and Printers, or go to Settings and then Printers and Scanners. You should see the redirected client printers listed. They will typically be named after the local printer with the client machine name appended, for example “HP LaserJet Pro (redirected 3)”.

To check from an administrative perspective, you can use PowerShell to list printers in the session:

Get-Printer | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*redirected*"}

Step 6: Set a Default Redirected Printer

You can configure Windows Server 2016 to automatically set the client’s default printer as the default within the remote session. In Group Policy, navigate to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Printer Redirection

Enable the policy “Redirect only the default client printer”. This is useful in environments where users have many printers and you only want their primary printer to be available in the session.

Step 7: Configure Printer Driver Fallback

If the Easy Print driver fails to redirect a particular printer model, you may need to install the specific driver on the server as a fallback. First, check what drivers are currently installed:

Get-PrinterDriver

To add a printer driver, use the Add-PrinterDriver cmdlet or the Print Management console. Ensure the driver is the correct architecture (x64 for 64-bit servers).

Add-PrinterDriver -Name "HP Universal Printing PCL 6"

Troubleshooting Printer Redirection

If printers are not appearing in sessions, verify the following: Check Group Policy is applied using gpresult. Confirm the RDP client has printers enabled under Local Resources. Ensure the Easy Print driver is functioning; check Event Viewer under Applications and Services Logs for related errors. Check if the “Print Spooler” service is running on the RD Session Host.

Get-Service -Name Spooler
Start-Service -Name Spooler

Also confirm that no third-party security software is blocking printer driver installation or redirection. Remote Desktop Printer Redirection on Windows Server 2016 is a powerful feature that dramatically simplifies printing for remote users when properly configured with Group Policy and the Easy Print driver.