Using your local printer while connected to a remote desktop is typically achieved through printer redirection, allowing your local printer to appear as an available printer within the remote session.
The most common method involves configuring your Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) client settings before connecting to the remote computer. This process doesn't require you to manually install printer drivers or set up the printer directly on the remote machine's operating system in most cases.
Enabling Printer Redirection in Remote Desktop Connection
Based on the provided reference, you can enable local resources, including printers, for redirection by following these steps:
- Locate your Remote Desktop Connection file: Find the
.rdpfile you use to connect, or open the RDC client and prepare to enter the computer name. - Edit Connection Settings: Right click on your remote desktop connection file or click "Show Options" in the RDC client window. Select Edit.
- Access Local Resources: Navigate to the Local Resources tab within the connection settings window.
- Select Devices to Redirect: Under "Local devices and resources," you will see options like "Printers" and "Clipboard." Here you can add your printers and clipboard. Ensure the Printers checkbox is selected.
- Specify More Resources (Optional but Recommended for Printers): Then select More... under "Local devices and resources."
- Enable Device Redirection: In the "More..." dialog box, you have the option to enable redirection for various local devices, including "Printers" (often found under "Ports" or as a separate entry depending on the RDC client version). Make sure this is checked to allow your local printers to be accessible remotely.
- Connect to the Remote Desktop: Save your connection settings (if using an .rdp file) or click Connect.
Once connected, your local printers should automatically appear within the list of available printers on the remote desktop session. You can then select your local printer when printing from applications running on the remote computer.
How Printer Redirection Works
When printer redirection is enabled, the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) sends printing jobs from the remote session back to your local computer's printer drivers. Your local machine then processes the job and sends it to your physical printer. This avoids the need to install specific printer drivers on the remote server, relying instead on the drivers already present on your local machine.
Considerations for Printer Redirection
- Driver Compatibility: While redirection usually works seamlessly, occasionally driver compatibility issues between the local machine, the remote machine, and the printer can arise. Ensure your local printer drivers are up-to-date.
- Administrative Rights: Depending on the remote server's configuration, you might need specific permissions on the remote machine for printer redirection to function correctly, although this is less common for standard user setups.
- Network Speed: Printing over a slow network connection can be slow as the print data needs to be transferred.
By following the steps to enable printer redirection in your RDC client settings, you effectively make your local printer available for use on the remote desktop session without needing a traditional installation process on the remote machine itself.
