Remote Desktop Scanner Redirection is a feature that allows users to redirect scanners from their local device to a remote desktop or server, enabling them to scan documents and images remotely. This feature is commonly used in Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connections, Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections, and other remote access technologies.
(force enable):
By default, scanner redirection might not be enabled. An administrator must configure the Group Policy Object (GPO) on the server.
In the modern era of remote work and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), accessing a remote desktop is seamless—until you need to interact with local hardware. While printing and file transfer are generally straightforward, remains one of the most complex and finicky aspects of Remote Desktop Services (RDS).
If you have ever tried to scan a document from a physical scanner connected to your home laptop into a virtual desktop running in a data center, you know the struggle. This article explores how scanner redirection works, how to configure it, and how to solve the most common headaches.
When initiating the connection, you must tell the RDP client to share local devices.
The core mechanism involves redirecting data from a local peripheral to a remote host. There are two primary ways this is achieved:
In older setups, the exact same TWAIN driver installed on the local client had to be installed on the remote server. The server would communicate directly with the device ID.
Scanner redirection is a feature in Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) that allows a local (client-side) scanner to be used within a remote (server-side) session.