printer driver for remote desktop

---

Understanding Printer Drivers for Remote Desktop

In today’s interconnected work environments, accessing and working on remote desktops has become commonplace. However, a seemingly simple task like printing can often become a complex challenge. The key to seamless remote printing lies in understanding and correctly configuring the printer driver for remote desktop. This article, crafted by a hardware technical expert, SEO specialist, and content writer, will delve into the intricacies of remote desktop printing, exploring the technologies, solutions, and troubleshooting steps to ensure your print jobs execute flawlessly.

How Remote Desktop Printing Works

Remote desktop printing allows users to send documents from a remote session to a local or networked printer, making it seem as if the printer is directly connected to the remote machine. This process is commonly known as printer redirection.

When you establish a connection to a remote desktop, the remote environment attempts to detect your local printers through the settings of the remote desktop client, provided printer redirection is enabled. Your local printers should then appear in the printer list of the remote session, allowing you to select and print documents directly.

Microsoft Remote Desktop Easy Print

Microsoft’s built-in solution for simplifying remote desktop printing is called Remote Desktop Easy Print. This feature is designed to alleviate the need for installing specific printer drivers on the remote server for every local printer connected to client machines.

Here’s how Easy Print generally functions: When a user connects to a remote desktop session, the Easy Print driver is automatically installed on the remote computer. When a print job is initiated from the remote session, it’s sent to this virtual printer. The virtual printer converts the print job into an XPS (XML Paper Specification) format, which encapsulates the print job and settings that the local printer can understand. This compressed print job is then redirected to the local printer via the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) client, where the local printer prints the document.

The primary benefit of Easy Print is driverless printing on the server side, which simplifies management and minimizes compatibility issues, especially in environments with a wide variety of client printers.

The Role of Universal Print Drivers (UPDs)

While Easy Print handles many scenarios, some situations or specific printer models might benefit from or require a Universal Print Driver (UPD). UPDs are generic drivers provided by printer manufacturers (e.g., HP, Epson, Canon) that are designed to work with a broad range of their printer models.

In remote desktop environments, UPDs can be installed directly on the remote server. If Easy Print is disabled or encounters compatibility issues, the remote desktop session host can attempt to use a matching UPD on the server for the redirected client printer. This approach can offer more advanced printing features or better performance than generic Easy Print, though it does reintroduce the need for some driver management on the server.

• HP Universal Print Driver: HP offers both PCL6 and PostScript versions of its Universal Print Driver. These are widely compatible with a large number of HP LaserJet and InkJet printers.
  Download links for HP Universal Print Drivers can typically be found on the official HP Support website.
• Epson Universal Print Driver: Epson also provides a Universal Print Driver designed to work with many of its printer and multifunction devices without requiring model-specific drivers. It offers a consistent print dialog and access to common features.
  You can download the Epson Universal Print Driver from the official Epson Support website.

Third-Party Remote Desktop Printing Solutions

For more complex or demanding remote desktop environments (such as large enterprises, VDI, or Citrix setups), specialized third-party solutions offer enhanced functionality beyond what built-in RDP features provide. These solutions often focus on optimizing print data transfer, providing robust driverless printing, and offering advanced management capabilities.

• TSPrint by Terminalworks: TSPrint is a popular RDP printing software that offers driverless printing. It installs its own virtual printer driver on the terminal server, compresses print jobs, and sends them to the local workstation for printing. This eliminates the need to install native printer drivers on the server, increasing server stability and simplifying administration.
• ThinPrint: ThinPrint is a leading print management solution for all remote desktop environments. It offers maximum print performance through advanced compression technology, driver-free printing via its virtual printer driver (ThinPrint Output Gateway), and flexible assignment of local and network printers.
• FabulaTech Printer for Remote Desktop: This solution focuses on providing secure and separate access to local printers from remote Windows sessions without requiring driver installations on the remote server. It supports various remote desktop protocols and is designed for multi-user environments.
• AnyDesk Remote Printing: Integrated within the AnyDesk remote access software, this feature allows users to print documents easily by selecting the ‘AnyDesk Printer’ in the remote session, which then transfers the job to the local printer.

How to Enable Printer Redirection in Remote Desktop

Enabling printer redirection is usually a straightforward process within the Remote Desktop Connection client.

Step-by-Step Guide for Windows RDP:

1. Ensure Local Printer is Working: Verify that your local printer is correctly installed and functioning on your local computer.
2. Open Remote Desktop Connection: Search for “Remote Desktop Connection” (or run mstsc.exe) on your local computer.
3. Show Options: Click on “Show Options” to expand the client settings.
4. Navigate to Local Resources: Go to the “Local Resources” tab.
5. Enable Printers: Under “Local devices and resources,” check the box next to “Printers.” You can also click “More…” to select specific local devices to redirect.
6. Connect: Save the settings and connect to your remote desktop.
7. Verify in Remote Session: Once logged into the remote desktop, open “Devices and Printers” or the print dialog from an application. Your local printer should be listed, often with “(redirected)” or a similar identifier.

Group Policy Configuration (for Server Administrators):

For server administrators, Group Policy settings can control printer redirection behavior. To allow client printer redirection and ensure Easy Print is used first:

• Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Printer Redirection.
• Enable the policy “Use Remote Desktop Easy Print printer driver first.” This ensures the Easy Print driver is prioritized.
• Ensure “Do not allow client printer redirection” is either Disabled or Not Configured.

Troubleshooting Common Remote Desktop Printing Issues

Even with correct configuration, issues can arise. Here are common problems and their solutions:

• Printer Not Appearing in Remote Session:
  • Check RDP Settings: Double-check that the “Printers” checkbox is enabled in the Local Resources tab of your Remote Desktop Connection client.
  • Verify Group Policy: Ensure that Group Policy on the remote server allows client printer redirection. The “Do not allow client printer redirection” policy should be disabled.
  • Printer Drivers: While Easy Print often bypasses this, sometimes the printer driver needs to be installed on both the local and remote machines, especially if Easy Print fails.
  • Restart Print Spooler: On the remote server, restart the “Print Spooler” service. This can refresh the printer list.
• Print Jobs Disappear or are Garbled:
  • Update Drivers: Ensure both your local printer drivers and any universal drivers on the server are up to date.
  • Try Easy Print: If using native drivers, try enabling Easy Print (or vice-versa) to see if it resolves the issue.
  • Check Event Viewer: Server-side Event Viewer logs can provide specific error messages.
• Long Printing Delays:
  • Network Bandwidth: Remote printing can be bandwidth-intensive. Check your network connection quality.
  • Compression: Third-party solutions like TSPrint and ThinPrint offer advanced compression to reduce print job size and improve speed.
  • Redirect Only Necessary Devices: Redirecting too many devices can consume bandwidth.
• Application-Specific Printing Problems:
  • Sometimes an application might have its own printing quirks. Test printing from different applications.

Conclusion

Managing printer drivers for remote desktop environments is a critical aspect of maintaining productivity in distributed workplaces. Whether you rely on Microsoft’s built-in Easy Print, robust universal print drivers, or advanced third-party solutions, understanding the underlying mechanisms and troubleshooting steps is key. By correctly configuring printer redirection and utilizing the appropriate drivers or software, you can ensure that printing from your remote desktop is as seamless and efficient as printing locally.