Print2RDP vs. Alternatives: Which Remote Printing Solution Fits Your Needs?

Print2RDP: A Complete Setup Guide for Remote Printing

Overview

Print2RDP lets users redirect local printers to remote Windows sessions via the RDP protocol, enabling printing from remote desktops or applications directly to a local or networked printer. This guide shows a complete, prescriptive setup for typical Windows environments (Windows ⁄₁₁ and Windows Server 2016–2022). Assumes administrator access on client and server machines.

Requirements

• Windows client (Windows ⁄₁₁) with Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc) or compatible RDP client.
• Windows server (Server 2016–2022) or remote Windows PC with Remote Desktop enabled.
• Print2RDP installer on the server (download from vendor).
• Administrative rights to install drivers and configure Group Policy.
• Network connectivity and appropriate firewall rules for RDP (TCP 3389 by default).
• Local printer installed on the client with working drivers.

Quick checklist

1. Confirm Remote Desktop is enabled on the server.
2. Install Print2RDP on the remote server.
3. Configure RDP settings on the client to enable printer redirection.
4. Install or configure required printer drivers on the server.
5. Test a print job from the remote session to the local printer.

Step-by-step setup

1. Enable Remote Desktop on the server

1. Open Settings > System > Remote Desktop (or Server Manager on Windows Server).
2. Turn on Remote Desktop and allow connections.
3. Ensure user accounts are added to the Remote Desktop Users group.

2. Install Print2RDP on the server

1. Download the Print2RDP installer from the vendor’s site.
2. Right-click the installer and choose “Run as administrator.”
3. Follow the installer prompts; accept defaults unless you have specific paths or options required by your environment.
4. Reboot the server if prompted.

3. Configure Group Policy (recommended for domain environments)

1. Open Group Policy Management Console (gpmc.msc).
2. Edit or create a GPO linked to target computers (remote desktops/servers).
3. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Printer Redirection.
4. Set the following:
   • “Do not allow client printer redirection” — Disabled.
   • “Redirect only the default client printer” — Set as needed (Disabled to redirect all).
   • “Use remote desktop easy print printer driver first” — Enabled.
5. Apply and force update with gpupdate /force on affected servers.

4. Enable printer redirection on the client

1. Open Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc.exe).
2. Click Show Options > Local Resources tab.
3. Under Local devices and resources, check Printers.
4. Optionally click More… and select specific devices or drives to share.
5. Save settings or connect.

5. Ensure correct printer drivers on the server

• Preferred approach: Use Microsoft Easy Print (requires .NET and RDP client support). Ensure “Use remote desktop easy print printer driver first” is enabled in Group Policy.
• If Easy Print is unsuitable (complex printer features), install the exact printer driver on the server (matching driver architecture). Use vendor-supplied drivers and mark them trusted.

6. Configure Print2RDP-specific settings

1. Open Print2RDP management console on the server.
2. Verify printer mapping rules and policies (e.g., name normalization, default printer mapping).
3. Adjust session-level settings such as user-based mappings, logging, and driver fallback behavior.
4. Enable verbose logging temporarily during testing.

7. Test printing from a remote session

1. Connect from the client with printer redirection enabled.
2. In the remote session, open Devices and Printers — you should see redirected printers listed, often prefixed (e.g., “PrinterName (redirected 1)”).
3. Set a redirected printer as default if desired.
4. Print a test page from Notepad or a PDF viewer.
5. Check client-side printer queue and server-side Print2RDP logs if issues occur.

Troubleshooting common issues

• No redirected printers appear:
  • Verify client checked Printers in mstsc Local Resources.
  • Confirm Print Spooler service is running on both ends.
  • Ensure Group Policy doesn’t disable redirection.
  • Check firewall blocking RDP or related services.
• Driver mismatch / printing as a generic/text-only:
  • Install correct vendor driver on server or enable Easy Print.
  • Use 32-bit vs 64-bit matching drivers as appropriate.
• Permissions errors:
  • Ensure users have permissions to use printers and RDP session resources.
  • Verify Print2RDP service runs with sufficient privileges.
• Slow print jobs:
  • Check network bandwidth/latency; consider compressing or using optimized driver features.
  • Update Print2RDP and RDP client to latest versions.

Security considerations

• Restrict which users can connect via Remote Desktop.
• Use Network Level Authentication (NLA) and strong credentials.
• Consider RDP over VPN or apply RD Gateway to avoid exposing RDP to the public internet.
• Keep Print2RDP and server OS patched.

Maintenance and monitoring

• Regularly review Print2RDP logs and Windows Event Viewer for printer-related errors.
• Keep printer drivers and Print2RDP updated.
• Periodically test print workflows after Windows updates.

Appendix: Example mstsc command to enable printer redirection

mstsc /v:remote-server.example.com 

(Ensure local printers are selected in the GUI before connecting.)

If you want, I can produce a printable one-page quickstart or a Group Policy export with exact registry keys for mass deployment.