With the USB redirection feature, you can use locally attached USB devices, such as thumb flash drives, in a remote desktop or published application.

When you use the USB redirection feature, most USB devices that are attached to the local client system become available from menus in Horizon Client. You use these menus to connect and disconnect the devices.

The types of USB devices that you can redirect depend on how a Horizon administrator has configured the remote desktop or published application.

If you use the client drive redirection feature to share a USB storage device or a folder on a USB storage device, you cannot use the USB redirection feature to redirect the device to a remote desktop or published application because the device is already shared.

You can connect USB devices to a remote desktop or published application either manually or automatically.

Prerequisites

  • To use USB devices with a remote desktop or published application, a Horizon administrator must enable the USB redirection feature.
  • Before you can use the USB redirection feature in Horizon Client, you must start the remote USB services. The first time you start Horizon Client, it prompts you to start the remote USB services. You can also start the remote USB services from the VMware Horizon Client menu bar. Click Connection > USB > Start remote USB services and provide the Administrator password when prompted.
  • The first time you attempt to connect a USB device, you must provide the Administrator password. Horizon Client prompts you for the password.

    Some components required for USB redirection that Horizon Client installs must be configured, and configuration of these components requires Administrator privileges.

  • Become familiar with USB Redirection Limitations.

Procedure

  • Manually connect the USB device to a remote desktop.
    1. Connect the USB device to the local client system.
    2. From the VMware Horizon Client menu bar in the remote desktop, click Connection > USB > Connect to a desktop to list USB devices.
    3. Connect to the remote desktop and select a USB device.
    The device is manually redirected from the local system to the remote desktop.
  • Connect the USB device to a published application.
    1. Plug in the USB device.
    2. Open the published application.
    3. Click the Settings button (gear icon) in the upper-right corner of the desktop and application selection window.
    4. Select Applications in the left pane of the Settings dialog box.
    5. Click USB at the top of the right pane of the Settings dialog box.
      The available USB devices appear in the left pane.
    6. Select a USB device and click Connect Device.
      If a USB device is already connected to a remote desktop or application, you must disconnect the device from the desktop or application before you can select it.
    7. Select a published application and click Continue.
      You can select any running published application. After you select a published application, you can use the USB device with the published application.
    8. (Optional) To configure Horizon Client to connect the USB device automatically to the published application when the application is started, select the Auto-connect at startup check box.
    9. (Optional) To configure Horizon Client to connect the USB device automatically to the published application when you plug the device into the local system, select the Auto-connect when inserted check box.
    10. After you finish using the published application, open the Settings dialog box again, select USB, and select Disconnect to release the USB device from the published application.
      You can now use the USB device with your local client system, a remote desktop, or another published application.
  • Configure Horizon Client to connect USB devices automatically to a remote desktop when you plug them in to the local system.
    Use the autoconnect feature if you plan to connect devices that use MTP drivers, such as Android-based Samsung smart phones and tablets.
    1. Before you plug in the USB device, start Horizon Client and connect to the remote desktop.
    2. From the VMware Horizon Client menu bar in the remote desktop, click Connection > USB > Automatically connect when inserted.
    3. Plug in the USB device.
    USB devices that you connect to your local system after you start Horizon Client are redirected to the remote desktop.
  • Configure Horizon Client to connect USB devices automatically to a remote desktop when Horizon Client starts.
    1. From the VMware Horizon Client menu bar in the remote desktop, click Connection > USB > Automatically connect at startup.
    2. Plug in the USB device and restart Horizon Client.
    USB devices that are connected to the local client system when you start Horizon Client are redirected to the remote desktop.

Results

The USB device appears in the remote desktop or published application. A USB device might take up to 20 seconds to appear in the remote desktop or published application. The first time you connect the device to a remote desktop you might be prompted to install drivers.

If the USB device does not appear in the remote desktop or published application after several minutes, disconnect and reconnect the device to the client computer.

What to do next

If you have problems with USB redirection, see the topic about troubleshooting USB redirection problems in the Configuring Remote Desktop Features in Horizon document.