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.

For information about USB device requirements and limitations for USB redirection, see the Configuring Remote Desktop Features in Horizon document.

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

This procedure describes how to use Horizon Client to configure autoconnection of USB devices to a remote desktop or published application. You can also configure autoconnection by using the Horizon Client command-line interface, or by configuring a group policy.

For information about the command-line interface, see Running Horizon Client From the Command Line. For information about configuring group policies, see the Configuring Remote Desktop Features in Horizon document.

Prerequisites

  • To use USB devices with a remote desktop or published application, a Horizon administrator must enable the USB redirection feature.

    This task includes installing the USB Redirection component of Horizon Agent, and can include setting policies regarding USB redirection. For more information, see the Configuring Remote Desktop Features in Horizon document and USB Settings for Client GPOs.

  • The USB Redirection component must be installed in Horizon Client. If you did not include this component in the installation, uninstall Horizon Client and run the installer again to include the USB Redirection component.

    For installation instructions, see the VMware Horizon Client for Windows Installation and Setup Guide document.

  • 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 Connect USB Device.
    3. Select the USB device.
    The device is manually redirected from the local system to the remote desktop.
  • Connect the USB device to a published application.
    1. Connect the USB device to the local client system.
    2. Start Horizon Client and connect to the published application.
    3. Click the Settings (gear) icon in the upper-right corner of the desktop and application selector window and click USB Devices.
    4. In the right pane, select the USB device, click Connect, select the published application, and click OK.
      Horizon Client connects the USB device to the published application that you selected. The USB device is also available to other applications in the same farm as the application that you selected.
    5. (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.
    6. (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.
      The published application must be activated and in the foreground for this behavior to take effect.
    7. To close the Settings dialog box, click OK.
    8. When you are finished using the published application, open the Settings dialog box again, select USB Devices, and select Disconnect.
      You must release the USB device so that you can access it from your local system.
  • 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, select Connect USB Device > 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, select Connect USB Device > 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.