To set up your deployment so that end users can connect removable devices, such as USB flash drives, cameras, and headsets, you must install certain components on both the remote desktop or RDS host and the client device, and you must verify that the global setting for USB devices is activated in Horizon Administrator.

This checklist includes both required and optional tasks for setting up USB redirection in your enterprise.

The USB redirection feature is available only on some types of clients. To find out whether this feature is supported on a particular type of client, see the feature support matrix included in the installation and setup document for the specific type of client device.

Important: When you deploy the USB redirection feature, you can take steps to protect your organization from the security vulnerabilities that can affect USB devices. For example, you can use group policy settings to deactivate USB redirection for some remote desktops and users, or to restrict which types of USB devices can be redirected. See Deploying USB Devices in a Secure VMware Horizon 8 Environment.
  1. When you run the Horizon Agent installation wizard on the remote desktop source or RDS host, be sure to include the USB Redirection component.

    This component is deselected by default. You must select the component to install it.

  2. When you run the VMware Horizon Client installation wizard on the client system, include the USB Redirection component.

    This component is included by default.

  3. Verify that access to USB devices from a remote desktop or application is activated in Horizon Administrator.

    In Horizon Administrator, go to Policies > Global Policies and verify that USB access is set to Allow.

  4. (Optional) Configure Horizon Agent group policies to specify which types of devices are allowed to be redirected.

    See Using Policies to Control USB Redirection.

  5. (Optional) Configure similar settings on the client device.

    You can also configure whether devices are automatically connected when Horizon Client connects to the remote desktop or application, or when the end user plugs in a USB device. The method of configuring USB settings on the client device depends on the type of device. For example, for Windows clients, you can configure group policies. For Mac clients, you use a command-line command. For more information, see the installation and setup document for the specific type of client device.

  6. Have end users connect to a remote desktop or application and plug their USB devices into the local client system.

    If the driver for the USB device is not already installed in the remote desktop or RDS host, the guest operating system detects the USB device and searches for a suitable driver, just as it would on a physical Windows computer.