I am currently having issues with sound redirection while using remote desktop connecting to a Windows 10 Pro Creators update host.
I am able to connect using RDP, however the hosts sound is not transmitted to the RDP session. I can see the 'Remote Sound' icon in the tray, and it shows when audio is playing with the volume bar.
Things I have tried:
- Rebooting
- Checking host and client volume control
- Verifying that RDP client has 'Play on this computer'
- Using different RDP clients to connect (Android/Windows Default/Windows Store)
- Disabling Firewall/AV
- Checking sound service / Remote Desktop service are started
- Checked group polices for RDP sound redirection
- Checked reg value for fDisableAudioCapture
- Safe Mode (Unable to start required services in safe mode)
I have Realtek HDA audio drivers and NVidia audio drivers installed on the host, but that shouldn't affect the remote desktop sound redirection as far as I know.
Edit:
Also the drive redirection doesn't appear to be working, so it looks like an RDP issue rather than a sound issue.
I'd rather use RDP rather than other software like VNC
9 Answers
The solution to this problem was that the following service was disabled:
Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector
After enabling this service and setting to automatic (by pressing win + r and opening services.msc) all was working again.
Edit:
@SemVanmeenen in the comments mentions that restarting the Windows Audio service on the host fixed it for them, and it appears to fix the issue for a lot of other people too.
As @SemVanmeenen mentioned, restarting the Windows Audio Services (I used the AudioEndpointBuilder as this is the root service) worked for me. This is a case I see often and results in Windows beeing unable to "pick up" the new device registered by the RDP Port Redirector.
Thus I think we're seeing different root causes here, as restarting the Audio Services forces the system to pick up the new Audio Devices, while the RDP Port Redirector creates those devices in the first place. This service of course has to be enabled for audio redirection to work
For the German users out there, the RDP Port Redirector is called "Anschlussumleitung für Remotedesktopdienst im Benutzermodus" in German in case you're looking for it...
1In addition to all the above, in the RDP session, open volume control options, make sure the Remote Audio is checked.
I think these problem are created by a group directive.
First of all, try to connect from a different computer. If you have the same problem, then, it's a server problem, and probably, regedit problem or group directive stablished by the network administrator.
If your computer is on a windows Active Directory domain, tell this problem to the AD administrator.
IF you aren't on domain, check this registry value:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp
fDisableAudioCapture REG_DWORD 0 | 1
This key control the audio redirection. You need to check it on TS Server, not on the client machine.
1I had a user whose PC was working fine with local audio, but would not play audio back to a remote session. Furthermore, programs attempting to do so were occasionally crashing (most notably, Windows' own Control Panel and Outlook).
Lots of head-scratching and digging led me to check the Event Viewer, which revealed the culprit: ff_acm.acm, a part of ffdshow, which is no longer maintained.
Changing ff_acm.acm and ff_vfw.dll (I'm guessing this was installed, somehow, as part of a video for windows codec pack?) to .old files in the system32 directory and giving the machine a reboot solved the issue.
For me restarting Windows Audio Service didn't work. I had to :
- Change [Session start] to "local system account", reboot and change it back to "This account".
- Select "Local Service" and put in my login password.
- Restart the service.
Sorry if the names are not accurate, my system is in Spanish.
PD: I think windows update did something to break it, was working before.
In my case the following values were missing from the registry, preventing the Remoteaudio device from showing in "mmsys.cpl" on the Win10 virtual guest (Hyper-v):
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations ConsoleSecurity DefaultSecurityI had the same problem. I found a reason is plug and play device not auto using.
If anyone using plug and play devices can fix:
- Click
Show options:
- Switch tab
Local Resources=> ClickMore:
- Check allow all:
I tried all the above mentioned tips but none resolved my remote sound issue.
What did resolve it was going to the settings->system->sound on the client PC, scrolling down to "Advanced sound options" and selecting "App volume device preferences" and lone behold the "RDP app" volume was set at zero. Once increased to 100 all worked fine.
