USB over RDP

USB for Remote Desktop Software

USB over RDP is an RDP USB redirection software allowing remote desktop computers to access USB devices. USB over RDP allows access on a multitude of networks, including internet, LAN, and WiFi. USB Redirector RDP software lets users share their USB ports safely. Acting as a USB redirector, it transmits data over TCP/IP connections.

Try For Free Get trial key

Purchase nowStarts from $159.95

Supported versions: OS: Windows 7 SP1/8/8.1/10/11; Windows Server 2008 R2/2012/2012 R2/2016/2019/2022
Architectures: x86, x64, ARM64 macOS 10.9-10.14 Tested on Ubuntu 14.04-18.04, Centos 7. UNG Linux requires kernel version from 2.6.32 to 4.4 Android from 5.0

Download available for: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android

Integrate the USB for Remote Desktop Software functionality into your own software or hardware solution. Get the Software Development Kit and embed our USB pass-through technology into your own product.

Request the SDK

Forwarding USB over RDP

Forwarding USB Over Remote Desktop

USB over remote desktop software (AKA RDP USB redirection, in some cases) allows PCs access to remote USB devices. RDP access occurs by creating virtual copies of serial ports connected [physically] to the USB device. The virtual copy lets remote desktops have full control over devices. Enabling USB remote desktop capabilities will feel like your USB device is actually connected to the remote PC!

Below are a few advantages using an RDP USB Redirector for your USB remote desktop issues. These unique features set USB Redirector for RDP apart, and you’ll soon see why.

Optimized Traffic Redirection

USB over RDP software has a feature called “Traffic Compression”. This USB remote desktop feature transfers data at increased speed without excessive bandwidth strain.
Compressed data transmission helps with “remote scanning” and devices sending uncompressed data while in use.

Using a Local Computer as a USB Device Server

USB over RDP Redirector enables any USB port on a local PC to establish a remote connection. Once sharing a USB interface, you can connect the necessary peripherals to the port. Now you can connect to devices from remote computers. You can also switch out USB devices. The newly connected device automatically redirects to the remote client.

RemoteFX USB Redirection

RemoteFX USB Redirection allows native RemoteFX protocol to redirect a USB to RDPs. It means, that devices on a “server” [local computer] running Linux are accessible by a “client” [remote computer] running Windows.
Additionally, if RemoteFX USB Redirection supports their peripheral, users don’t need to install the software on the remote PC.

Accessing USB over WiFi

Sharing USB over WiFi is no problem using USB to RDP Redirector software. It’s easy, and your USB port data is encrypted when transmitted to a remote computer. USB redirector software even lets you set passwords while using USB over WiFi connections! That way you have full control over who can access your local USB devices.

Isolation NEW

Effective USB Device Isolation On Windows

Windows OS provides countless features, making it popular in the computer technology community. Unfortunately, Windows lacks one significant capability. Windows can’t control/isolate accessibility to USB devices. Any USBs connected to a Windows OS computer are available to anyone using the computer by default. It could be problematic for a computer accessed by many unique RDP sessions.

USB over RDP software lets users limit/control access to connected peripherals(USB devices)

Per-Session Isolation

Limit access to USB devices based on a specified RDP session. A peripheral becomes invisible to any users outside of a particular session. This means unauthorized users outside of the session can’t access the device.

Per-user Isolation

Limit USB device access based on a specified user profile. User-based isolation permits long-term device access to employees utilizing more than one account.

Note: USB device isolation functions on tons of different USB device types. Windows 8 and on support isolation for 3D mice, scanners, hard drives, printers, cameras- and most other USB devices.

Learn more about USB isolation

Solutions comparison

Compare Top 3 USB Redirection RDP software

An RDP USB redirector should be in every tech-lovers tool box. So the below compare and contrast should help you find the perfect software for your needs.

And when it comes to an RDP USB redirector, there are many practical and effective solutions for redirecting USB over a network available. The table below compares three popular USB redirection RDP sharing software options on the market.

Product to compare:

USB Network Gate

USB/IP

VirtualHere

USB over Network

Want to switch to USB Network Gate with 30% discount? Get 30% discount

USB Network Gate Electronic Team, Inc. electronic.us

USB/IP Takahiro Hirofuchi usbip.sourceforge.net

VirtualHere VirtualHere Pty. Ltd. virtualhere.com

USB over Network FabulaTech, Inc. fabulatech.com

Tested version

v9.0 (Windows)
v9.0 (Linux)
v9.0 (Mac)

v0.2 (Windows)
v0.1.7-3 (Linux)

v3.3.8 (server)
v4.2.3 (client)

v5.2 (Windows)
v5.2 (Linux)

MAIN FEATURES

Ability to share an unlimited number of USB devices

Support for all types of USB devices

USB v1.1 and v2.0 compatible

USB v3.0 compatible

Requires no device driver on the server side to share a device

Auto-connection to new USB devices whenever you plug them in

Ability to share a USB port with no device attached

Monitoring all actions and operations by using Activity log

less detailed

Specifying the exact TCP port which will be used in connection

for each device

for program, not from GUI

for program

Network traffic encryption for secure device sharing

for each device

SSL, not from GUI

SSL, for program

Optional authentication by enabling password authorization when establishing connection to remote USB devices

custom script is required

Password protection of the server side

Traffic compression

not from GUI

Cross-connectivity: ability to mix (32 or 64 bit) Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X servers and clients in different combinations

partially

Version for Windows

only client

Version for Linux

only server

Version for Mac

Version for Android

only server

only server

Version for ARM/Embedded Linux

OEM

Shared USB ports are automatically re-configured every time you boot your PC

only on Windows

Client autoreconnection after PC reboot

Autoreconnection after broken network connection

Ability to disable client connection from the server side

Ability to disable client connection from another client

Inactivity timeout

Troubleshooting options if a device is not working properly

Two types of connection with remote devices - "Connect" and "Connect once". The latter one allows clients to establish one-time connection without trying to restore it if broken

Autofinding shared remote devices

Callback connection feature useful for server computers located behind NAT

per device

less convenient

per device

Connecting over RDP channel

Connecting over Citrix ICA channel

Isolation of certain devices in an RDP session

Autoconnection to RDP devices

Displaying the amount of data transmitted within current connection

Displaying the data transfer speed in current connection

Sharing rule manager

Localization to other languages

Command line options to automate the process of using the program

Integration of the technology into your own application (OEM license only)

OPERATING SYSTEMS SUPPORTED

Windows XP, 2003 32-bit and 64 bit

Windows Vista, 7, 2008 32-bit and 64-bit

Windows 8, 10, 2012, 2016 32-bit and 64-bit

Mac OS X 10.11

Mac OS X 10.12

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Ability to provide any USB device with a custom name

only on a client

Computer name of the client currently occupying a shared USB device is displayed in the list of available shared USB devices on other clients

Ability to choose devices that will be shared on the server side

Support for high-speed video, audio devices, and web cameras

low data transfer speed

User-friendly and convenient program interface

Program is easy to use

Redirect USB devices to virtual machines (VMWare, Virtual PC, Hyper-V, etc.)

Single installer for server and client

Single installer for 32- and 64-bit OS versions

Single GUI for server and client

Program Autoupdater

only on a client

Drivers have Microsoft WHQL signature

Program is stable

frequent system crashes

Free trial version

14-day trial period with the ability to share 1 local USB device

Product is free

you can share 1 USB device

15-day trial period, only one USB device from server can be connected at the same time

Connecting via Microsoft RemoteFX without instaling a client software

from Linux USB server

Windows client can connect to a device right after it's been shared on the server

Linux client has to be connected first

Customer support

Regular program updates

Show full chart

How it works

USB Device Redirection to a Remote Desktop

Follow the steps below to learn how to use USB redirector software to permit USB redirection RDP (remote desktop protocol) access on your computer.

1

Download and install USB redirection software on the computers sharing the connections (AKA: the server and the client).

2

On the server machine [computer connected physically to the device], launch the app.

3

Navigate to the “Local USB Devices” tab. Select the desired USB device and click “Share”.

4

On the “client” machine [remote computer accessing the USB device], locate the device “shared” by the server computer. Click “Connect”

You’re done! It’s that simple to use an RDP USB redirector. USB Device Redirection software was developed to be user-friendly no matter your skill level.

The shared device now appears on the remote PC. The device will function as if the client and USB are actually connected.

Video tutorial

Learn the “How to Redirect USB Device in Remote Desktop” Feature in our Easy-to-Follow Video Tutorial

Frequently asked questions

Find answers to common questions asked about USB redirection software below:

USB over RDP Software: is your USB Redirector RDP free?

While we do have a paid USB redirector RDP version, we also have a free trial for USB over RDP available for download.

If I have no internet connection, can I still share a USB device over LAN?

Yes. Our USB redirector RDP software makes USB device sharing on local networks lacking an internet connection possible.

What does “Server Computer” And “Client Computer” actually mean?

USB Network Gate Terminology:

The “Server” computer is the machine PHYSICALLY connected to the USB device.
The “Client” computer is the machine that will access the USB device REMOTELY.

Does USB for Remote Desktop allow cross-platform connection creation?

Yes. Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems are all compatible with USB Network Gate. Thus, devices connected to a Windows are accessible by a remote MAC machine. Or a device from Mac to Linux- or any other OS to OS combination necessary.

How can I create a USB server?

You can use USB Server hardware to create multiple peripherals to function with your USB devices. Learn more about USB Server here.

Can I access the same USB device on several remote computers simultaneously?

Once shared over a network, a USB device is only accessible on one computer at a time.

10 years, 2 million customers

4.9 overall rank, based on 372 reviews.

Successfully used by 150+ companies worldwide

Use licensed software anywhere

I was on the business trip abroad and had to use a piece of software, which was secured with the Sentinel HASP HL dongle, that I left in my office, unfortunately for me. My colleague has advised me to try USB Network Gate to share USB over TCP/IP and connect the dongle remotely. To my surprise, everything went even more smoothly than I anticipated, and the software successfully recognized the dongle, which was miles away from me.

Keith Evans,
Flight Data Technician

Reduce the number of wires

With the help of USB Network Gate, I managed to turn my Samsung Android smartphone into a sort of USB to Ethernet server! I just had to install the app onto my phone, plugged my DSLR camera into its USB port, shared the device with my computer over Wi-Fi, and voila, it showed up on my desktop computer.

Elizabeth Stein,
Photography Enthusiast

Access USB devices from anywhere

Not having access to my Mac machine during the debugging of the native iOS app made me look in the direction of cloud Mac machine. But the main question was how to access an iPhone attached to my Windows 10 PC from the cloud? That is when I came across USB Network Gate, which helped me to extend USB over Ethernet and connect the phone.

James Hughes,
Software Applications Engineer

Multi-platform solution

We were looking for a reliable USB server software with a free trial to access and share various USB devices between Windows and Linux (and in some cases even Mac) computers. As it turned out, USB Network Gate is the only solution of that kind that could meet our criteria.

Janet Camper,
Information Systems Manager

#1 at Networking Software

Start connecting to USB shared on remote computers now!

Try For Free Get trial key

Purchase nowStarts from $159.95

10.0.2593 • 9.33MB, Released 1 Nov, 2023

10.0.1009 • 19.78MB, Released 25 Mar, 2024

10.0.9 • 3.84MB, Released 2 Apr, 2024

10.0 • 10.29MB, Released 18 Jan, 2022

Run on OS: Windows 7 SP1/8/8.1/10/11; Windows Server 2008 R2/2012/2012 R2/2016/2019/2022
Architectures: x86, x64, ARM64 Run on macOS 10.14 or newer CentOS 7-8, Ubuntu 14.04-21.04 Android 5.0 and above

Download available for: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android

Special offers : Migration discount –30% • Major upgrade –50%