GPO tool

Group Policy made searchable

A free ADMX browser or comparison tool for IT administrators. Search policies, find registry keys, and see exactly what each setting writes to the Windows Registry. Or compare two GPO backups to see exactly what has changed between them.

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Specify RD Session Host server fallback printer driver behavior

This policy setting allows you to specify the RD Session Host server fallback printer driver behavior.

By default, the RD Session Host server fallback printer driver is disabled. If the RD Session Host server does not have a printer driver that matches the client's printer, no printer will be available for the Remote Desktop Services session.

If you enable this policy setting, the fallback printer driver is enabled, and the default behavior is for the RD Session Host server to find a suitable printer driver. If one is not found, the client's printer is not available. You can choose to change this default behavior. The available options are:

"Do nothing if one is not found" - If there is a printer driver mismatch, the server will attempt to find a suitable driver. If one is not found, the client's printer is not available. This is the default behavior.

"Default to PCL if one is not found" - If no suitable printer driver can be found, default to the Printer Control Language (PCL) fallback printer driver.

"Default to PS if one is not found" - If no suitable printer driver can be found, default to the PostScript (PS) fallback printer driver.

"Show both PCL and PS if one is not found" - If no suitable driver can be found, show both PS and PCL-based fallback printer drivers.

If you disable this policy setting, the RD Session Host server fallback driver is disabled and the RD Session Host server will not attempt to use the fallback printer driver.

If you do not configure this policy setting, the fallback printer driver behavior is off by default.

Note: If the "Do not allow client printer redirection" setting is enabled, this policy setting is ignored and the fallback printer driver is disabled.

Registry Information

VendorMicrosoft
ProductTerminal Server
CategoryRemote Desktop Services › Remote Desktop Session Host › Printer Redirection
Applies toComputer Configuration
Supported on Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 only
Registry Key[HKLM]SOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows NTTerminal Services
Value NamefPolicyFallbackPrintDriver
TypeREG_DWORD
Enabled value1
Disabled value0

Policy Settings

When attempting to find a suitable driver:

Registry Key[HKLM]SOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows NTTerminal Services
Value NameFallbackPrintDriverType
TypeREG_DWORD
Values
  • Do nothing if one is not found. (1)
  • Default to PCL if one is not found. (2)
  • Default to PS if one is not found. (3)
  • Show both PCL and PS if one is not found. (4)

Registry File (.reg)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Enable the policy
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows NTTerminal Services]
"fPolicyFallbackPrintDriver"=dword:00000001

; Disable the policy
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows NTTerminal Services]
"fPolicyFallbackPrintDriver"=dword:00000000

PowerShell

# Enable the policy
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:SOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows NTTerminal Services" -Name "fPolicyFallbackPrintDriver" -Value 1 -Type DWord

# Disable the policy
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:SOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows NTTerminal Services" -Name "fPolicyFallbackPrintDriver" -Value 0 -Type DWord