Powershell 5.1 not accepting keyboard input when using Remote Desktop HTML5 Web Client

Question

Install the latest RDS HTML5 client on a RDS deployment as specified here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/clients/remote-desktop-web-client-admin

1. Open a web browser session and start an RDS session.
2. Start powershell
3. keyboard input not working
4. start Powershell ISE
5. keyboard input works fine

The only key input that is accepted is the enter key or Ctrl+ combinations.

Windows Server 2022

Edge Browser Version 111.0.1661.51 (Official build) (64-bit)

PS Version:

Name                           Value                                           
----                           -----                                           
PSVersion                      5.1.20348.1366                                  
PSEdition                      Desktop                                         
PSCompatibleVersions           {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0...}                         
BuildVersion                   10.0.20348.1366                                 
CLRVersion                     4.0.30319.42000                                 
WSManStackVersion              3.0                                             
PSRemotingProtocolVersion      2.3                                             
SerializationVersion           1.1.0.1

Answer 1

Hi,
I had the same issue, and in my case I could fix it by updating PSReadLine module to a newer version.

Check your current PSReadLine version

PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-Module PSReadLine

ModuleType Version    Name                                ExportedCommands
---------- -------    ----                                ----------------
Script     2.0.0      PSReadline                          {Get-PSReadLineKeyHandler, Get-PSReadLineOption, Remove-PS...

Update PSReadLine to latest version

PS C:\Windows\system32> Install-Module PSReadLine -Force

Close PowerShell console and start a new one and you should be able to use your keyboard as expected

PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-Module PSReadLine

ModuleType Version    Name                                ExportedCommands
---------- -------    ----                                ----------------
Script     2.3.5      PSReadline                          {Get-PSReadLineKeyHandler, Get-PSReadLineOption, Remove-PS...

Answer 2

Hello there,

Have you used an on-screen keyboard in your remote session and see if you can type?

Check the PowerShell settings: You may need to adjust the PowerShell settings to allow input from a web client. Run Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned to allow remote scripts to be executed.

Beginning in PowerShell 6.0 for non-Windows computers, the default execution policy is Unrestricted and can't be changed. The Set-ExecutionPolicy cmdlet is available, but PowerShell displays a console message that it's not supported. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/set-executionpolicy?view=powershell-7.3

Hope this resolves your Query !!

--If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept it as an answer–

Answer 3

We had some issues with RDWeb and Anaconda (and Anaconda Powershell) for us the solution was to enable (at client side) inputh method editor. The keyboard layout we keep empty because we would like ENG-US(INTL) You can find this in the RDWeb settings menu (gear wheel).

What I miss is an option to enable this at the server side so users won't have to do this manually. Therefore I created this idea: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/azure-virtual-desktop-feedback/rdwebclient-enable-input-method-editor-by-default/idi-p/3939231

Answer 4

Was there any resolution to this?

We are experiencing the exact same PowerShell 5.1 Build 20348 Revision 1850 typing issue using RD HTML5 webclient (version 1.0.28.0) to our Windows Server 2022 Datacenter RDS Session Hosts. PowerShell 7.3 and other consoles work fine.

But no issues using same RD HTML5 webclient to Windows Server 2019 Standard and Windows Server 2012 R2 RDS Session Hosts.

Answer 5

If using Linux Remmina/FreeRDP, then disable "Use client keyboard mapping" in Remmina Preferences.