Smart Card Reader not detected on remote host using Remote Desktop

Question

Smart Card Reader not detected on remote host using Remote Desktop

Jeff 5

My organization uses Azure Virtual Desktops. I need to use a smart card to login to my organization's websites and services. I am using Microsoft Remote Desktop to connect and have ActivClient running.

On my Windows 11 machine, the smart card is detected locally. However, the remote machine does not detect the smart card reader and I am unable to login to websites.

I am certain the problem is with my local environment. My smartcard reader passes through successfully to the remote machine when I login from my macOS device, also using Microsoft Remote Desktop.

What local configurations should I check on my Windows device?

Prrudram-MSFT 27,981 Reputation points

2023-07-10T06:56:03.1466667+00:00

Hello @Jeff

You may want to check if the smart card reader is being redirected to the remote machine. You can check this by opening the Remote Desktop Connection client, clicking on "Show Options", selecting the "Local Resources" tab, and ensuring that the "Smart cards" option is selected under "Local devices and resources". If this option is already selected, you may want to check if the remote machine is recognizing the smart card reader. You can do this by opening the Device Manager on the remote machine and checking if the smart card reader is listed under "Smart card readers". If it is not listed, you may want to check if the smart card reader driver is installed on the remote machine. If the driver is not installed, you can install it by following the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the smart card reader.

If the driver is installed and the smart card reader is still not being recognized, you may want to check if there are any issues with the smart card reader itself. You can do this by testing the smart card reader on another machine to see if it is working properly.

If this does answer your question, please accept it as the answer as a token of appreciation.
Jeff 5 Reputation points

2023-07-11T01:41:17.25+00:00

Please note that I am using Microsoft "Remote Desktop" app, downloaded from the Microsoft Store. This is different than the natively installed "Remote Desktop Connection" app.

In any event, this "Smart cards" box is checked.
Prrudram-MSFT 27,981 Reputation points

2023-07-11T09:30:07.7133333+00:00

Hello @Jeff

We noticed that you rated an answer as not helpful. We value your feedback, If the answer provided later answers your question, please accept it as answer and re-evaluate the rating by taking the survey again.
Thanks!
Prrudram-MSFT 27,981 Reputation points

2023-07-14T06:00:37.2666667+00:00

Hello @Jeff

Did you try the MSI version and if that worked, please accept the answer below so that you can help others in the community looking for remediation for similar issues.
Prrudram-MSFT 27,981 Reputation points

2023-07-25T04:38:00.2366667+00:00

@Jeff

Any update on this? Did you try the version suggested? If that worked, can you, please accept the answer?

1 answer

Your answer

Prrudram-MSFT 27,981 Reputation points

2023-07-10T06:56:03.1466667+00:00

Hello @Jeff

You may want to check if the smart card reader is being redirected to the remote machine. You can check this by opening the Remote Desktop Connection client, clicking on "Show Options", selecting the "Local Resources" tab, and ensuring that the "Smart cards" option is selected under "Local devices and resources". If this option is already selected, you may want to check if the remote machine is recognizing the smart card reader. You can do this by opening the Device Manager on the remote machine and checking if the smart card reader is listed under "Smart card readers". If it is not listed, you may want to check if the smart card reader driver is installed on the remote machine. If the driver is not installed, you can install it by following the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the smart card reader.

If the driver is installed and the smart card reader is still not being recognized, you may want to check if there are any issues with the smart card reader itself. You can do this by testing the smart card reader on another machine to see if it is working properly.

If this does answer your question, please accept it as the answer as a token of appreciation.
Jeff 5 Reputation points

2023-07-11T01:41:17.25+00:00

Please note that I am using Microsoft "Remote Desktop" app, downloaded from the Microsoft Store. This is different than the natively installed "Remote Desktop Connection" app.

In any event, this "Smart cards" box is checked.
Prrudram-MSFT 27,981 Reputation points

2023-07-11T09:30:07.7133333+00:00

Hello @Jeff

We noticed that you rated an answer as not helpful. We value your feedback, If the answer provided later answers your question, please accept it as answer and re-evaluate the rating by taking the survey again.
Thanks!
Prrudram-MSFT 27,981 Reputation points

2023-07-14T06:00:37.2666667+00:00

Hello @Jeff

Did you try the MSI version and if that worked, please accept the answer below so that you can help others in the community looking for remediation for similar issues.
Prrudram-MSFT 27,981 Reputation points

2023-07-25T04:38:00.2366667+00:00

@Jeff

Any update on this? Did you try the version suggested? If that worked, can you, please accept the answer?

Answer 1

Prrudram-MSFT 27,981

Hello @Jeff

Thanks for clarifying. The Remote Desktop App from the store doesn’t support Smartcard redirection. On Windows, we recommend using the MSI version available for download here:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/custom-image-templates

If this does answer your question, please accept it as the answer as a token of appreciation.

Jeff 5 Reputation points

2023-07-11T14:53:00.3+00:00

@Prrudram-MSFT seems unlikely because using Microsoft "Remote Desktop" app, downloaded from the Microsoft Store, works on my macOS device. but will try this.
Prrudram-MSFT 27,981 Reputation points

2023-07-11T18:32:01.3466667+00:00

Jeff,

I have verified this with internal experts as well. Suggested you what they recommended. Please try and let me know here.
Tom Harper 0 Reputation points

2024-12-02T15:45:12.85+00:00

It seems that the MSI app downloaded from the store also does not support CAC redirect. It used to (~a month ago) work fine. Is there a recent update that might be affecting this capability?

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Smart Card Reader not detected on remote host using Remote Desktop

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