How to enable audio over Remote Desktop?

There are two basic steps which need to be taken to ensure audio is enabled on your Windows virtual private server, or VPS. Before beginning this process, please ensure that you are logged into the Admin account on your VPS, so that the changes can be propagated to all of the user account if applicable.

The first step in this process ensures that the sound functions inside your VPS itself, completing this step alone will not ensure that the audio will be played through your personal computer.


Windows 2003:

    Click Start > Run, type services.msc, and click OK.
    Change the Windows Audio service to Automatic and start the service.
    Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools.
    Click the Terminal Services Configuration section.
    Double-click RDP-TCP.
    Click the Client Settings tab.
    Deselect Audio Mapping.


Windows XP and 2008:

    Click Start > Run, type mmc, and click OK.
    Add the Group Policy Object Editor snapin.
    Expand Local Computer Policy.
    Expand Computer Configuration.
    Expand Administrative Templates.
    Expand Windows Components.
    Expand Terminal Services.
    In Client/Server data redirection, enable Allow Audio Redirection.
    Restart the virtual machine.


Windows 7 and 2008 R2:

    Click Start > Run, type mmc, and click OK.
    Add the Group Policy Object Editor snapin.
    Expand Local Computer Policy.
    Expand Computer Configuration.
    Expand Administrative Templates.
    Expand Windows Components.
    Expand Remote Desktop Services.
    Expand Remote Desktop Session Host.
    In Device and Resource redirection, enable Allow Audio and Video Playback Redirection.
    Restart the virtual machine.


Windows 2012:

    Right-click Start and click Run.
    Type mmc, and click OK.
    Add the Group Policy Object Editor snapin.
    Expand Local Computer Policy.
    Expand Computer Configuration.
    Expand Policies.
    Expand Administrative Templates.
    Expand Windows Components.
    Expand Remote Desktop Services.
    In Device and Resource redirection, enable Allow Audio and Video Playback Redirection.
    Restart the virtual machine.


Windows 2012 R2:

    Right-click Start and click Run.
    Type mmc, and click OK.
    Add the Group Policy Object Editor snapin.
    Expand Local Computer Policy.
    Expand Computer Configuration.
    Expand Policies.
    Expand Administrative Templates.
    Expand Windows Components.
    Expand Remote Desktop Services.
    Expand Remote Desktop Session Host.
    In Device and Resource redirection, enable Allow Audio and Video Playback Redirection.
    Restart the virtual machine.


2.

- From you local machine, open the 'Options' menu in Remote Desktop
- Select the 'Local Resources' tab with the left mouse button
- Locate the Remote Audio area, and choose 'Settings'
- Go to 'Remote Audio Playback' and select 'Play on this computer'
- Apply the changes and your VPS and local machine are ready for audio playback!

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