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Camera Redirection — Windows Server

FreeRDP

Settings in the openthinclient Manager

  1. Open the FreeRDP application
  2. Navigate to the Connection Parameters section
  3. Set the "Forward Camera" option to "Yes".
  4. Leave the camera's USB ID clear under USB Device Forwarding.

Configure RDP settings in Windows Group Policy.

  • Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
  • Navigate to:
    • Computer Configuration
      • Administrative Templates
        • Windows Components
          • Remote Desktop Services
            • Remote Desktop Session Host
1. Allow redirection of supported video devices via RDP
  • Subitem Device and Resource Redirection
  • Enable the setting Allow redirection of supported video devices via RDP
2. Configure Plug and Play device redirection to be disabled.
  • Device and Resource Redirection sub-item
  • Disable the setting "Do not allow Plug and Play device redirection"
3. Allow audio and video playback redirection
  • Subitem: Remote Session Environment
  • Enable the Allow audio and video playback redirection setting
4. Set audio quality for recording and playback
  • Remote Session Environment sub-item
  • Set audio quality for recording/playback to "Best Quality"

Verify global Windows settings on the RDP server.

See the "General Server-Side Group Policy" section below.

Citrix

Settings in openthinclient Management

  1. Open the Citrix application
  2. Navigate to the HDX and Multimedia Settings section
  3. Set the Webcam Forwarding to HDX option

Horizon

Settings in openthinclient Management

  1. Open the Horizon application
  2. Navigate to the Connection Settings section
  3. Set the USB Redirection option to Yes

General server-side Group Policy settings

Configure camera settings in Windows Group Policy.

  • Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
  • Navigate to:
    • Computer Configuration 
      • Administrative Templates
        • Windows Components
1. Allow camera usage
  • Camera sub-item
  • Enable the Allow camera use setting
  • This is a global setting: If enabled, the camera functions as expected — even during a network session.
2. Allow desktop apps to access the camera
  • Sub-item: App Privacy
  • Enable the "Allow desktop apps to access the camera" setting
  • This setting lets classic desktop applications, e.g., VLC, Teams, and Zoom, access the camera.

Additional notes

  • After making changes to Group Policy, it may be necessary to gpupdate /force
    (execute on the command line)
  • Restart the Windows server if required.
  • Full functionality requires installing Media Foundation:
    Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation
    (to be executed in PowerShell)
  • Test the camera function on the thin client with the program guvcview
    Execute with ALT + F2 or in the terminal with CTRL+ALT+T.
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