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How to enable microphone redirection in Windows Server 2022

Enable microphone input in a Windows Server 2022 Remote Desktop session by configuring Windows Audio, Group Policy and the local RDP client.

Last updated: September 16, 2026

To use a local microphone inside a Windows Server 2022 Remote Desktop session, enable audio recording redirection on the server and in the local Remote Desktop client. You may also need the Remote Desktop Session Host role if the server is not configured to accept regular RDP sessions.

Configure the Windows Server

  1. Connect to the server over Remote Desktop.

Windows Server 2022 taskbar with an arrow pointing to the sound icon marked with a red cross

  1. Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar and select Sounds.

Sound icon menu with an arrow pointing to Sounds

  1. If Windows asks to enable audio services, allow it. If no prompt appears, open services.msc, find Windows Audio, set its startup type to Automatic, and start the service.

Audio Service Not Running dialog offering to enable Windows Audio, with an arrow pointing to Yes

  1. Confirm that the sound settings window opens and close it for now.

Sound window, Playback tab, with Remote Audio as the default device

  1. Open Windows Search, enter gpedit.msc, and launch Edit group policy.

Windows Search with gpedit.msc typed in and an arrow pointing to the gpedit.msc best match

  1. In Local Group Policy Editor, go to Computer Configuration => Administrative Templates => Windows Components => Remote Desktop Services => Remote Desktop Session Host => Device and Resource Redirection. Open Allow audio recording redirection.

Local Group Policy Editor: Allow audio recording redirection selected in Device and Resource Redirection

  1. Set the policy to Enabled, click Apply, and then click OK.

Allow audio recording redirection policy set to Enabled, with an arrow pointing to OK

  1. If this server is not already configured as an RDP Session Host, open Server Manager.

Start menu with arrows pointing to Server Manager in the app list and in the tiles

  1. Select Manage => Add Roles and Features.

Server Manager Manage menu with an arrow pointing to Add Roles and Features

Add Roles and Features Wizard on the Before you begin page, with an arrow pointing to Next

Select installation type page with Role-based or feature-based installation selected and an arrow to Next

Select destination server page with the server selected in Server Pool and an arrow pointing to Next

  1. In Server Roles, select Remote Desktop Services.

Select server roles page with Remote Desktop Services checked and an arrow pointing to Next

  1. Follow the wizard until the Role Services step.

Select features page left unchanged, with an arrow pointing to Next

Remote Desktop Services description page of the wizard, with an arrow pointing to Next

  1. In Role Services, select Remote Desktop Session Host.

Select role services page with an arrow pointing to Remote Desktop Session Host

  1. Click Add Features when prompted.

Prompt to add features required for Remote Desktop Session Host, with an arrow pointing to Add Features

  1. Continue through the wizard by clicking Next.

Select role services page with Remote Desktop Session Host checked and an arrow pointing to Next

  1. On the confirmation page, select Restart the destination server automatically if required.

Confirm installation selections page with an arrow pointing to the automatic restart checkbox

  1. Confirm the restart by clicking Yes.

Prompt to allow automatic restarts, with an arrow pointing to Yes

  1. Click Install and wait for the role installation to finish.

Confirm installation selections page with automatic restart ticked and an arrow pointing to Install

  1. The server may restart during installation. Reconnect after it comes back online.

Installation progress page of the wizard installing Remote Desktop Session Host

Configure the local RDP client

  1. On the local computer, open Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc.exe) and click Show Options.

Remote Desktop Connection window with an arrow pointing to Show Options

  1. Open the Local Resources tab and click Settings in the Remote audio section.

Local Resources tab of Remote Desktop Connection with the Remote audio Settings button highlighted

  1. Under Remote audio recording, select Record from this computer, then click OK.

Remote audio settings with Record from this computer selected under Remote audio recording

  1. Connect to the server again. In the remote session, right-click the sound icon and select Sounds.

Sound icon menu in the remote session with an arrow pointing to Sounds

  1. If Windows asks for microphone permission, turn it On. On the local computer, also check Settings => Privacy & security => Microphone and allow access for desktop apps.

Audio notification saying your privacy settings blocked access to the microphone

  1. Open the recording devices list and verify that the redirected microphone appears and responds when you speak.

Windows Settings Microphone page with Allow apps to access your microphone switched On

Sound window, Recording tab, with Remote Audio as the default device and its level meter moving