Windows Remote Audio Redirection Registry Key

Remote audio redirection in Windows Terminal Server (Remote Desktop Services) allows audio playback and recording to be streamed between a host machine and a client. This feature is primarily managed through specific DWORD values within the Windows Registry. Modifying these registry keys enables administrators to enforce, enable, or disable remote audio and microphone redirection globally across all Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) sessions.

Primary Registry Key for Audio Redirection

The primary configuration parameters for Windows Terminal Server audio redirection are located in the following registry path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp

Key Values and Parameters

Within the RDP-Tcp key, two main DWORD (32-bit) values determine audio functionality:

• fDisableAudio
  • Function: Controls remote audio playback redirection.
  • Value 0: Audio redirection is enabled (sound plays on the client machine).
  • Value 1: Audio redirection is disabled (sound plays on the server or is muted).
• fDisableCam
  • Function: Controls audio recording (microphone) redirection.
  • Value 0: Audio recording redirection is enabled (client microphone is available in the remote session).
  • Value 1: Audio recording redirection is disabled.

Group Policy Registry Path

If the terminal server settings are enforced via Group Policy (GPO), the parameters reside in the Windows NT Terminal Services policy key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services

The relevant policy DWORD values are:

• fDisableAudio: Set to 0 to allow audio playback redirection; set to 1 to prevent it.
• fDisableAudioCapture: Set to 0 to allow audio recording redirection; set to 1 to prevent it.

How to Configure Audio Redirection in Regedit

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp
3. Locate the fDisableAudio value in the right pane.
4. Double-click fDisableAudio, set the Value data to 0, and click OK.
5. To enable microphone redirection, locate fDisableCam, set the Value data to 0, and click OK.
6. Ensure the Windows Audio service (Audiosrv) is set to Automatic and is running on the host server.
7. Restart the Remote Desktop Services service (TermService) or restart the computer for the changes to take effect.