Share via

Users on RDS (terminal server) has duplicate printers

OP 0 Reputation points
2025-07-18T09:31:23.8066667+00:00

We have a new terminal server WS2025 and an application server, which has the role of a print server (2 printers). Users log in to the terminal server, where the printer is then duplicated, see screen.

The user does not have a printer assigned to the PC, they only log in to the terminal server.

The printers are added via GPP with a filter on the server and the group to which it is mapped (no other policies), both servers are completely new.

I have not found a solution for this anywhere.

Could you help me please ?

Printers

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | User experience | Print, fax, and scan
0 comments

1 answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Smith Pham 2,805 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-07-30T08:21:52.22+00:00

    Dear Team,

    This problem is almost always caused by a combination of these factors:

    Multiple printer mappings via Group Policy Preferences (GPP): If your GPP applies to both computer and user scope (or multiple overlapping groups), each login session may map the same printer multiple times, especially in RDS/Terminal Server environments.

    Easy Print and Printer Redirection: Even if users don’t have a local printer, “printer redirection” (including RDS Easy Print) can sometimes still create extra instances if not properly restricted.

    User Profile Caching: If the user profiles are not deleted/cleaned on logoff, previously mapped printers can accumulate and show as duplicates after re-login.

    How to fix:

    1. Review your GPP configuration:
      • Only assign printers once—preferably via user GPP, not both user and computer.
      • Make sure the GPP doesn’t re-apply on every login if the printer already exists.
    2. This problem is almost always caused by a combination of these factors:
      1. Multiple printer mappings via Group Policy Preferences (GPP):
        If your GPP applies to both computer and user scope (or multiple overlapping groups), each login session may map the same printer multiple times, especially in RDS/Terminal Server environments.
      2. Easy Print and Printer Redirection:
        Even if users don’t have a local printer, “printer redirection” (including RDS Easy Print) can sometimes still create extra instances if not properly restricted.
      3. User Profile Caching:
        If the user profiles are not deleted/cleaned on logoff, previously mapped printers can accumulate and show as duplicates after re-login.
      How to fix:
      1. Review your GPP configuration:
        • Only assign printers once—preferably via user GPP, not both user and computer.
        • Make sure the GPP doesn’t re-apply on every login if the printer already exists.

    Best Regards,

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.