Multimedia redirection for video playback and calls in a remote session

Multimedia redirection redirects video playback and calls in a remote session from Azure Virtual Desktop, a Windows 365 Cloud PC, or Microsoft Dev Box to your local device for faster processing and rendering. Specifically, these two functions work in the following ways:

• Video playback redirection: optimizes video playback experience for web pages with embedded videos like YouTube and Facebook. The browser in the remote session fetches video content, but the bitstream of video data is sent to the local device where it decodes and renders the video in the correct place on the screen.

  

• Call redirection: optimizes audio calls for WebRTC-based calling apps, reducing latency, and improving call quality. The connection happens between the local device and the telephony app server, where WebRTC calls are offloaded from a remote session to a local device, as shown in the following diagram. However, after the connection is established, call quality becomes dependent on the web page or app providers, just as it would with a non-redirected call.

  

There are two components you need to install for multimedia redirection:

• Remote Desktop Multimedia Redirection Service
• Browser extension for Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browsers

This article shows you install and configure multimedia redirection in a remote session from Azure Virtual Desktop, a Windows 365 Cloud PC, or Microsoft Dev Box with Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browsers, and manage settings for the browser extension using Group Policy. Additionally, this article shows you how to manage settings for the browser extension in Microsoft Edge using the Microsoft Edge management service.

Later in the article you can find a list of websites that work with multimedia redirection for video playback and calls.

Prerequisites

Before you can use multimedia redirection, you need:

• To configure multimedia redirection using Group Policy, you need:

  • A domain account that has permission to create or edit Group Policy objects.
  • A security group or organizational unit (OU) containing the devices you want to configure.

• You need to connect to a remote session from one of the following supported apps and platforms:

  • Windows App on Windows, version 2.0.297.0 or later.
  • Remote Desktop app on Windows, version 1.2.5709 or later.

• Your local Windows device must meet the hardware requirements for Teams on a Windows PC.

• Remote Desktop Multimedia Redirection Service
• Browser extension for Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browsers

You install both the multimedia redirection service and browser extension from a single .msi file, which you can run manually, use your enterprise deployment tool with msiexec. To install the .msi file:

1. Download the multimedia redirection installer.

2. Make sure Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome isn't running. Check in Task Manager that there are no instances of msedge.exe or chrome.exe listed in the Details tab.

3. Install the .msi file using one of the following methods:

   • To install it manually, open the file that you downloaded to run the setup wizard, then follow the prompts. After it's installed, select Finish.

   • Alternatively, use the following command with your enterprise deployment tool as an administrator from Command Prompt. This example specifies there's no UI or user interaction required during the installation process.

     msiexec /i <path to the MSI file> /qn
     

After you install the multimedia redirection service and browser extension, next you need to enable the browser extension.

Enable the browser extension

By default, users are automatically prompted to enable the extension when they open their browser. You can also enable and manage the browser extension from Microsoft Edge Add-ons or the Chrome Web Store for all users by using Group Policy, or the Microsoft Edge management service (for Microsoft Edge only).

Managing the browser extension has the following benefits:

• Enable the browser extension silently and without user interaction.
• Restrict which web pages use multimedia redirection.
• Show or hide advanced settings for the browser extension.
• Pin the browser extension to the browser toolbar.

Select the relevant tab for your scenario.

Common policy configuration parameters

The following sections show some examples of policy configuration parameters for the browser you can use to manage the multimedia redirection browser extension that are common for both video playback and call redirection. You can use these examples as part of the steps in Enable the browser extension. Combine these examples with the parameters you require for your users.

Show or hide the extension on the browser toolbar

You can show or hide the extension icon on the browser toolbar. By default, extension icons are hidden from the toolbar.

The following example installs the extension and shows the extension icon on the toolbar by default, but still allows users to hide it. Other values are force_shown and default_hidden. For more information about configuring extensions for Microsoft Edge, see A detailed guide to configuring extensions using the ExtensionSettings policy.

{
  "joeclbldhdmoijbaagobkhlpfjglcihd": {
    "installation_mode": "force_installed",
    "update_url": "https://edge.microsoft.com/extensionwebstorebase/v1/crx",
    "toolbar_state": "default_shown"
  }
}

Show or hide advanced settings button

You can show or hide the advanced settings button to users in the extension. By default, the advanced settings button is shown and users have access to toggle each setting on or off. If you hide the advanced settings button, users can still collect logs.

Here's what the extension looks like when the advanced settings button is hidden:

This example installs the extension and hides the advanced settings button. Alternatively, to show the advanced settings button, set HideAdvancedSettings to false.

{
  "joeclbldhdmoijbaagobkhlpfjglcihd": {
    "installation_mode": "force_installed",
    "update_url": "https://edge.microsoft.com/extensionwebstorebase/v1/crx",
    "HideAdvancedSettings": true
  }
}

Browser extension status

The extension icon changes based on whether multimedia redirection is available on the current web page and which features are supported. The following table shows the different states of the extension icon and their definitions:

Icon State	Definition
	The multimedia redirection extension is loaded, indicating that the website can be redirected.
	The multimedia redirection extension isn't loaded, indicating that content on the web page isn't redirected.
	The multimedia redirection extension is currently redirecting video playback.
	The multimedia redirection extension is currently redirecting a call.
	The multimedia redirection extension failed to load correctly. You might need to uninstall and reinstall the extension or the Remote Desktop Multimedia Redirection Service, then try again.

Video playback redirection

The following sections contain information about how to test video playback redirection and how you can configure advanced settings.

Websites for video playback redirection

The following websites are known to work with video playback redirection, and which work by default.

• AWS Training
• BBC
• Big Think
• CNBC
• Coursera
• Daily Mail
• Facebook
• Fidelity
• Fox Sports

• Fox Weather
• IMDB
• Infosec Institute
• LinkedIn Learning
• Microsoft Learn
• Microsoft Stream
• Microsoft Teams live events
• Pluralsight
• Skillshare

• The Guardian
• Twitch
• Udemy*
• UMU
• U.S. News
• Vimeo
• Yahoo
• Yammer
• YouTube (including sites with embedded YouTube videos).

Test video playback redirection

After you enable multimedia redirection, you can test it by visiting a web page with video playback from the list in Websites for video playback redirection and following these steps:

1. Open the web page in Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome on your remote session.

2. Select the Microsoft Multimedia Redirection extension icon in the extension bar on the top-right corner of your browser. If you're on a web page where multimedia redirection is available, the icon has a blue border (rather than grey), and shows the message The extension is loaded. For web pages that support video playback redirection, Video Playback Redirection has a green check mark.

   

3. On the web page, play a video. Check the status of the extension icon that multimedia redirection is active in your browser, which should look like the following image:

   

Microsoft Teams live events

Microsoft Teams live events aren't media-optimized when using the native Teams app in a remote session. However, if you use Teams live events with a browser that supports Teams live events and multimedia redirection, multimedia redirection is a workaround that provides smoother Teams live events playback in a remote session. Multimedia redirection supports Enterprise Content Delivery Network (ECDN) for Teams live events.

To use multimedia redirection with Teams live events, you must use the web version of Teams. Multimedia redirection isn't supported with the native Teams app. When you launch the live event in your browser, make sure you select Watch on the web instead. The Teams live event should automatically start playing in your browser with multimedia redirection enabled.

Advanced settings for video playback redirection

The following advanced settings are available for video playback redirection. You can also hide the advanced settings button from users; for more information, see Show or hide advanced settings button.

• Enable video playback for all sites (beta): By default, video playback redirection is limited to the sites listed in Websites for video playback redirection. You can enable video playback redirection for all sites to test the feature with other web pages. This setting is experimental and might not work as expected.

• Video status overlay: When enabled, a short message appears at the top of the video player that indicates the redirection status of the current video. The message disappears after five seconds.

• Enable redirected video playback overlay: When enabled, a bright highlighted border appears around the video playback element that is being redirected.

To enable these advanced settings:

1. Select the extension icon in your browser.

2. Select Show Advanced Settings.

3. Toggle the settings you want to enable to on.

Allow or block video playback redirection for specific domains

If you configure multimedia redirection using Group Policy, you can allow or block specific domains for video playback redirection.

This example installs the extension and allows learn.microsoft.com and youtube.com, but blocks all other domains. You can use this example as part of the steps in Enable the browser extension.

{
  "joeclbldhdmoijbaagobkhlpfjglcihd": {
    "installation_mode": "force_installed",
    "runtime_allowed_hosts": [ "*://*.learn.microsoft.com";"*://*.youtube.com" ],
    "runtime_blocked_hosts": [ "*://*" ],
    "update_url": "https://edge.microsoft.com/extensionwebstorebase/v1/crx",
    "toolbar_state": "default_shown"
  }
}

Call redirection

The following sections contain information about how to test call redirection and how you can configure advanced settings.

Websites for call redirection

The following websites are known to work with call redirection, and which work by default.

• WebRTC Sample Site
• Content Guru Storm App
• Twilio Flex
• 8x8

Test call redirection

After you enable multimedia redirection, you can test it by visiting a web page with calling from the list in Websites for call redirection and following these steps:

1. Open the web page in Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome on your remote session.

2. Select the Microsoft Multimedia Redirection extension icon in the extension bar on the top-right corner of your browser. If you're on a web page where multimedia redirection is available, the icon has a blue border (rather than grey), and shows the message The extension is loaded. For web pages that support call redirection, Call Redirection has a green check mark.

   

3. On the web page, make a call. Check the status of the extension icon that multimedia redirection is active in your browser, which should look like the following image:

   

Enable call redirection for specific domains

If you configure multimedia redirection using Group Policy, you can enable one or more domains for call redirection. This parameter enables you to specify extra sites in addition to the Websites for call redirection. The supported format is the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) with up to one subdirectory. The following formats are supported:

• contoso.com
• conferencing.contoso.com
• contoso.com/conferencing

The following formats aren't supported:

• www.contoso.com
• contoso.com/conferencing/groups
• contoso.com/

This example installs the extension and adds calling sites contoso.com, conferencing.contoso.com, and contoso.com/conferencing, which are separated by a semicolon ;:

{
  "joeclbldhdmoijbaagobkhlpfjglcihd": {
    "installation_mode": "force_installed",
    "AllowedCallRedirectionSites": "contoso.com;conferencing.contoso.com;contoso.com/conferencing",
    "update_url": "https://edge.microsoft.com/extensionwebstorebase/v1/crx",
    "toolbar_state": "default_shown"
  }
}

Enable call redirection for all sites for testing

You can enable call redirection for all sites to allow you to test web pages that aren't listed in Websites for call redirection. This setting is experimental and can be useful when developing integration of your website with call redirection.

To enable call redirection for all sites:

1. On a local Windows device, add the following registry key and value:

   • Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MMR
   • Type: REG_DWORD
   • Value: AllowCallRedirectionAllSites
   • Data: 1

2. Connect to a remote session and load a web browser, then select the extension icon in your browser.

3. Select Show Advanced Settings.

4. Toggle Enable call redirection for all sites (experimental) to on.

   

Next step

To troubleshoot issues or view known issues, see our troubleshooting article.