USB Redirection crashes Chrome browser

Question

In my organization, we use standard/performance workspaces. We recently began using Yubikeys and have followed the correct measures to ensure proper redirection (switching to PCOIP. etc.) Yet now, when redirection in enabled for any device, Google Chrome will crash. It seems to happen at odd time, almost always upon first launch of Chrome but after that -- it could work on the second attempt or 20th attempt. We initially assumed it may be a resource issue but that doesn't seem to be the case as these are very managed environments without much running. There is nothing noticeable in the logs and even -13 logs don't lead anywhere of significance. Any help or advice is appreciated. Everything it up-to-date in our workspace(s).

Additionally, do Workspaces support double redirection? redirecting into the workspace, then again into another VDI within the workspace?

Thanks!

Additionally, do Workspaces support double redirection? redirecting into the workspace, then again into another VDI within the workspace?

Thanks!

Thanniru Anil Kumar · Answer

**Troubleshooting Steps:**

**Verify Chrome Version Compatibility**:

Ensure that the version of Chrome being used in the WorkSpaces environment is fully compatible with your setup. Chrome updates could sometimes introduce unexpected issues, so testing with an earlier version might help narrow down the issue.
Also, check for any known issues with Chrome and USB redirection.

**Disable and Re-enable USB Redirection:**

In Amazon WorkSpaces Client, temporarily disable USB redirection, reboot the system, and re-enable it. This can help ensure the settings are being applied correctly.
PCoIP protocol should be configured correctly for USB redirection, but ensure all settings related to YubiKey redirection are properly applied.

**Chrome Hardware Acceleration:**

Try disabling hardware acceleration in Chrome. Some users have reported crashes related to USB device interaction when hardware acceleration is enabled. To disable it:
Go to Chrome settings → Advanced → System → Uncheck Use hardware acceleration when available.
YubiKey Configuration:

Ensure that the YubiKey is set up properly for PCoIP USB redirection. There may be specific drivers or configurations needed. Ensure you're using the latest firmware/drivers for the YubiKey.
Investigate Resource Usage:

Even though it doesn't appear to be a resource issue, monitor CPU, memory, and disk usage when launching Chrome. Chrome is resource-intensive, and combined with USB redirection, it may cause intermittent crashes.

**Event Viewer & Logs:**

If there are no useful logs in WorkSpaces or the general system logs, check the Windows Event Viewer for any application or system errors at the time Chrome crashes. Look for any relevant error codes, including those from YubiKey or USB drivers.

**Try Alternate Browsers:**

Test with another browser like Firefox or Edge to isolate whether this is specifically a Chrome issue. If the issue is isolated to Chrome, this might further point to a compatibility issue between Chrome, USB redirection, and the WorkSpaces environment.

USB Redirection crashes Chrome browser

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