WorkSpaces Windows client application
The following information will help you get started with the WorkSpaces Windows client application.
Contents
Requirements
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The Amazon WorkSpaces client for Windows requires a Microsoft supported version of Windows 11. For more details, see Windows 11 release information
. For information about supported WorkSpaces client versions, see End of life policy for WorkSpaces client applications.
New client experience (Public Preview)
Starting with version 5.34, the WorkSpaces client for Windows includes a new client experience alongside the current (classic) experience. The new client experience includes an updated interface and is designed to be easier to use, with a simplified connection flow, easier-to-find settings and session tools, more helpful error messaging, and a new Session Health feature.
Note
The new client experience supports connecting to DCV-based WorkSpaces only.
Switching between experiences
By default, the client opens in the classic experience. If your administrator has not disabled the new experience, after entering your registration code, you will see a link on the top right of the client application that lets you try the new experience. Choose Try New WorkSpaces to start.
Note
Switching experiences may take a few moments.
If your administrator has set a policy that requires a specific experience (new or classic), the option to switch is hidden and the client uses the experience your administrator selected. For more information, contact your administrator.
Returning to the classic experience
If you switched to the new experience and want to return to classic, choose the Return to classic option on the top right of the new experience.
Note
Switching back may take a few moments.
Preview badge
While the new experience is in Public Preview, a Preview badge appears in the client. Choose the badge to see release notes, known limitations, and a link to send your feedback to AWS.
What's different in the new client experience?
The new experience includes the following changes and improvements:
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Updated interface — a redesigned user interface with a cleaner layout, easier-to-find settings and tools, and a modern look-and-feel.
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Simplified connection and sign-in flow — a revised flow for registering and connecting to a WorkSpace, and additional customization options for managing WorkSpaces you frequently access. For more details, see Connecting to your WorkSpace and Managing your sign-in information.
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Support for color themes — choose between light, dark, or follow your system's theme settings. Change this from the WorkSpaces menu > Settings > Appearance.
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New toolbar — a consolidated toolbar available during your WorkSpace session, providing access to keyboard shortcuts, device controls you can use for your session (camera, microphone, audio, USB devices), file transfer options, and a new Session Health feature. In addition, the new toolbar includes a set of window actions you can take – minimize, maximize / full screen, and disconnect / close.
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When your session is in windowed mode, the toolbar appears at the top of the session window, as part of the window title, so it does not block your session view.
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When your session is in full screen mode, the toolbar floats near the top of the screen for a few seconds, and then automatically hides away to help you focus.
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If you need to move it out of the way, click-and-hold anywhere on it, drag it alongside the top edge of the screen, and drop it into any other horizontal position.
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If you want the toolbar to reappear, move your mouse near the top edge of the screen near the minimized toolbar and it will reappear in full.
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If you want to keep the toolbar always visible, choose Pin the toolbar (pin icon).
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Session Health — a new feature that monitors session quality conditions (including network status, service reachability, Wi-Fi signal strength, network latency, bandwidth, and local device metrics which may sometimes affect your session, such as local device CPU utilization and memory usage) and suggests actions you can take to resolve issues.
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The Session health icon will change color if anything needs attention, and choosing the icon will open the panel on the right side where details will be provided. Choose the relevant questions at the bottom of the panel to learn more.
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If you need to move the panel out of the way, choose Undock (undock icon) on the top right of the panel, and you can move it freely around the session. Choose Dock (dock icon) to move it back to the right side.
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Simplified full screen mode and usage of multiple external displays — For more details, see Full screen mode and using multiple displays.
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New Devices panel to manage local devices you can use in your WorkSpace session — including your local speakers, microphone, and camera, in addition to other USB devices that have been enabled by your administrator.
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New File transfer experience to move files to and from your WorkSpace — when this feature is enabled by your administrator.
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Choose the File transfer (folder icon) in the toolbar to get started.
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Choose the Back, Forward, Up, and Refresh icons to navigate your WorkSpace storage folders.
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Choose Upload here to select a file from your local device to transfer to your WorkSpace.
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Select a file on your WorkSpace and choose Download to transfer it to your local device.
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Navigate to your desired location on your WorkSpace storage hierarchy and choose New folder to create a new folder in that location.
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New My WorkSpace Details panel — providing key information about your WorkSpace at a glance, with the ability to copy and paste it.
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Improved error messaging — connection errors and disconnection events now include descriptions of what happened and, where applicable, steps you can take to resolve the issue.
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Updated diagnostic logging support — a new option to send logs on demand, with a reference code for AWS Support, in addition to the existing automatic diagnostic logging option. For more details, see Diagnostic logging.
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A way for you to send feedback to AWS — available anytime by choosing Amazon WorkSpaces > Help > Send feedback to AWS. Your feedback submission is governed by the AWS Privacy Notice
. 
Known limitations
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At launch, the new client experience is supported in English only. Additional supported languages will be added shortly after launch.
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The USB redirection driver is currently not available to download from the client settings menu; it's available during the installation process when you install the client for all users on the Windows device.
Setup and installation
You can download the latest version of the WorkSpaces client for Windows from the Amazon WorkSpaces Client Download
page
You have two options for how to install the Amazon WorkSpaces client application:
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Install just for you. If you choose this option and you share your local device with other users, the WorkSpaces client application is available only to you. If other users on the machine also want to use the WorkSpaces client application, they must install the application for their own use.
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Install for all users of your device. If you choose this option, the WorkSpaces client application is available to anyone who logs on to your local device. Installing the WorkSpaces client application for all users requires you to have administrator credentials on your local device.
If you have questions about which option to choose, ask your administrator for guidance.
Installing the USB redirection driver
To use your local USB devices on your WorkSpace, you will need to install the USB redirection driver. To install this driver, install the WorkSpaces application for all users, and then check the box to Install driver for USB redirection. This requires you to have administrator credentials on your local device.
Determining your client version
Classic client experience
Choose Amazon WorkSpaces > About Amazon WorkSpaces.
New client experience
Choose Amazon WorkSpaces > About.
Client updates
The WorkSpaces client for Windows automatically checks for available updates, and when new versions become available, installs them in the background when you are not using it. Once the installation is complete, open the client to begin using the latest version.
Note
Automatic client updates are supported in most AWS Regions. In Regions where automatic client updates are not supported, or if your administrator has disabled automatic client updates, a message appears in the client when a new version is available and you have the option to install it.
Client updates maintain the same installation context as the original installation. This means if the WorkSpaces client was originally installed for all users on the local device, future automatic updates will apply to all users. Similarly, if the client was installed for a single user, future updates will only apply to that specific user.
Client language
You can choose the language displayed by the WorkSpaces client for Windows.
To choose the client language
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Choose Settings > Change Language.
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Choose your desired language from the dropdown and choose Save.
Note
The new client experience is currently supported in English only. Support for additional languages will be added in a future update.
Connecting to your WorkSpace
Classic client experience
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Open the WorkSpaces client. If this is your first time, the client prompts you to enter a registration code, which should be included in your welcome email or provided by your administrator. Enter the registration code and choose Register.
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On the sign-in screen, enter your credentials and choose Sign in. If multi-factor authentication is enabled, enter the verification code you received when prompted. If your administrator has not disabled it, you can select the Keep me logged in checkbox at the bottom of the sign-in screen to securely save your credentials. This enables you to reconnect to your WorkSpace without re-entering your credentials while the client remains open.
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After your session connection is established, your WorkSpace will be displayed.
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The next time you open the WorkSpaces client, the last used registration code is pre-populated. Choose Continue or Register to continue to the sign-in step.
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To enter a different registration code, choose Change Registration Code at the bottom of the sign-in page, choose from other saved registration codes in the dropdown, or type in your new registration code.
New client experience
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Open the WorkSpaces client. If this is your first time, the client prompts you to enter a registration code, which should be included in your welcome email or provided by your administrator. Enter the registration code, optionally give your WorkSpace a friendly name, and choose Add.
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On the sign-in screen, enter your credentials and choose Sign in. If multi-factor authentication is enabled, enter the verification code you received when prompted.
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After your session connection is established, your WorkSpace will be displayed.
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The next time you open the WorkSpaces client, your WorkSpace will appear on the home screen and you can proceed with the sign-in step directly.
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To enter a different registration code, choose Change next to the currently selected WorkSpace, choose from other saved WorkSpaces in the list, or choose Add a new WorkSpace to enter your new registration code.
Managing your sign-in information
Classic client experience
To view and manage your saved registration codes, choose Settings > Manage Login Information. From here, you can view the Region your WorkSpaces are in, add or edit a friendly name for your WorkSpaces, manage the Keep me logged in option for your WorkSpaces, and Remove any registration codes you no longer need.
New client experience
To view and manage your saved WorkSpaces, choose Change next to the currently selected WorkSpace. In the WorkSpace list, you can:
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Choose Set as default (star icon) on a saved WorkSpace to set it as default – this will pre-select this WorkSpace when you start the application, and also sorts it at the top of the list.
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Choose Rename (pencil icon) on a saved WorkSpace to rename it.
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Choose Change color (color icon) on a saved WorkSpace to change its color (useful for easy recognition in the list).
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Choose Remove (trash icon) to remove a WorkSpace you no longer need.
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Choose Add a new WorkSpace at the bottom of the list to add a new WorkSpace.
Network connectivity and reconnecting to your WorkSpace
An interruption of network connectivity may result in your active session being disconnected. This can be caused by events such as closing the laptop lid or the loss of your wireless network connection. The WorkSpaces client for Windows attempts to reconnect the session automatically if network connectivity is recovered within a certain amount of time. The default session resumption timeout is 20 minutes, but this timeout can be modified by your administrator.
Connection settings
IPv6 settings
The WorkSpaces client for Windows supports connecting to your WorkSpace using IPv4 and IPv6 connections.
Classic client experience
By default, the classic client experience uses an IPv4 connection for streaming. To enable streaming over an IPv6 connection:
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Choose Settings > Manage Connection Settings.
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Under General Connection Settings, choose Prefer IPv6-enabled communications. This will prefer an IPv6 connection when your network supports it, and fall back to using IPv4 if not.
Note
IPv6 connections are supported on the WorkSpaces client application version 5.30.1 or later. You cannot change IPv6 settings if you are in an active WorkSpace session. Change the setting before connecting to your WorkSpace.
New client experience
By default, the new client experience prefers an IPv6 connection for streaming when your network supports it, and falls back to using IPv4 if not. If you want to change this to use IPv4 only:
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Choose Amazon WorkSpaces > Settings > Connections.
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Disable the Use IPv6 when available toggle.
Note
If you are in an active WorkSpace session, changes to IPv6 connection settings will take effect on the next session.
Proxy servers
If your administrator requires you to use a proxy server, configure the proxy in the client settings before connecting to your WorkSpace.
Classic client experience
By default, the classic client experience uses the proxy server settings specified in your local device operating system. To view or make changes to these settings:
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Choose Settings > Manage Connection Settings.
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Under Proxy Settings, choose:
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Don't use proxy server to disable the usage of a proxy server.
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Use your device operating system settings to use the proxy server settings from your local device operating system.
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Customize proxy server to use a custom proxy server. Enter the IP address or URL and port number for your custom proxy server.
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After making your changes, choose Save.
New client experience
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Choose Amazon WorkSpaces > Settings > Connections.
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Under Use a proxy server, choose Set up. Choose:
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Don't use a proxy server to disable the usage of a proxy server.
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Use your computer's proxy settings to use the proxy server settings from your local computer. Choose Open your computer's proxy settings to view and change these settings locally.
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Use a custom HTTPS proxy server to use a custom proxy server. Enter the IP address or URL and port number for your custom proxy server. Choose Save.
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Note
If you are in an active WorkSpace session, changes to proxy server settings will take effect on the next session.
Using external displays
Display support
You can use locally connected external displays in your WorkSpaces session, enabling you to extend the WorkSpace to them. The maximum supported number of displays and maximum supported display resolution is shown in the following table.
| Number of displays | Maximum display resolution |
|---|---|
2 |
3840x2160 |
4 |
1920x1200 |
Full screen mode and using multiple displays
Classic client experience
While in windowed mode, you can switch to full screen mode by choosing View > Enter Full Screen.
While in full screen mode, you can switch back to windowed mode by moving your mouse to the top of the screen, waiting a moment for the menu to reappear, and choosing View > Leave Full Screen.
To use multiple displays
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Connect the displays to your local device and configure your local display settings as needed.
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In the WorkSpaces client for Windows, log in to your WorkSpace.
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To extend your WorkSpace session to all your connected displays, choose View > Enter Full Screen On All Displays.
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To extend your WorkSpaces session to a subset of your connected displays, choose View > Enter Full Screen On Selected Displays. Your connected displays will appear; select the displays you want to extend your session to.
Note
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You'll need to select displays that are adjacent to each other.
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To make changes to your connected displays, display layout, or other display settings, visit your local device display settings.
New client experience
To configure your default full screen mode:
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Choose Amazon WorkSpaces > Settings > Display.
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Under Full screen mode, choose:
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Maximize window to maximize your WorkSpace session on your current display, while not going full screen – use this when you want to see your local device taskbar simultaneously with your WorkSpace.
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Full screen on current display to go full screen on your current (single) display.
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Full screen on all displays to go full screen on all your connected displays.
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Full screen on selected displays to go full screen on a subset of your connected displays. When choosing this option, your connected displays will appear; select the displays you want to extend your session to.
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After making changes, the default behavior of the Maximize / Full screen icon (on the top right of the client) will adjust accordingly. When in windowed mode, choose the Maximize / Full screen icon to go into your selected mode. When in maximized or full screen mode, choose the Restore / Exit full screen icon to go back to windowed mode.
Note
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You'll need to select displays that are adjacent to each other.
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To make changes to your connected displays, display layout, or other display settings, visit your local device display settings.
Keyboard shortcuts
The following keyboard shortcuts are supported in the WorkSpaces client:
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Ctrl + Alt + Enter — Toggle full screen mode (that is, enter or exit full screen mode)
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Ctrl + Alt + Shift + ArrowDown — Minimize the WorkSpaces client window
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Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F11 — Clear keyboard focus
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Ctrl + Alt + F12 — Disconnect from your WorkSpace session
Classic client experience
In the classic client experience, in addition to the supported keyboard shortcuts described above, you can send a Ctrl + Alt + Del command to your WorkSpace from the client. To do so, choose View > Send Ctrl + Alt + Del.
New client experience
In the new client experience, in addition to the supported keyboard shortcuts described above, you can send a Ctrl + Alt + Del command to your WorkSpace from the client. To do so, use one of the following options:
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Choose Keyboard shortcuts (keyboard icon) > Send Ctrl + Alt + Del.
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Press Ctrl + Alt + End on your local device keyboard.