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Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops
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Universal Windows Platform Apps

January 5, 2023
Contributed by: 
C

For information about Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps, see the following Microsoft documentation:

Requirements and limitations

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops supports the use of UWP apps with VDAs on the following Windows machines:

  • Windows 10 and later versions
  • Windows Server 2016 and later versions

VDAs must be minimum version 7.11.

The following Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops features are either not supported or limited when using UWP apps:

  • File type association is not supported.
  • Local App Access is not supported.
  • Dynamic preview: If apps running in the session overlap, the preview shows the default icon. The Win32 APIs used for Dynamic Preview are not supported in UWP apps.
  • Action Center remoting: UWP apps can use the Action Center for displaying the messages in the session. These messages are currently not redirected to the endpoint to be displayed to the user.

Launching UWP apps and non-UWP apps from the same server is not supported. Instead, place UWP apps and non-UWP apps in separate delivery groups or application groups.

Because all UWP apps installed on the machine are enumerated, Citrix recommends disabling user access to the Windows Store. This precludes the UWP apps installed by one user from being accessed by a different user.

During sideloading, the UWP app is installed on the machine and is available for use by other users. When another user launches the app, then it is installed, and the OS updates its AppX database to indicate “as installed” by that user.

A graceful logoff started from a published UWP app that was launched in a fixed or seamless window might prevent the VDA session from closing, and forcibly log off the user. When this occurs, several processes remaining in the VDA session prevent it from properly closing. To resolve this, determine which process is preventing the VDA session from closing, and then add it to the “LogoffCheckSysModules” registry key value, following the guidance in CTX891671.

Application Display Names and Descriptions for UWP apps might not have correct names. Edit and correct these properties when adding the applications to the delivery group.

Check Known issues for any additional issues.

Currently, several UWP apps have white icons with transparency enabled, which results in the icon not being visible against the white background of the StoreFront display. To avoid this issue, you can change the background. For example, on the StoreFront machine, edit the file C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Citrix\StoreWeb\custom\style.css. At the end of the file, add .storeapp-icon {background-image: radial-gradient( circle at top right, yellow, red ); }. The following graphic illustrates the before-and-after for this example.

Icons with transparency enabled, without and with background change

On Windows Server 2016 and later versions, the Server Manager might also launch when a UWP app is launched. To prevent this from occurring, disable Server Manager from auto-starting during logon with the HKLM\Software\Microsoft\ServerManager\DoNotOpenServerManagerAtLogon registry key. For details, see https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/rmilne/2014/05/30/how-to-hide-server-manager-at-logon/.

Install and publish UWP apps

Support for UWP apps is enabled by default.

To install one or more UWP apps on VDAs (or a master image), use one of the following methods:

  • Complete an offline install from the Windows Store for Business, using a tool such as Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) to deploy the apps to the desktop image. For more information, see Windows Package Manager.
  • Sideload the apps. For more information, see Sideload line of business (LOB) apps in Windows client devices.
  • Install the UWP apps for each intended user directly from the Windows Store for Business.

To add (publish) one or more UWP apps in Citrix Virtual Apps or Citrix Virtual Desktops:

  1. After the UWP apps are installed on the machine, add the UWP apps to a delivery group or application group. You can do this when you create a group, or later. On the Applications page, in the Add menu, select From Start menu.

  2. When the applications list appears, select the UWP apps you want to publish.

  3. Continue with the wizard or close the edit dialog.

For information about additional configuration requirements when using User Profile Manager (UPM), see Windows Apps - Microsoft Store.

To disable the use of UWP apps on a VDA, add the registry setting EnableUWASeamlessSupport in HKLM\Software\Citrix\VirtualDesktopAgent\FeatureToggle and set to 0.

Uninstall UWP apps

When you uninstall a UWP app with a command such as Remove-AppXPackage, the item is uninstalled only for administrators. To remove the app from the machines of users who may have launched and used the app, run the removal command on each machine. You cannot uninstall the AppX package from all users’ machines with one command.

Universal Windows Platform Apps
January 5, 2023
Contributed by: 
C
January 5, 2023
Contributed by: 
C

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