Testing a RemoteApp using mstsc.exe / Remote Desktop Connection

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Resolution

Verify that the RemoteApp is published correctly and that you can start the RemoteApp via mstsc.exe client.


 

Windows 10 and more recent versions:

  1. Log into a regular Microsoft Windows OS (it does not need to be a server edition).
  2. Run mstsc.exe (or search for Remote Desktop Connection and start this application).
  3. For "Computer": fill in the IP or FQDN of the RemoteApp server.
  4. Click "Show Options".
  5. Under "Connection settings", choose "Save as" and save the RDP session settings to a .RDP file.
  6. Open the file with any text editor (for example NotePad) and find this line:
    alternate shell:s:
  7. Complete this command with the following:
    ||<RemoteAPP Alias>

    For example:
    alternate shell:s:||EXCEL

    Or in case of using RDP rather than RemoteApp:
    alternate shell:s:C:\windows\notepad.exe

    Note that for alternate shell, the RD Session Host role needs to be installed in the Microsoft Windows Server.

  8. Save the file.
  9. Switch to mstsc.exe again to open this .RDP file.
  10. Click connect, fill in the user credentials. The specified RemoteApp should start.

 

 

Only if you are using a Windows version that is older than Windows 8:

  1. Log into a regular Microsoft Windows OS (it does not need to be a server edition).
  2. Run mstsc.exe (or search for Remote Desktop Connection and start this application).
  3. For "Computer": fill in the IP or FQDN of the RemoteApp server.
  4. Click "Show Options" and choose the "Programs" tab.
  5. Click the checkbox "Start the following program on connection":
  6. Insert the RemoteApp alias, preceded with “||”, for example to start Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel, use the following parameters:
    ||WINWORD
    ||EXCEL
  7. Click [Connect].
  8. Once logged in the app should start.

 

   

 

In case the RemoteApp won’t start:

 

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