VMware Horizon Client

What is VMware Horizon Client?

VMware Horizon Client is software that establishes a connection between endpoint devices and Horizon View virtual desktops and applications. VMware offers versions of Horizon Client for Windows and Linux, Apple iOS, macOS, Google Android and Chrome OS. IT administrators can also install Horizon Client for Windows on the Windows Server operating system to deliver Horizon View desktops remotely to thin client and zero client deployments.

The Horizon Client app communicates with the View Connection Server, which acts as a broker between the client device and View desktops. Users enter credentials into Horizon Client and the View Connection Server authenticates them and then finds their virtual desktops. IT administrators can also use Horizon Client and the View Connection Server to deliver Microsoft Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) desktops and applications from an RDSH farm or to deliver VMware ThinApp applications within Horizon View.

Horizon Client can use the PCoIP, Microsoft RDP and VMware Blast Remote display protocols to establish a network connection between client devices and Horizon View desktops running on a server in the data center. VMware only supports Blast -- which it released in Horizon 7 -- on Horizon Client 4.0 or later.

VMware Horizon Client supports USB peripheral devices, real-time audio and video and security features such as single sign-on (SSO) and biometric, smart card and two-factor authentication. Horizon Client also integrates with the VMware AirWatch enterprise mobility management platform, allowing administrators to apply mobile device management (MDM) policies to users' virtual desktop instances.

VMware Horizon Client was previously named the Horizon View Client until Horizon 6.