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How to automatically update the Windows Remote Desktop client?

Dominique Annicette 111 Reputation points
2021-08-30T06:58:39.073+00:00

Hi,

We have laotops running Windows 10.

Those laptops are used to connect to Azure Virtual Desktop.

The Windows Remote Desktop client is used to connect to the AVD (Get started with the Windows Desktop client | Microsoft Learn).

Users have no admin rights in the laptops. So far to update the client, we get the notification on the top left of the client window but only an admin can run the update process.

Is there a way ether to allow users to update the client themselves or to automate the update process?

Thanks for the help.

Dominique

Azure Virtual Desktop
Azure Virtual Desktop

A Microsoft desktop and app virtualization service that runs on Azure. Previously known as Windows Virtual Desktop.

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | User experience | Remote desktop services and terminal services
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  1. Dominique Annicette 111 Reputation points
    2021-10-25T14:03:05.137+00:00

    Hi,
    I'm working on this with Microsoft support. I'll keep you posted when I have more information (in the next couple of days hopefully).

    Regards,
    Dom

    4 people found this answer helpful.
  2. Dominique Annicette 111 Reputation points
    2021-12-03T07:57:53.18+00:00

    Hi all,
    I forgot to answer myself as I got an answer from MS.

    We can use Intune for that.

    We need to create a new app (LOB) and upload the *.msi file we want to use.
    Then we must set the "Ignore app version" to No

    154742-image.png

    By the way, as the installation context is User, make sure you assign the app to users or a group of users only.

    Once a computer is enrolled, the upgrade time will be minutes. For computers already enrolled, the upgrade can take up to two days.

    When a new version of the app is released, we must upload it again to Intune so that it gets deployed on all enrolled computers.

    This is one solution. The other one is to install the client only for the connected user (instead of installing for all users) In this scenario, the installation doesn't require admin rights, and so for the updates.

    I tested both a couple of days ago and it worked like a charm.

    Thank you everyone for your support and solutions (which I may apply in other scenarios. :-)

    2 people found this answer helpful.
  3. Andreas Benum Jenssen 11 Reputation points
    2021-12-03T01:10:19.987+00:00

    @Anonymous
    @Kristof Kuderko
    @C Humphreys

    I have got the solution for per user install with working automatic updates without administrator privileges! :)

    • Create a folder to store Remote Desktop installasjon files (ex \Remote Desktop)
    • Download Remote Desktop Client x64 msi
    • Create a bat file inside \Remote Desktop\ catalog with the name RemoteDesktopInstall.bat containing this text (change the msi file name according to what you downloaded):

    msiexec.exe /i "RemoteDesktop_1.2.2600.0_x64.msi" /qn ALLUSERS=2 MSIINSTALLPERUSER=1

    • Create a bat file called "RemoteDesktopUninstall.bat" containing this:

    msiexec.exe /i "RemoteDesktop_1.2.2600.0_x64.msi" /x

    • Copy "cmd.exe" from your system folder to the same folder as above (\Remote Desktop)
    • Launch IntuneWinAppUtil.exe and compress \Remote Desktop\ catalog.
      Choose cmd.exe as setup file
    • Navigate to Endpoint Manager -> App -> Win32 and upload the .intunewin file you've created

    Install command: cmd.exe /c RemoteDesktop.bat
    Uninstall command: cmd.exe /c RemoteDesktopUninstall.bat
    Install behavior: User
    Device restart..: No specific action

    Detection Rules:
    File
    Path: %localappdata%\programs\remote desktop\
    File or folder: msrdc.exe
    Detection method: File or folder exists

    Assignments:
    Assign to "All Users" or a user group

    2 people found this answer helpful.
  4. C Humphreys 1 Reputation point
    2021-10-25T13:00:55.997+00:00

    Are there any updates on this?

    This exact issue is affecting all Remote Desktop devices within my estate - they cannot auto update as the UAC is prompted requiring elevated privileges regardless of whether updates are specified as a user or computer GPO.

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  5. vipullag-MSFT 26,537 Reputation points Moderator
    2021-08-31T02:44:30.783+00:00

    @Anonymous

    Firstly, apologies for the delay in responding here.

    Please refer this guide related to Windows Desktop client for admins.

    Here, you have ways explained to automatically update the client.

    Hope this helps.

    Please 'Accept as answer' if it helped, so that it can help others in the community looking for help on similar topics.

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