Configuring Zoom VDI for ChromeOS

This article is for guiding account admins through the process of configuring Zoom’s Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution for use on ChromeOS.

This article covers:

• Limitations of using Zoom VDI for ChromeOS
• How to configure Zoom VDI for ChromeOS
  • Add an autoplay allowlist exception for Zoom
  • Add a policy extension for Citrix Workspace
  • Install the Citrix Workspace app
  • Specific configurations for Zoom Phone
  • Final checks on a managed ChromeOS device

Prerequisites for configuring Zoom VDI for ChromeOS

• Citrix virtual desktop environment
• Citrix Workspace Chrome app
• Citrix Configuration Utility Tool
• Google Admin account
• Zoom VDI Meeting client (version 5.17.10 or later) installed on the virtual desktop
• Managed ChromeOS devices

Limitations of using Zoom VDI for ChromeOS

The following features are not currently supported on ChromeOS:

• HID support
• Avatars and video filters
• Language interpretation
• End-to-end encryption for meetings
• QoS and Bandwidth Limits on ChromeOS
• Offloading CPU load when viewing shared screens
• Multi-speaker view
• Dynamic emojis
• Portrait lighting
• Personalized audio isolation
• Multi-pin support 
• Disable Spotlight
• Stop my video and audio when my display is off or screen saver begins

These features are partially supported:

• Zoom Phone audio optimization requires additional configuration steps on the ChromeOS device
• Previewing virtual backgrounds in the app settings window
• Local preferences for audio and video devices are not saved, unless the device is still connected

How to configure Zoom VDI for ChromeOS

Add an autoplay allowlist exception for Zoom

When joining meetings, a policy is needed to add the Zoom domain to a list of URLs that can play audio without restrictions or prompts.

1. Open the Google Admin Console as an admin.
2. In the left panel, click Devices, select Chrome, then select Settings.
3. Along the top of the page, click the User & Browser settings tab.
4. Under the Content section, find and select the Autoplay video policy.
5. In the Configuration section, add “https://[*.]zoom.us” to the Allowed URLs field.

To make this policy apply to Chrome Apps, set the Installation Policy for the app as Force Install.

Add a policy extension for Citrix Workspace

Admins will need to create a new or update an existing policy for the Citrix Workspace app within the Google Admin Console. Admins can use the Citrix Configuration Utility Tool to create a policy, which can then be uploaded to the Admin Console. Learn more about using the Configuration Utility Tool.

1. Download, install, and open the latest configuration utility tool.
2. Follow the steps provided in the app window to create a new ChromeOS policy, or update an existing policy.
3. When selecting options, click the zoom tab and click the toggle to enable.
4. Generate and save the policy.txt file.
5. Open the Citrix Workspace app within the Google Admin Console.
6. Upload the generated policy.txt file, or copy and paste the contents.

Install the Citrix Workspace app

1. Open the Google Admin Console as an admin.
2. In the left panel, click Devices, select Chrome, then select Apps & Extensions.
3. Select the Users & Browser tab, then click the + icon to add a new app.
4. Click the Add Chrome App or extension by ID.
5. Enter haiffjcadagjlijoggckpgfnoeiflnem as the app ID to install the Citrix app.
6. In the right panel, under Installation policy, select either Force Install or Force Install + Pin to ChromeOS taskbar (recommended).

Specific configurations for Zoom Phone

Admins wanting to use Zoom Phone on the VDI client for ChromeOS will need to facilitate the following configuration for each end-user’s browser flags.

1. Open Chrome on the ChromeOS device.
2. Enter chrome://flags/#enable-webrtc-hide-local-ips-with-mdns into the address/search bar.
   The Chrome flags page will open and go straight to the Anonymize local IPs exposed by WebRTC policy.
3. Click the dropdown menu and select Disable.
4. Click Relaunch to close and reopen Chrome to apply the changes.

Multi-party calling is also supported on ChromeOS, but this feature must be enabled by Zoom. 

Final checks on a managed ChromeOS device

With the steps above completed in the Google Admin Console, users can click the Citrix app icon on the ChromeOS taskbar (if admins chose to pin this to the taskbar) to launch the Citrix Workspace app. There users will sign-in to their account and launch their virtual desktop.

Admins can also check to confirm Zoom is optimized by starting the VDI client in the virtual desktop, opening the Statistics panel within Zoom app’s Settings and selecting the VDI tab. Next to VDI Plugin Status users can confirm the VDI plugin is Connected.