Prevent the installation of the standard Zoom client in a VDI environment
When using a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), the Zoom VDI Client is the recommended version for optimal performance. However, users may attempt to install the standard Zoom Client instead. Due to this, starting with Zoom Workplace Client 7.0.0, the standard Windows x86 and x64 Zoom client EXE installer (non-silent) will automatically detect whether it is running in a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure environment. If a VDI environment is detected, the installer will alert the user and recommend installing the Zoom VDI client instead, improving the user experience and reducing misconfiguration issues.
What platforms are affected by this?
This notification will appear when users attempt to install the standard Windows x86 and x64 Zoom client EXE installer on Citrix, Omnissa (VMware) Horizon, or Windows Remote Desktop / Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) / WindowsApp environments.
What scenarios will users receive the alert?
| Scenario | Behavior |
|---|
| The VDI client has already been installed, or the GPO policy DisableInstallStandardClientInVDI is set to 1 |
When the standard client installer runs in a VDI environment, the Zoom VDI client is already installed, and DisableInstallStandardClientInVDI = 1:
- The installer displays a notification reminding the user that a VDI environment is detected
- User is provided a link to the VDI client download page
- The user can close the installer (standard client installation is not proceeding)
|
The VDI client is not installed, and the GPO policy DisableInstallStandardClientInVDI is set to 0
Note: The value will be 0 if the policy has not been configured |
When the standard client installer runs in a VDI environment, the VDI client is not detected, and GPO DisableInstallStandardClientInVDI = 0:
- The installer displays a notification reminding the user that a VDI environment is detected
- User is provided a link to the VDI client download page: Zoom VDI Downloads
- The user can continue with the standard client installation
- The user can close the installer
|
| User utilizes Remote Desktop |
The installer distinguishes between connecting to a virtual machine and a physical machine via Remote Desktop. Specifically:
- RDP to a virtual machine (e.g., Azure Virtual Desktop, Citrix, VMware Horizon): Treated as a VDI environment, and the installer will show the VDI detection notification.
- RDP to a physical machine (e.g., remote desktop to a physical office PC or server): Treated as a non-VDI environment, and the installer behaves normally
|
Note: The following use cases are not affected by this change:
- MSI-based installation for the standard Zoom client
- The standard Zoom client.exe installer in silent mode
- ARM64 versions of the Zoom Windows client
- Physical machines (even when accessed via Windows Remote Desktop)
- Installing via the Zoom Launcher
- Users in AWS or Oracle virtual environments will not receive a notification when attempting to install the standard client
How to enforce the policy via Group Policy
IT administrators can enforce VDI client usage via Group Policy using the following GPO:
| Setting | Value |
|---|
| Registry path | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Zoom\Zoom Meetings\General |
| Key name | DisableInstallStandardClientInVDI |
| Type | DWORD |
| Value | 1 = Block standard client installation in VDI;
0 = Allow with warning (0 is the default value) |