Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops

Intelligent Build to Lossless

September 6, 2025

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This article describes the Intelligent Build to Lossless graphics mode for Citrix HDX. It explains how the feature works, how to configure it, and how to verify and monitor its operation. It also compares this mode to the existing Build to Lossless and Always Lossless Visual Quality settings.

Designed for mixed workloads in mind, Intelligent Build to Lossless is an evolution of Thinwire Selective Encoding and is the new default graphics mode. Similar to the existing Build to Lossless setting, Intelligent Build to Lossless uses a video codec on large, actively changing screen regions to maintain smooth session graphics. When the screen activity ceases, it progressively refines the image until it is pixel perfect. Where Intelligent Build to Lossless differs from the existing Build to Lossless setting is how the mode is toggled: the choice of whether to engage Build to Lossless or not is no longer just a policy decision, but instead based on screen activity and other factors. Moreover, this decision is made on a per-monitor basis, allowing - for the first time - a mix of Thinwire Selective Encoding and Build to Lossless all within the same session.

Intelligent Build to Lossless is enabled by default for Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops™ version 2503 and later when a GPU is present on the VDA. When no GPU is present on the VDA, Selective Encoding without Intelligent Build to Lossless is used, which is essentially the same as how Selective Encoding worked prior to version 2503.

No Citrix Workspace™ app upgrades are required to take advantage of Intelligent Build to Lossless.

The official version of this content is in English. Some of the Cloud Software Group documentation content is machine translated for your convenience only. Cloud Software Group has no control over machine-translated content, which may contain errors, inaccuracies or unsuitable language. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, suitability, or correctness of any translations made from the English original into any other language, or that your Cloud Software Group product or service conforms to any machine translated content, and any warranty provided under the applicable end user license agreement or terms of service, or any other agreement with Cloud Software Group, that the product or service conforms with any documentation shall not apply to the extent that such documentation has been machine translated. Cloud Software Group will not be held responsible for any damage or issues that may arise from using machine-translated content.

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Intelligent Build to Lossless

September 6, 2025

Contributed by:

September 6, 2025

Contributed by:

Intelligent Build to Lossless

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