Keyboard Input Mode

Citrix VDA for macOS support both client keyboard layout and remote keyboard layout through input mode:

  1. Scancode Mode: Remote keyboard layout is applied no matter which layout the client has. The client sends the scan code to a remote session and the remote keyboard layout interprets it to characters.

  2. Unicode Mode: Client keyboard layout is applied no matter which layout the remote keyboard has. The client keyboard layout interprets the raw key event (scan code or keycode) to Unicode characters before it’s sent to the VDA side.

Although Citrix has added support for both Scancode and Unicode in Citrix VDA for macOS, Scancode Mode is more recommended for better user experience with shortcuts passthrough.

Configuration from Citrix Workspace App

Citrix Workspace App for Windows

CWA for Windows uses Scancode mode by default.

Citrix Workspace App for macOS

  1. Open Citrix Workspace App preferences

  2. Select Keyboard.

    Scancode

  3. Select Scancode or Unicode in the keyboard input mode settings dialog box.

    Note :

    Citrix recommends using the Scancode mode to configure the keyboard input mode for VDA

  4. Select Active HDX Session if you want to use the macOS system shortcuts in the session.

Citrix Workspace App for Linux

  1. Select Preferences from the Citrix Workspace App icon in the notification area.

  2. Select Keyboard.

  3. Select Scancode or Unicode in the keyboard input mode settings dialog box.

By using Citrix Workspace App for Mac 2402 and newer versions, the system keyboard shortcuts such as Option-Command-ESC, Command-Space bar, Command-Tab, Control-Command-Q, Shift-Command-Q, Control Up/Down/Left/Right can be used in your Citrix VDA for macOS sessions. See Workspace App for Mac

Keyboard Input Mode