When launching an application or desktop via an Internet Browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.) users are prompted to save or download the '.ica' file.
In recent releases of IE, Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox, and latest Citrix Workspace App clients many of the issues mentioned below have been resolved.
By default, the OS (Windows, Mac, Linux) should automatically set how to open '.ica' files when trying to launch any resource via Citrix Workspace or Citrix Storefront via the Web Store if the Citrix Workspace App is installed properly.
Confirm Citrix Workspace App is installed or use Citrix Workspace App for HTML5 ('Web Browser' option) instead.
If you continue to encounter this behavior please review the steps outlined below.
There can be a number of resolutions to the issue including but not limited to the following:
Install the latest Citrix Workspace App version which can be downloaded here: Download Citrix Workspace App
When clicking on an application or desktop to launch via Citrix Workspace or Citrix Storefront on an Internet Browser (not within Citrix Workspace App) and an '.ica' file shows in the download bar on the bottom left please follow these steps to automatically open said file:
ICA file is downloaded during the process. After the ICA file is downloaded, enable the browser to open similar files automatically.
Note: Instructions below are similar for other OS's when using Google Chrome, Firefox, or Edge Browsers.
On Windows computers, go to Control Panel > Settings > Apps > Default apps > Choose default apps by file type
Under Name, find .ica file type.
Ensure that the current default is set to Citrix Connection Manager. If not, click Change program and choose Citrix Connection Manager.
Note: Connection Manager is the wfcrun32 file located as C:Program Files (x86)CitrixICA Clientwfcrun32.exe
Remove or disable any third party browser based Adware software that could be interfering with the successful launch of the ICA file. Restart the browser after removing these software and try again.
If you are using Internet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options > Advanced tab and clear the option “Do not save encrypted data to disk.”. This option should be cleared because the dynamic files are stored in the Temporary Internet Files folder. When applications are clicked, a file is downloaded to the folder, then launched using MIME type. If access to the folder is disabled or not available, the process cannot occur successfully.
Add the site to the Trusted sites list if using Internet Explorer browser using the following steps:
Go to Tools > Internet Options > Security tab > Sites
In the Add this website to the zone field, enter your organization's website and click Add.
Repeat this for the .com, .net, .org, or .gov Web site addresses of your organization to allow the use of the ActiveX ICA client object for the launched connection to be automatically accepted.
Note: It might be required to also add any additional subdomain.domain.com URLs to the Trusted sites list in the Security tab setting if still experiencing unwanted prompts.
Configure Internet Explorer as follows to allow successful application launching:
Disabling ActiveX filtering globally:
Click Gear icon, select Safety, de-select ActiveX Filtering. Alternatively, press Alt key and click Tools menu (ActiveX filtering is enabled if a “tick” appears next to it and is disabled if the “tick” disappears).
Or
Log on to the Web Interface site and attempt to launch an application. At the end of the address bar a blue warning sign appears, indicating filtered content.
Click the blue warning sign and select Turn off ActiveX Filtering.
Add the site to the Trusted sites list: In the Security tab of Internet Options, add the Web Interface site to Trusted Sites list to allow the use of the ActiveX ICA client object for the launch.
Or
Disable the MIME filter: Rename the following registry key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTPROTOCOLSFilterapplication/x-ica
Log off and close window then restart the browser after making this change.
Configure Internet Explorer as follows to allow successful application launching:
There can be a number of reasons for the issue including but not limited to:
CTX139939 - Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 - Citrix Known Issues
CTX200889 - Receiver for Web Workaround with NPAPI Support Removal in Google Chrome
CTX126653 – Citrix Online Plug-in for Windows with Internet Explorer 9 Support