How to Configure Session Recording in Citrix Virtual Desktop?

Citrix is one of the leading VDI platforms for businesses, known for its HDX technology that delivers high-performance user experiences even in low-bandwidth environments. It offers advanced security capabilities, including session recording, anti-screen capture policies, and granular access controls, helping organizations protect sensitive data while enabling secure remote work.

These built-in security features play a critical role in environments where monitoring user activity and maintaining compliance are essential. Organizations rely on tools like session recording to gain visibility into user sessions, track on-screen activity, and ensure adherence to internal policies and regulatory requirements.

This guide walks you through the step-by-step process to configure session recording in Citrix Virtual Desktop.

Prerequisites for Setting Up Screen Recording in Citrix Virtual Desktop

Before you begin, ensure the following requirements are in place:

1. Set up an existing on-premises Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops environment or a Citrix DaaS resource location.
2. Download the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (v2209) product ISO from the official Citrix website.  
3. Provision a Windows Server 2019 machine within your resource location and install Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Express Edition.
4. Create a Windows Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) within your resource location. You can use either a Windows Server VDA or a desktop OS VDA, depending on your use case.

Note: This setup uses a single server for all Session Recording components as a proof of concept. For production, deploy each component on separate servers to improve performance and scalability.

How to Configure Session Recording in Citrix Virtual Desktop?

Step 1: Install Session Recording Components

1. Install the required Citrix Session Recording components on your Windows Server 2019 machine.

2. Connect to your Windows Server 2019 machine using Remote Desktop (RDP) or your preferred access method.

3. Mount the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ISO file and launch the installer. Select the Start button beside Virtual Apps and Desktops.

4. Choose Session Recording from the available installation options.

5. Accept the license agreement and select the Next button to proceed further.

6. Select the Session Recording Administration and Session Recording Player from the available options. Then click the Next button.

7. Choose to install all required features shown on the screen. Then click the Next button to move forward.

8. Enter your SQL Server instance name (for example, SQLEXPRESS). Keep the default database name, test the connection, and once successful, provide the Session Recording server’s computer account name. Click the Next button when done.

9. Run the connection test again and click Next after successful validation.

10. Review the installation summary and start the installation process.

11. Allow the system to restart and click the Close button.

12. After reboot, reconnect to the server to complete the installation.

13. Click Finish once setup completes.

Step 2: Install Session Recording Agent

1. Connect to your Windows VDA using Remote Desktop (RDP) or your preferred access method.

2. Mount the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ISO file and launch the installer. Select Start under Virtual Apps and Desktops.

3. Choose Session Recording from the installation options.

4. Accept the license agreement and proceed to the next step.

5. Select the Session Recording Agent and continue.

6. Enter the Session Recording server name. Change the protocol to HTTP, test the connection, and proceed once the test succeeds.

7. Review the installation summary and click Install to begin the setup.

8. Wait for the Session Recording Agent installation to complete.

9. Click Finish once the installation completes.

10. Verify that the Session Recording Agent is successfully installed on your Windows VDA.

Step 3: Connect Session Recording Server to Citrix Cloud (Optional)

Connect your Session Recording Server to Citrix Cloud to centrally manage and monitor recordings through the Citrix DaaS console.

1. Sign in to Citrix Cloud from your Session Recording Server.

2. Open the Citrix DaaS service and select Manage.

3. Click Manage> Session Recording.

4. Navigate to Configuration > Server Management from the left menu.

5. Click Create Site.

6. Enter a site name (and description if needed), then save it.

7. Open the Server connection guide to start linking your server.

8. Click the Download button to download the Session Recording cloud client software.

9. Go to Identity and Access Management.

10. Open API Access.

11. Copy your Customer ID and create a new secure client.

12. Add a name in the Name your Secure Client input box. Click Create Client 

13. Copy both your ID and Secret. Then click Download, then the Close button.

14. You can now see the Session Recording POC Secure Client in the list.

15. Run this installation command in Command Prompt.

msiexec /i SRCloudClientService.msi CUSTOMERID=”<Citrix Cloud customer ID>” CLIENTID=”<secure client ID>” CLIENTSECRET=”<secure client secret>” /qn+

16. After the Session Recording cloud client installation, click OK.

17. Return to the Session Recording console and complete the configuration to confirm the connection.

18. The Session Recording Server is now connected to the Citrix Cloud Session Recording service.

Note: Ensure the Session Recording Server has outbound access on ports 8088 and 9090–9094 before you begin to enable communication with Citrix Cloud.

Step 4: Configure and Enable Session Recording Policy

Configure and enable the Citrix Session Recording policy to start recording user sessions in Citrix Virtual Desktop.

1. Enable Session Recording on VDA.

1. Open Session Recording Agent Properties from the Start Menu on the Windows VDA.

2. Select Enable session recording for this VDA machine. Then click Next and choose Yes when prompted to restart the service.

2. Configure Session Recording Server

1. Connect to the Session Recording Server using RDP.

2. Open Session Recording Server Properties from the Start Menu.

3. Click Add under file storage directories. Then click the Browse button.

4. Select C:\SessionRecordings. Then click OK.

5. Click OK to confirm the settings.

6. Click OK again to exit.

7. Select Yes if prompted to restart the Citrix Session Recording Storage Manager service.

3. Configure Session Recording Policy

1. Open IIS Manager on the Session Recording Server. Navigate to Sites > Default Web Site > SessionRecordingBroker. Then open SSL Settings.

2. Clear Require SSL, click Apply, close IIS Manager, and restart the IIS server.

3. Open the Session Recording Policy Console. Change the protocol to HTTP, then click OK.

4. When the console opens, right-click Recording Policies and select Add New Policy.

5. Right-click the new policy and select Add Rule.

6. Select Enable session recording with notification. Then click the Next button.

7. Select OK on the warning message.

8. Select Users or Groups. Then click Select Users or Groups in the rule criteria section.

9. Click the Add button.

10. Enter the name of the AD user or group. Click Check Names, then click OK.

11. Click OK to confirm.

12. Click Next in the rule criteria.

13. Enter a name and description for the rule, ensure Enable this rule is selected, then click Finish.

14. Right-click the new policy and select Activate Policy.

15. The Session Recording policy will now be active.

Step 5: Launch a VDI Session

1. Launch the Windows VDA session using a user account that you added to the Session Recording policy.

2. View the prompt that notifies the user that the session is being recorded.

3. Open an application briefly during the session.

4. Log off from the session.

Step 6: Playback Session Recording

Play back the recorded session using either the Session Recording Player or the Citrix Cloud console.

Method 1: Using Session Recording Player (Server)

1. Open the Session Recording Player from the Start Menu.

2. Select the timeframe as Last 24 hours from the toolbar and click the search (binoculars) icon.

3. Locate the session you recorded, right-click the file, and select Play.

4. View the recorded session playback.

Method 2: Using Session Recording Service (Citrix Cloud)

1. Log in to Citrix Cloud and open the Session Recording Service Console.

2. Go to Recordings > All Recordings.

3. Locate your session and click Play to view the recording.

Final Thoughts

You can configure session recording in Citrix virtual desktop to gain complete visibility into user activity and strengthen security across your virtual environment. Session recording helps organizations monitor sessions, support compliance, and maintain control over sensitive data while delivering a seamless user experience.

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