End of support notice: On March 31, 2027, AWS will end support for Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client. After March 31, 2027, you will no longer be able to access the WorkSpaces Thin Client console or WorkSpaces Thin Client resources. For more information, see [Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client end of support](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces-thin-client/latest/ag/workspacesthinclient-end-of-support.html). 

# Environments
<a name="console-environments"></a>

Each WorkSpaces Thin Client device uses an individual virtual desktop environment to access its online resources. Users access this environment by using one of the following virtual desktop providers:
+ [Amazon WorkSpaces](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces/latest/adminguide/amazon-workspaces.html)
+ [WorkSpaces Applications](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/appstream2/latest/developerguide/what-is-appstream.html)
+ [Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces-web/latest/adminguide/what-is-workspaces-secure-browser.html)

## Environment list
<a name="environment-list"></a>

There are a number of parameters for your environment for you to review as well as some actions you can take.

![\[Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client environments management interface with setup steps and existing environments list.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces-thin-client/latest/ag/images/environment-list.png)


### Environment list details
<a name="environment-list-details"></a>

The parameters for your environment are listed for your review. The following table lists each element in the summary and how it functions.


| Element | Description | 
| --- | --- | 
|  Name  |  The unique identifier associated with this environment.  | 
|  Virtual desktop service  |  The virtual desktop provider that this environment uses.  | 
|  Virtual desktop service ID  |  The unique identifier that the virtual desktop service provider assigns to this environment.  | 
|  Activation code  |  The code that is used by end users to access the virtual desktop environment.  | 
|  Device count  |  The number of WorkSpaces Thin Client devices that are accessing this environment.  | 
|  Time Created  |  The date and time that the environment was created.  | 

### Environment list actions
<a name="environment-list-actions"></a>

There are a number of actions you can perform from here. Select any of these to perform the corresponding action.


| Element | Description | 
| --- | --- | 
|  Search  |  Searches all environments that you manage.  | 
|  Refresh  |  Refreshes the environment list.  | 
|  View details  |  Displays [Environment details](environment-details.md).  | 
|  Actions  |  Opens a dropdown list where you can [Edit](editing-an-environment.md) or [Delete](deleting-an-environment.md) an environment.  | 
|  Create environment  |  Starts the process of [creating an environment](creating-an-environment.md).  | 

**Topics**
+ [Environment list](#environment-list)
+ [Environment Details](environment-details.md)
+ [Creating an environment](creating-an-environment.md)
+ [Editing an environment](editing-an-environment.md)
+ [Deleting an environment](deleting-an-environment.md)

# Environment Details
<a name="environment-details"></a>

When you select an environment, the WorkSpaces Thin Client console displays the details for that environment for you to review. The console also displays the details about the virtual desktop provider that this environment uses.

**Topics**
+ [Summary](environment-details-summary.md)
+ [Virtual desktop environment details](vdi-details.md)

# Summary
<a name="environment-details-summary"></a>

The Summary section provides a high-level overview of the key features of the WorkSpaces Thin Client Environment. The following table lists each element in the summary and how it functions.

![\[Summary table showing WorkSpaces Thin Client Environment settings and details.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces-thin-client/latest/ag/images/environment-details-summary.png)



| Element | Description | 
| --- | --- | 
|  Name  |  The unique identifier associated with this environment.  | 
|  Virtual desktop service  |  The virtual desktop provider that this environment uses.  | 
|  Virtual desktop service name  |  The unique identifier that the virtual desktop service provider assigns to this environment.  | 
|  Activation code  |  This code is used by end users to access the virtual desktop environment.  | 
|  Always keep software up-to-date  |  This setting enables automatic software updates.  | 
|  Maintenance window start time  |  The time each week when automatic software updates begin.  | 
|  Maintenance window end time  |  The time each week when automatic software updates finish.  | 
|  Maintenance window days of the week  |  The days that automatic software updates occur.  | 
|  Associated devices  |  The number of WorkSpaces Thin Client devices that are accessing this environment.  | 
|  Time created  |  The date and time that this environment was created.  | 

# Virtual desktop environment details
<a name="vdi-details"></a>

WorkSpaces Thin Client environments are run on a virtual desktop interface. Each interfaces has a different set of parameters that control the dedicated environment. 

## Amazon WorkSpaces directory details
<a name="ws-details"></a>

WorkSpaces Thin Client environments run on Amazon WorkSpaces use directories to create and run their virtual desktops. The following table lists each element in the details and how it functions.

![\[WorkSpaces directory details showing ID, name, organization, type, registration, and status.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces-thin-client/latest/ag/images/environment-details-ws.png)



| Element | Description | 
| --- | --- | 
|  Directory ID  |  The Amazon WorkSpaces directory associated with this environment.  | 
|  Directory name  |  The unique identifier associated with this Amazon WorkSpaces directory.  | 
|  Organization name  |  The name of the organization that controls the Amazon WorkSpaces directory.  | 
|  Directory type  |  The format of the Amazon WorkSpaces directory.  | 
|  Registered  |  Whether this Amazon WorkSpaces directory is registered.  | 
|  Status  |  Whether this Amazon WorkSpaces directory is active.  | 

## Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser portal details
<a name="wsw-details"></a>

WorkSpaces Thin Client environments run on Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser use web portals to create and run their virtual desktops. The following table lists each element in the details and how it functions.

![\[WorkSpaces Web portal details table showing name, time created, and endpoint for a custom portal.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces-thin-client/latest/ag/images/environment-details-wsw.png)



| Element | Description | 
| --- | --- | 
|  Name  |  The unique identifier associated with this WorkSpaces Secure Browser portal.  | 
|  Time created  |  The date and time when this WorkSpaces Secure Browser portal was created.  | 
|  Web portal endpoint  |  The url used to access your virtual desktop environment.  | 

## WorkSpaces Applications details
<a name="as-details"></a>

WorkSpaces Thin Client environments run on WorkSpaces Applications information stacks to create and run their virtual desktops. The following table lists each element in the details and how it functions.

![\[WorkSpaces Applications details table showing stack name, IdP login URL, and creation time.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces-thin-client/latest/ag/images/environment-details-as.png)



| Element | Description | 
| --- | --- | 
|  Stack name  |  The unique identifier associated with this WorkSpaces Applications stack.  | 
|  IdP login url  |  The identity provider url that is used to log in and out of your WorkSpaces Applications stack.  | 
|  Time created  |  The date and time when this WorkSpaces Applications stack was created.  | 

# Creating an environment
<a name="creating-an-environment"></a>

To begin, each device requires an AWS End User Computing service. WorkSpaces Thin Client uses the following services:
+ Amazon WorkSpaces through an assigned directory
+ WorkSpaces Applications through an assigned stack
+ Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser through a web portal address

You must either assign a service to an existing environment or create a new one.

**Note**  
WorkSpaces Thin Client only displays virtual desktops in the same Region.

**Topics**
+ [Step 1: Enter your environment details](entering-environment-details.md)
+ [Step 2: Select your virtual desktop provider](virtual-service-providers.md)
+ [Step 3: Send the activation code to your device users](send-activation-code.md)

# Step 1: Enter your environment details
<a name="entering-environment-details"></a>

1. Enter a name for your environment in the **Environment details** field.

1. To set up automatic software patches, check the box for **Always keep software up-to-date**.
**Note**  
If automatic software updates is not enabled, the devices registered to this environment won't receive software updates until you manually push the update or when the software reaches its expiration and the system forces an update.  
Also, the devices Software Set version is determined by the system. This version may not be the most recent one.

1. Select when you want to schedule the maintenance window for your environment.
   + **Apply system wide maintenance window** - Automatically updates the environment software at a determined time each week.
   + **Apply custom maintenance window** - Set a day and time when you want the environment software to update each week.

1. Select a virtual desktop service.
   + [Amazon WorkSpaces](virtual-service-providers.md#setting-up-ws)
   + [Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser](virtual-service-providers.md#setting-up-wsw)
   + [WorkSpaces Applications](virtual-service-providers.md#setting-up-as)

# Step 2: Select your virtual desktop provider
<a name="virtual-service-providers"></a>

You must have a service to provide your users access to their virtual desktop and compatible resources.

**Important**  
For WorkSpaces Thin Client Administrator Console to work properly, your system must meet specific requirements. These requirements are listed in [Prerequisites and Configurations](prerequisites.md).  
Make sure that your system meets these requirements before you set up your console.

## Using Amazon WorkSpaces
<a name="setting-up-ws"></a>

Amazon WorkSpaces is a fully managed desktop virtualization service for Windows that enables you to access resources from any supported device.

1. To use Amazon WorkSpaces, do one of the following:
   + Select the directory that you want to use for your environment. You can either browse through the dropdown list or you can search the directories by using the search field. 
   + Create a directory by selecting the **Create WorkSpaces directory** button. For more information on creating WorkSpaces directories, see [Manage directories for WorkSpaces](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces/latest/adminguide/manage-workspaces-directory.html).

1. Select the **Create environment** button.

When you create your environment, you can still edit the details later. For more information, see [Editing an environment](editing-an-environment.md).

## Using WorkSpaces Applications
<a name="setting-up-as"></a>

WorkSpaces Applications is a fully managed, secure application streaming service that you can use to stream desktop applications from AWS to a web browser.

**Important**  
In order to create an WorkSpaces Applications environment, you must have `cli_follow_urlparam` set to `false`. To achieve this, do the following:  
For a default profile, run `aws configure set cli_follow_urlparam false`.
For a profile with name `ProfileName`, run `aws configure set cli_follow_urlparam false --profile ProfileName`.

1. To set up WorkSpaces Applications, do one of the following:
   + Select the stack that you want to use for your environment. You can either browse through the dropdown list or you can search the stacks by using the search field.
   + Create a stack by selecting the **Create Stack** button. For more information on creating WorkSpaces Applications stacks, see [Create a Stack](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/appstream2/latest/developerguide/set-up-stacks-fleets.html#set-up-stacks-fleets-install).

1. Enter your identity provider login and logout URL in the **IdP login URL** field. This provides users with a place to log in and out of WorkSpaces Thin Client.

1. Select the **Create environment** button.

After you create your environment, you can still edit the details later. For more information, see [Editing an environment](editing-an-environment.md).

## Using Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser
<a name="setting-up-wsw"></a>

Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser is a low-cost, fully managed WorkSpaces console that is built to deliver secure web-based workloads and software as a service (SaaS) application access to users within existing web browsers.

1. To set up Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser, do one of the following:
   + Select the web portal that you want to use for your environment. You can either browse through the dropdown list or you can search the web portals by using the search field.
   + Create a web portal by selecting the **Create WorkSpaces Secure Browser** button. For more information on creating WorkSpaces Secure Browser web portals, see [Setting up Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces-web/latest/adminguide/setting-up.html).

1. Select the **Create environment** button.

After you create your environment, you can still edit the details later. For more information, see [Editing an environment](editing-an-environment.md).

# Step 3: Send the activation code to your device users
<a name="send-activation-code"></a>

After you set your environment and virtual desktop service, you will receive a unique activation code for your setup on the AWS Management Console.

Provide this activation code to any WorkSpaces Thin Client device user, and they can use it to access their virtual desktop.

See the [WorkSpaces Thin Client User Guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/workspaces-thin-client/latest/ug/what-is-thin-client.html) for additional information on how to help your device user set up their Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client. 

# Editing an environment
<a name="editing-an-environment"></a>

The WorkSpaces Thin Client administration console manages virtual desktop environments for individual users. From this console, you can edit or delete virtual desktop environments.

1. Select the environment that you want to edit.
**Note**  
You can either browse through the dropdown list or you can search the environments by using the search field.

1. Select the **Actions** button.

1. Select **Edit** from the dropdown list. You will be directed to the **Edit environment** window.

1. Edit any of the following:
   + Change the name of your environment in the **Environment name** field.
   + Change the check box for **Software updates details** for automatic software patch updates.
   + Change when you want to schedule the maintenance window for your environment.

1. Select the **Edit environment** button.

# Deleting an environment
<a name="deleting-an-environment"></a>

**Note**  
You cannot delete an environment if it has any devices registered to it. First, you must [deregister](resetting-and-deregsitering-a-device.md) and [delete](deleting-a-device.md) all devices in an environment.

1. Select the environment that you want to delete. You can either browse through the dropdown list or you can search the environments by using the search field.

1. Select the **Actions** button.

1. Select **Delete** from the dropdown list. The **Delete environment** confirmation window appears.

1. Type "delete" in the confirmation field.

1. Select the **Delete** button.