Application pool - Windows explorer (file manager)

[Najtsob]

Is it possible to use explorer.exe as file explorer via remote app ?

We are using Horizon 7 and explorer.exe is not listed under avaliable apps when you are creating app pool. If you add it manually nothing happens when you try to access it.  It is abit of an tricky application since this is also a shell for windows systems but I wonder if it is possible ?

[netjim66]

I would install a third-party file exploring app, and make that available as an application on the web portal.

[Najtsob]

This is current workaround but of course quite few people are not happy with it. This is the type of users whom you change layout of the icons and they consider computer to be broken :smileyconfused:

[Jstrat31 · Accepted solution]

This is possible using an internet explorer shortcut (.lnk) to lunch the folder path.  Create the link, set folder path in properties, change icon to the folder icon, the. Save in “C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs” on your RDSH host. You can the. Add is as an application pool.

[joshuarupp]

So in case someone stumbles across this even though there was a different solution ago over a year and a half ago, I thought I would update the solution for current versions of VMware Horizon.  This option was tested with Horizon 7.8.  You can manually add an RDHS or Windows 10 Application Pool and use file explorer as an application. 

You click Add, Add Manually, put in an ID, for Path put C:\Windows\explorer.exe, and for Start Folder put C:\Windows

You can add a display name, version, publisher, and description if you want.

I know it's simple, but I thought I would update the options since it's changed with the software!

[sjesse]

Did you get it to open just the window, and not the entire shell? Last time I tried this openeing explore basically gave the users a desktop, instead of just the windows explorer window.

[joshuarupp]

Here’s a screenshot from the iPad.  It’s pretty neat.  This is my first time messing with it so I’m not sure if VMware changed something with Horizon Connection Broker 7.8 or what is different but the access to the iPads seem pretty seamless to me.