An ICA file is a short, plain-text configuration file created by Citrix Systems. It tells the Citrix client which remote application or desktop to connect to - it is not the app itself. To open it, install Citrix Workspace app (the free client formerly called Citrix Receiver); double-clicking the .ica then starts the remote session automatically.
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Drop any file into our identifier - we read just the first bytes to name the format.
Identify a fileAn .ica file contains configuration information for connecting to Citrix servers or cloud services. Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) files are used by Citrix Workspace app (formerly Citrix Receiver) for providing Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops services to users. A single .ica file can target a full desktop session or a specific published application. ICA files may be digitally signed to ensure they come from a trusted source. Because the format is plain text, they can be viewed and edited using any text editor, though they are typically generated automatically by a Citrix StoreFront server or by the ICA File Editor tool.
An .ica file organizes settings into INI-style sections whose names are enclosed in square brackets. Common sections include:
WFClient - describes WinFrame client parameters such as encoding and client nameApplicationServers - defines the name of the application or connectionPropertyName=value format, such as:TransportDriver=, ICAPortNumber=)Address=)InitialProgram=, DesktopResolution=)Solutions offered by Citrix allow companies to share, distribute, and centrally manage programs and company data via secured connections. Data is sent using the proprietary ICA protocol, a platform-independent alternative to the Remote Desktop Protocol developed by Microsoft. This enables remote access to an organization's work environment from anywhere in the world using the internet.
The MIME type registered for .ica files is application/x-ica.
An .ica is plain-text configuration containing a server address and a short-lived launch ticket - no executable code. The main caution: the launch ticket is a credential, so don't share an .ica file publicly while it's valid, and only open .ica files that come from your own organization's Citrix portal. An .ica from an unknown source could point your Citrix client at an attacker-controlled server, so treat unsolicited ones with suspicion.
Windows2 apps
Citrix Workspace app
Free Install Citrix Workspace app, then double-click the .ica (or click 'open' on the StoreFront page) to launch the published session.
Notepad / any text editor
Built-in Open the .ica as text to inspect the server address and settings (it won't start a session - for diagnosis only). macOS1 app
Citrix Workspace app
Free Install Workspace app for Mac; double-clicking the .ica then launches the remote session. Linux1 app
Citrix Workspace app
Free Install Workspace app for Linux (replaces the old Receiver for Linux); .ica files launch via the wfica handler. Android1 app
Citrix Workspace
Free Install Citrix Workspace from Google Play (package still com.citrix.Receiver); open the .ica to start the session.
Citrix Workspace
Free Install Citrix Workspace from the App Store; .ica links launch the published app/desktop. | Format type | Plain-text INI-style configuration file; human-readable key=value pairs inside named [Section] blocks |
| MIME type | application/x-ica |
| Typical file signature | [WFClient] section header at byte offset 0 - a plain-text marker, not a binary magic number; some files begin with [Encoding] instead |
| Default ICA port | TCP 1494 for unencrypted ICA; TCP 443 when the session is tunnelled over TLS/SSL |
| Session types | Full virtual desktop or a single published application, selected via the InitialProgram= key in the connection section |
| Transport driver key | TransportDriver= specifies the protocol stack used (e.g. TCP/IP, SSL/TLS); SSLEnable=On switches the session to encrypted transport |
| Encryption | SecureICA with RC5 up to 128-bit, or ICA over TLS/SSL configured via SSLEnable=, SSLCipherSuite=, and SSLProxyHost= keys |
| Digital signature | Files can carry a cryptographic signature so Citrix Workspace app can verify the file originates from a trusted Citrix server before launching a session |
| Platform consumers | Citrix Workspace app on Windows, macOS, and Linux; Citrix Workspace on Android and iOS; Citrix HTML5 Receiver in web browsers |
| Primary generating systems | Citrix StoreFront, Citrix Gateway (NetScaler/ADC), and the standalone ICA File Editor utility |
| Key sections | [WFClient] for global client parameters, [ApplicationServers] listing connection names, plus one named section per connection holding Address=, InitialProgram=, and all session keys |
| HDX parameters | File can include HDX (High Definition Experience) keys controlling audio quality, video compression, multi-monitor layout, and USB redirection |
| Character encoding and size | US-ASCII or UTF-8 plain text with no binary data; typical file size 1-5 KB |
| Released | 1990s (Citrix WinFrame / ICA protocol era) |
| Specification | docs.citrix.com |
