---
title: "Connection overview | PrimalDesk Docs"
description: "Why the host stays online and how direct and relay connections work."
url: "https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/connection-overview"
---

# Connection overview

Why the host stays online and how direct and relay connections work.

The Windows host keeps a control connection to `api.primaldesk.com` while it is available. This is required for **license and entitlement checks, remote configuration, management of active sessions, and security**: the service delivers access-policy changes and short-lived connection authorization and can revoke access when needed. A reachable UDP port alone is not enough to authorize a new session. If the host loses backend connectivity, do not assume new connections or policy changes will continue to work.

## Direct connection

The client signs in and requests access. After authorization, it tries to establish an encrypted UDP path to the host. When that path works, screen, audio and input traffic travel directly between client and host; the backend remains involved in control and authorization.

![Client and Windows host connected directly over encrypted UDP, with PrimalDesk handling identity and control](https://docs.primaldesk.com/diagrams/p2p-path.svg)

## Relay connection

If a direct route cannot be established, a relay may forward the encrypted session traffic. The extra hop can increase delay and reduce available throughput. Relay support remains experimental; it is not a guaranteed fallback on every network.

![Client and Windows host connected through a UDP relay that forwards encrypted traffic](https://docs.primaldesk.com/diagrams/turn-path.svg)

Both the browser Workspace and Desktop client use the same account and host authorization model. Session UDP sockets are allocated as connections start; the host’s outbound control connection is separate. See [Firewall and ports](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/host-firewall.md) for current policy and [Network quality and frame rate](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/network-quality.md) for performance expectations.

This guide describes the current development and testing phase.

[Back to documentation](https://docs.primaldesk.com/docs.md)

## Explore PrimalDesk

- [PrimalDesk Docs: all pages](https://docs.primaldesk.com/llms.txt)
- [PrimalDesk: all pages](https://primaldesk.com/llms.txt)
- [Product overview](https://primaldesk.com/index.md)
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## Other pages on this site

- [PrimalDesk Docs | Multi-user Windows remote desktop](https://docs.primaldesk.com/index.md)
- [Connection overview | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/connection-overview.md)
- [Early access and availability | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/early-access.md)
- [Make your first connection | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/first-connection.md)
- [GDPR and data requests | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/gdpr.md)
- [Windows compatibility | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/host-compatibility.md)
- [Firewall and ports | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/host-firewall.md)
- [Technical requirements | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/host-requirements.md)
- [Install and manage a Windows host | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/install-and-manage-host.md)
- [Mouse and keyboard controls | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/mouse-keyboard.md)
- [Work with multiple monitors | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/multiple-monitors.md)
- [Connect across different networks | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/nat-traversal.md)
- [Network quality and frame rate | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/network-quality.md)
- [RDS role and licensing | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/rds-licensing.md)
- [Third-party notices | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/third-party-notices.md)
- [Connection security | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/transport-security.md)
- [TURN relay | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/turn-relay.md)
- [Windows sessions | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/windows-sessions.md)
- [Windows host setup and network documentation | PrimalDesk](https://docs.primaldesk.com/docs.md)
- [Remote desktop help center | PrimalDesk](https://docs.primaldesk.com/help-center.md)