---
title: "Apps publishing | PrimalDesk Docs"
description: "Choose which installed Windows applications users can launch through Apps."
url: "https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/remote-apps-publishing"
---

# Apps publishing

Choose which installed Windows applications users can launch through Apps.

Publish applications from the **PrimalDesk Host admin app on the host computer**. Publishing adds a launch entry to the catalog; it does not install the application or grant additional Windows permissions.

## Prepare Apps access

1.  Install and test the application on the host using the intended Windows account.
2.  Open **Publishing → Apps settings** and enable **Allow new connections**.
3.  Review the display and session settings, then save them. See [Integration](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/remote-apps-integration.md) for monitor and capture limitations.

## Add an application

In **Publishing**, choose **Add application**.

![Host Publishing page with a sample Notes application, Add application and Apps settings controls.](https://docs.primaldesk.com/screenshots/remote-apps/publishing.png)

The Host publishing interface with an example application catalog.

-   **Name:** the label users see in the published list.
-   **Executable:** select the installed program’s executable on the host. Use the browse button or enter its full path.
-   **Arguments:** optional startup arguments required by that program.
-   **Working directory:** the folder the program should start in, if it needs one.
-   **Force video:** enable for applications that continuously update large areas, such as games or video editors. Leave it off for [automatic rendering](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/remote-apps-rendering.md).

![Add application dialog with example Notes executable and working directory, plus the Force video option.](https://docs.primaldesk.com/screenshots/remote-apps/publish-editor.png)

A cropped dialog with example paths. Use the real installed paths on your host.

Choose **Save application**, connect in Apps mode, and launch it from the catalog. Test with the account that will actually use it. Programs may need their own licenses, first-run setup or access to files on the host.

Use the application’s configuration control to update an entry later. If an installer moves or replaces the executable, review the entry and save its current configuration. Remove an entry when it should no longer be offered. Removing a catalog entry does not uninstall the program.

Display capabilities and [resource restrictions](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/remote-apps-restrictions.md) are managed in **Apps settings**, rather than independently for each catalog entry.

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)
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## Other pages on this site

- [PrimalDesk Docs | Multi-user Windows remote desktop](https://docs.primaldesk.com/index.md)
- [Adaptive video bitrate | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/adaptive-video-bitrate.md)
- [Connection overview | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/connection-overview.md)
- [Desktop or Apps: which mode should I choose? | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/desktop-vs-apps.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)
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- [Fullscreen | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/remote-apps-fullscreen.md)
- [Integration | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/remote-apps-integration.md)
- [Overview | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/remote-apps-overview.md)
- [Apps publishing | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/remote-apps-publishing.md)
- [Rendering | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/remote-apps-rendering.md)
- [Apps restrictions | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/remote-apps-restrictions.md)
- [Session types | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/remote-apps-session-types.md)
- [Version support | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/remote-apps-version-support.md)
- [Audio | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/session-audio.md)
- [Clipboard | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/session-clipboard.md)
- [Input | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/session-input.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)
- [Why does video quality change? | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/video-quality-changes.md)
- [Windows sessions | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/windows-sessions.md)
- [Workspace: connect from your browser | PrimalDesk Docs](https://docs.primaldesk.com/articles/workspace.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)