As a Horizon Client user, you can add devices and use the Apple defaults. The client also supports certain customizations such as language and key mappings.

For example, you can use the iPad Keyboard Dock and Apple Wireless Keyboard (Bluetooth) external keyboards with remote desktops and published applications. On an iPad Pro, you can use the Apple Pencil as a pointer device. Beginning with iPadOS 13.4, you can use an external mouse with an iPad. Beginning with iPadOS 14.0, the client offers manual keyboard configuration.

Setting Up an External Keyboard for Use with Horizon Client

Horizon Client detects the iPad Keyboard Dock external keyboard automatically.

To use the Apple Wireless Keyboard (Bluetooth) with a remote desktop or published application, pair the keyboard with the iPad. To make the iPad detect the wireless keyboard, tap the screen with three fingers at the same time, or tap the Keyboard button in the Horizon Client Tools. Do not use the onscreen keyboard in split keyboard mode when you attempt to make the iPad detect the Apple Wireless Keyboard (Bluetooth) keyboard.

After the iPad detects the Apple Wireless Keyboard (Bluetooth), you cannot use the Horizon Client Tools or three-finger tap to display the onscreen keyboard. To use these features, deactivate the external keyboard by pressing its Eject key.

Note: The Apple Wireless Keyboard (Bluetooth) does not input the Japanese full-width tilde correctly in remote desktops.

Using an International Keyboard

Settings in several components determine the keyboard layout and key mapping: your local iOS, Horizon Agent, Horizon Client for iOS, the remote desktop system, and the active published application. This guide discusses settings for the client only. By default, the client implements the iOS defaults that allow for English, Japanese, French, German, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Spanish.

If you want to use a Korean or Japanese IME in the client, you must connect an English keyboard to the iOS device. If you use a Korean or Japanese keyboard, the remote Windows IME mode for English/Korean or English Japanese does not synchronize with the local iOS keyboard. You can manually configure the external keyboard to implement an extended list of IME's.

Manually Configuring Keyboard Hardware

You can customize the local keyboard to extend the languages implemented in the remote desktop and published applications. The manual configuration options are available in the settings for keyboard hardware. After you enable Manually Configure Keyboard, the client does not read the local iPadOS system settings while you are working in the remote desktop. The local IME settings still take effect for most client controls and settings. You can use the keyboard layout you selected, and the Horizon Agent stores and applies these settings.
Note: A system administrator can control the availability and implementation of the options.

To view the list of languages supported by the client, examine the keyboard hardware options in client settings. To find the setting, see Enable Options for External Keyboards. The information about the settings that are controlled by the agent controls is available in the Horizon Agent Installation and Setup Guide.

Mapping Local iPadOS Keys for use in Windows Remote Desktops or Published Applications

The client supports the full keyboard and allows mapping of the local iPadOS keys and combinations to remote Windows keys including the function keys and modifier keys. For example, typically the CMD + S combination maps to the Control + S to save a file. By default, the mapping of the CMD key to the Control key is on, and the local keyboard used while working in the remote desktop provides you with the same results as the Windows default behavior.

With the language specified, you can deactivate mappings, edit mappings, and add new mappings. You can customize key behavior in the Keyboard Mapping settings. See Enable Options for External Keyboards.

Using a Mouse on an iPad

With iPadOS 13.4 and later, you can use an external mouse in remote desktops and published applications. The client does support both Bluetooth and USB mice.

For the Apple Magic Mouse and Apple Magic Trackpad, use second generation or later devices only. The client does not support the first-generation devices fully.

For left-handed users, follow these recommendations.

  • If left-handed mode is enabled in the remote desktop, always enable the Left Handed Mode option in Horizon Client. See Configure Horizon Client to Support Reversed Mouse Buttons.
  • To use left-handed mode with a physical mouse, you must configure left-handed mode in the iPad settings. You must use the iPad settings regardless of whether the remote desktop has left-handed mode on.

Using an Apple Pencil on an iPad

With an iPad, you can use an Apple Pencil in remote desktops and published applications. For full functionality, use the VMware Blast display protocol when you connect to the remote desktop or published application. If you use the PCoIP display protocol, the Apple Pencil behaves the same way as finger touch.