How to Add Applications to AppAnywhere: A Step-by-Step Guide

One of the most powerful features of AppAnywhere is the ability to publish specific Windows applications — rather than exposing an entire desktop — to your users. Instead of giving team members full remote desktop access, you can expose just the .exe they need, keeping your environment clean, focused, and secure.

This guide walks you through the complete process of adding an application to AppAnywhere, from the initial configuration to your first browser-based launch.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• ✅ AppAnywhere Agent installed and running on the host Windows machine
• ✅ A verified account at desklia.com
• ✅ The full file path to the .exe you want to publish
• ✅ Administrator access on the host PC

What Does “Adding an Application” Mean?

When you add an application in AppAnywhere, you are telling the agent:

“When an authorized user requests this app, launch this specific executable and stream only that window — not the whole desktop.”

This creates a clean, app-focused experience for end users. They click a button in their browser and the application window appears — no taskbar, no file explorer, no distractions.

Step 1: Open the AppAnywhere Dashboard

1. Sign in at desklia.com
2. Navigate to Dashboard from the top navigation
3. Locate the host PC you want to configure
4. Click the Settings (gear) icon next to that PC entry

Step 2: Go to the Applications Tab

Inside the PC Settings panel, you will see several tabs:

Click the Applications tab to begin.

Step 3: Add a New Application

Click the + Add Application button. A configuration form will appear with the following fields:

Application Name (required)

This is the display name your users will see on their dashboard. Keep it clear and descriptive.

Examples: - AutoCAD 2024 - Accounting Tool (SAP) - Internal CRM

Executable Path (required)

Enter the full path to the .exe file on the host machine.

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2024\acad.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\SAP\FrontEnd\SAPgui\saplogon.exe
C:\Apps\CRM\crm.exe

Tip: If you are unsure of the path, right-click the application shortcut on the host PC and select Properties — the path is shown in the Target field.

Working Directory (optional)

Some applications require a specific working directory to load resources correctly. If your app fails to start without one, set this to the folder containing the executable or the data it depends on.

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2024\

Launch Arguments (optional)

Pass command-line arguments to the executable at startup. This is useful for:

• Opening a specific file: "C:\Projects\drawing.dwg"
• Setting a language: --lang=en-US
• Pointing to a config file: --config="C:\Config\settings.ini"

Application Icon (optional)

Upload a custom icon (PNG, 64×64 recommended) that will be displayed on the user dashboard. If left blank, AppAnywhere will attempt to extract the icon from the executable automatically.

Step 4: Configure Access Permissions

After filling in the basic details, scroll down to the Access section:

Who Can Access This App?

You have two options:

• All users on this PC — Anyone with access to this host machine can launch the app.
• Specific users only — Restrict access to a whitelist of email addresses or user groups.

Session Limits

Set maximum concurrent sessions for this application:

For most business applications, setting Max Sessions to match your license count is a good practice. For example, if you own 5 CAD licenses, set Max Sessions to 5.

Step 5: Save and Test

1. Click Save Application
2. The app will now appear in your Applications list with a status indicator
3. To verify everything works, click Test Launch from the admin panel

AppAnywhere will attempt to start the application on the host machine and open a browser stream. If the window appears correctly, your configuration is complete.

Step 6: Share With Your Users

Once saved, the application automatically appears on the dashboards of all authorized users. They will see:

• The application name and icon
• A Launch button
• Current status (available / max sessions reached / host offline)

Users simply click Launch and the application opens directly in their browser — no downloads, no VPN, no client software.

Common Configuration Examples

Example 1: Microsoft Office Word

Name:           Microsoft Word
Path:           C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\WINWORD.EXE
Arguments:      (leave blank)
Working Dir:    C:\Users\Public\Documents

Example 2: A Custom .NET Application

Name:           Inventory Manager
Path:           C:\Apps\InventoryManager\InventoryManager.exe
Arguments:      --server=192.168.1.50 --port=8080
Working Dir:    C:\Apps\InventoryManager\

Example 3: A Browser Pointing to an Internal Web App

Name:           Internal HR Portal
Path:           C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
Arguments:      --app=http://intranet.company.local/hr --kiosk
Working Dir:    (leave blank)

Pro Tip: Using Chrome in --app mode strips the browser UI and launches the site as a clean application window — perfect for intranet portals.

Troubleshooting

Application Launches but Immediately Closes

• Check that the executable path is correct and the file exists on the host machine
• Verify the application does not require elevated (admin) privileges to run
• Review Windows Event Viewer on the host for application crash logs

“Application Not Found” Error

• Confirm the agent is running and the host PC is online
• Make sure the path uses backslashes (\) and is not a shortcut (.lnk) path

Black Window or Rendering Issues

• Enable Hardware Acceleration in agent settings for GPU-accelerated encoding
• Update the graphics driver on the host PC
• Try disabling DPI scaling for the executable:
  1. Right-click the .exe → Properties → Compatibility
  2. Check “Override high DPI scaling behavior”
  3. Set scaling to “Application”

Users Can’t See the App on Their Dashboard

• Confirm the user’s email is authorized under the Applications > Access settings
• Ask the user to refresh their dashboard (F5)
• Check if the host PC is showing Online status

Next Steps

Now that your first application is live, explore these advanced topics:

• How to Set Up Teams and User Groups — Manage permissions at scale
• Performance Optimization — Tune streaming quality for your network
• Example Setup: Home Office — See a complete real-world configuration

Need help? Reach out to us at support@desklia.com — we typically respond within one business day.