Short answer: sign in to your control panel and click the browser access link for your desktop. Your Windows desktop opens in the tab — nothing to install, nothing to configure. Bookmark that link and you are one click from your desktop on any machine.
Applies to: every Infosaic Virtual Desktop and VPS · any device with a modern browser
Browser access is the quickest way into your cloud desktop, and the one to use the very first time. There is no software to download and no settings to get right — if you can open a web page, you can open your desktop.
It is also the option that works on machines you do not control: a work laptop that blocks installs, a hotel business centre, a borrowed computer at a client’s office.
Opening your desktop
- Sign in to your control panel with the details from your welcome email.
- Find your desktop in the list and look for the browser access link beside it.
- Click the link. Your Windows desktop loads in the browser, usually within a few seconds.
- Click once inside the desktop before you start typing, so your keystrokes go to Windows rather than to the web page around it.
- Bookmark the page so you can skip the control panel next time.
A full Windows desktop, running in a browser tab. No toolbar, no buttons — the controls are behind a keyboard shortcut.
Learn one shortcut before you go further
Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift inside the session to open the control menu. Copy and paste, file transfer, the on-screen keyboard and zoom all live there, and nothing on screen tells you it exists.
Which browsers work
Any current version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari, on Windows, macOS, ChromeOS or Linux. It also works on phones and tablets, though a small screen is better for checking something than for a full day’s work.
You do not need to install an extension, allow a plug-in or change any browser settings. If a page asks for permission to read your clipboard, allow it — that is what makes copy and paste work.
What to expect the first time
A short wait. Windows builds your profile on first sign-in, so the very first load can take a minute longer than every one after it.
A plain desktop. No toolbar and no buttons is correct, not a fault. The controls are deliberately tucked away so they do not cover your screen.
No sound. Audio is not carried over browser access. If you need it, connect with RDP instead.
Questions and answers
Do I need to install anything to use browser access?
No. Browser access runs entirely in a normal web browser with no downloads, extensions or plug-ins. That is what makes it usable on a work computer where you cannot install software.
Can I bookmark the link and skip the control panel?
Yes. Bookmark the session page and you can go straight there. You will still be asked to sign in, which is what keeps your desktop private.
Why is there no toolbar or menu on screen?
By design, so the controls do not cover your desktop. Press Ctrl+Alt+Shift to slide the control menu in from the left, and press the same three keys again to close it.
Does it work on a Chromebook?
Yes, in Chrome on ChromeOS with nothing installed. Browser access is often the simplest option on a Chromebook.
Why is my first sign-in slower than the ones after?
Windows creates your user profile the first time you log in. That happens once; later connections are much quicker.
Can I stay signed in on more than one device?
Yes. You are connecting to the same desktop each time, so whatever you leave open is still there when you connect from somewhere else.
Is browser access safe on a public computer?
It is safer than installing a client, because nothing is left behind on the machine. Use a private or incognito window, and sign out of the control panel when you finish.
Related articles
- The hidden menu: press Ctrl+Alt+Shift in your browser session
- What browser access cannot do (and what to use instead)
- Browser access or RDP: which should you use?
Cannot find the link?
Open a support request from your control panel — that is the fastest route, because it reaches the team who can already see your account. You can also email [email protected].