Smart card authentication
Verified with Citrix Workspace App 26.3.10 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms
Path in the GPO console
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Citrix Components\Citrix Workspace\User authentication Description
Use this policy to control how the client uses smart cards attached to the client device. When enabled, this policy allows the remote server to access smart cards attached to the client device for authentication and other purposes. When disabled, the server cannot access smart cards attached to the client device. Troubleshooting: When using smart cards in a Citrix environment, the smart card device driver must be installed on the server. When using a different operating system on the client machine, it may be necessary to ensure that the smart card device drivers in use interoperate correctly.
Registry
HKCU
Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard Value name: SmartCardAllowed
Enabled: SmartCardAllowed = *
Disabled: SmartCardAllowed = false
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Smart card authentication
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard]
"SmartCardAllowed"="*"
"SmartCardAllowed"=dword:00000001
"DisableCtrlAltDel"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Smart card authentication
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SmartCardAllowed' -Value '*' -Type String
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SmartCardAllowed' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DisableCtrlAltDel' -Value 0 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Smart card authentication
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard' -Name 'SmartCardAllowed' -Expected '*' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard' -Name 'SmartCardAllowed' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard' -Name 'DisableCtrlAltDel' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Smart card authentication
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SmartCardAllowed' -Value '*' -Type String
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SmartCardAllowed' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DisableCtrlAltDel' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Smart card authentication
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Smart card authentication
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard' -Name 'SmartCardAllowed' -Expected '*' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard' -Name 'SmartCardAllowed' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard' -Name 'DisableCtrlAltDel' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Smart card authentication
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SmartCardAllowed' -Value '*' -Type String
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SmartCardAllowed' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DisableCtrlAltDel' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.