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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

Computer 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

HKLM Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard

Value name: SmartCardAllowed

Enabled: SmartCardAllowed = *

Disabled: SmartCardAllowed = false

More options available

Options

Allow smart card authentication
SmartCardAllowed boolean - default: 1
Use pass-through authentication for PIN
DisableCtrlAltDel boolean

Export Builder

BETA

Configure 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Smartcard]
"SmartCardAllowed"="*"
"SmartCardAllowed"=dword:00000001
"DisableCtrlAltDel"=dword:00000000
More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)

PowerShell

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Smart card authentication
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms

$path = 'HKLM:\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 DWord

Building a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.

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