How to Integrate and Publish the "NEW Teams" App in Horizon: A Step-by-Step Guide

Microsoft has recently launched Teams version 2.x (at time of writing 2.1 is current version), also known as "NEW Teams". This version is distributed exclusively through MSIX packaging as a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app. This change introduces specific challenges when deploying Teams from a Remote Desktop Services (RDS) host using VMware's Horizon published apps. Windows Server operating systems generally do not come with the Microsoft Store installed by default due to their focus on server-based roles and enterprise environments. However, there are ways to access some of the functionalities or applications commonly available through the Microsoft Store in a Windows Server environment. For accessing Store applications or similar functionalities, administrators typically need to enable sideloading of apps, which allows the installation of Microsoft Store apps without needing the Store itself. This requires the app packages (APPX or MSIX files) to be obtained and deployed manually.

To address the mechanisms of actually publishing UWP applications from an RDS host, VMware has updated its Horizon agent with patch 2312.1, which now includes support for UWP apps on Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) platforms. It's important to note that this UWP support feature is not activated by default. Users can enable it using a Group Policy that is part of the Horizon Extras Bundle of Group Policy Objects (GPO) policies.

This guide will provide a step-by-step walkthrough on how to successfully publish Teams 2.1 from VMware Horizon, ensuring a smooth deployment process in an RDS environment.

Prerequisites:

Download the following software:

1. Horizon Agent 2312.1 (or greater)

2. Horizon Extras Bundle 2312.1 (or greater)

3. Microsoft Edge WebView2

4. Teams 2.1 MSIX package

Step 1: Extract and set the updated Horizon GPO Bundle

Extract the Group Policy settings files available in the Horizon-Extras bundle and apply the following setting to the RDS host(s) via local or domain group policy editor:

Computer Configuration > Admin Templates > VMware View Agent Configuration > Unity Touch and Hosted Apps > Enable UWP support on RDSH platforms > Enabled

This policy controls whether UWP applications can be scanned and launched on RDSH farms with an operating system version that supports UWP applications. This policy does not apply to desktop OS platforms, such as VDI app remoting. When enabled, UWP applications can be used as Hosted Apps from RDSH farms.

Restart wsnm service or restart RDSH server to make the GPO take effect.

Step 2: Install Horizon Agent 2312.1 or later on the RDS host

Install the updated agent in the usual way consistent with your environmental requirements

Step 3: Install Microsoft Edge WebView2

Ensure that Microsoft Edge WebView2 is installed on your server, as it is necessary for running modern applications that use web content.

Step 4: Enable Sideloading

To allow the installation of apps on Windows Server from outside the Microsoft Store, enable sideloading:

reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModelUnlock" /t REG_DWORD /f /v "AllowAllTrustedApps" /d "1"

Step 5: Install the MSIX Package Using DISM

Since the Windows Store is not available on Server OS, DSIM is required, With the system prepared and the MSIX file downloaded, you can now install it using DISM:

Dism /Online /Add-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackagePath:"C:\Path\To\MSTeams-x64.msix" /SkipLicense

Replace "C:\Path\To\MSTeams-x64.msix" with the actual path to the downloaded MSIX file.

After installing, you can verify the application installation using DISM:

DISM /Online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages

Look through the output for an entry for Microsoft Teams to confirm it's correctly installed.

Record the PackageName for reference. E.G. PackageName : MSTeams_24033.813.2773.520_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

Additional Considerations

• WebView2 Runtime: Check that the installed version of WebView2 is compatible with the Teams application you are installing.

• Registry Changes: Altering the registry impacts system stability and security. Make sure these changes comply with your organization’s IT security policies.

• DISM Logging: If you encounter installation issues, consult the DISM log at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log for detailed diagnostic information.

Step 5: Publish the Teams App from Horizon Console

The UWP app should now be available from the "Add from Installed Apps" selector when publishing apps.

Additional resources:

How To Optimize a Horizon Golden Image with the New Microsoft Teams Client

Packaging and Delivering New Teams Client with App Volumes Upgrade to new Teams for Virtualized Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)