Citrix™ announces the end of HDX WebRTC optimization

Citrix™ has announced the progressive deprecation of the current Teams optimization based on HDX WebRTC for Windows endpoints. End of support is scheduled for October 1, 2026, while end of availability is planned for April 1, 2027. Citrix recommends that customers adopt the new optimization architecture called SlimCore. This change affects Windows endpoints; current optimization solutions will continue to be supported on Linux and macOS. [support.citrix.com]

For organizations using Microsoft Teams™ in Citrix™ environments, this is therefore the ideal time to plan the transition to the new platform.

What SlimCore is and its benefits

SlimCore is the new multimedia engine used by Microsoft Teams to handle audio, video and screen sharing in virtualized environments.
Unlike the previous architecture, SlimCore uses the same engine as the native Teams client, reducing differences between physical workstations and virtual desktops. [learn.microsoft.com]

The main benefits include:

  • Greater availability of new Microsoft Teams™ features thanks to alignment with the native client.
  • Faster meeting join times.
  • Improved stability during calls and video conferences.
  • Updates delivered independently from VDI client release cycles.
  • Reduced dependencies between Microsoft Teams™, Citrix™ Workspace and optimization components. [4sysops.com]

Requirements for adopting SlimCore

To use the new optimization, some endpoint and infrastructure prerequisites must be verified.

Key requirements include:

  • Supported versions of Microsoft Teams™ and Citrix™ Workspace App. [support.citrix.com], [learn.microsoft.com]
  • Installation of the Citrix™ Workspace App client with Microsoft Teams™ VDI support.
  • Endpoint access to the Microsoft services required to download and automatically update SlimCore components.
  • Correct configuration of the virtual channels required by the new VDI solution.
  • In environments protected by Unified Write Filter (UWF), Microsoft also recommends handling persistence of the WindowsApps directory appropriately to avoid downloading the full components after every device reboot.

How PRAIM supports the transition

To help customers through this technological shift, PRAIM is introducing new capabilities across its management and deployment platforms.

Upcoming versions of ThinMan, Agile4PC and Agile will simplify adoption of the new Microsoft architecture. Thanks to support for Third-Party Addons, it will be possible to:

  • Automatically deploy Citrix™ Workspace versions compatible with SlimCore.
  • Install and keep the Microsoft Teams™ components up to date.
  • Manage the required configurations for Windows endpoints.
  • Quickly verify device compliance against the requirements of the new optimization.

These tasks can be carried out in a single operation, either in stand-alone mode or through centralized scheduling from the ThinMan Advanced console.

In this way, organizations can approach the transition to SlimCore in a controlled manner, while maintaining high levels of security, centralization and operational simplicity.

Conclusion

The transition to SlimCore represents an important step in the evolution of Microsoft Teams™ for VDI environments. Organizations using Windows endpoints can begin planning the migration now, preparing for the progressive retirement of the current HDX WebRTC technology and benefiting from a platform that is more closely aligned with the native Teams client. [support.citrix.com]

With upcoming versions of ThinMan, Agile4PC and Agile, PRAIM will support customers throughout this process by simplifying the distribution of required components, endpoint configuration and compliance verification. The goal is to make the migration simpler, more centralized and more secure, reducing operational impact on existing infrastructures.

At present, SlimCore is supported on Windows endpoints. ThinOX/Linux endpoints continue to use the Teams HDX WebRTC optimization supported by Citrix™ and Microsoft; PRAIM follows Citrix™ roadmap developments to make support for new technologies available as soon as they are officially supported in the Linux/ThinOX ecosystem. [support.citrix.com], [docs.citrix.com]

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