Receiver for Mac overview High performance web and self-services access to virtual apps and desktops. Configure for anywhere access from your desktop or web access with Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
Problem:
Cloud application is not starting or takes longer than expected to launch when using a MAC.
To map printers when you are using the Citrix Receiver for Java on the Mac client for connection, you must manually configure the printer. To map a printer locally attached to the Mac client, specify the Server as 127.0.0.1 and the Queue name as the local Mac printer queue name. After installing all Mac updates, or verifying your Mac is up-to-date, please verify you are running on the latest version of the Citrix Receiver as well. To do so, locate the Citrix icon at the top right of your screen as shown below. Simply right click and choose about to see your version.
(Windows users, please click here for help)
Mac Citrix Client
***Be sure that you have already completed all of the steps in the article here before continuing to the following suggestions. If you are still experieincing issues, please continue below***
Ensure that your Mac has the latest Updates installed
- To install Mac updates, select the Apple at the top left of your machine and choose “About this Mac” - then choose Software Update.
**Note this will NOT upgrade your current OS to the latest OS released, it will simply install any needed updates for your current OS. An upgrade may be available to purchase from the App store to upgrade your Mac to the latest OS.
- After installing all Mac updates, or verifying your Mac is up-to-date, please verify you are running on the latest version of the Citrix Receiver as well. To do so, locate the Citrix icon at the top right of your screen as shown below. Simply right click and choose about to see your version.
- Click here to see the latest Citrix Receiver version that is available. If the version available is newer than the version installed on your Mac, Download and Install the latest version. ***Keep in mind, Citrix does not support Mac OSX 10.6 or 10.7, so installing the latest Receiver version will not work with those operating systems. Click here to obtain an older Citrix receiver version if you are running on Mac 10.7 or earlier. HOWEVER, it is highly recommended that you upgrade your Mac to the latest OS because the older Citrix Receiver is no longer supported.
Review your Devices and Printers
Checking your printer list and reducing it can make an impact on connection time. This is relevant because when connecting to our servers, Citrix maps each device that is installed locally. If there are numerous devices or devices no longer found, this could potentially impact your application’s launch time. Within your Mac, please verify the number of devices that are installed on your machine. This information can be found by going to system preferences.
![Citrix Citrix](/uploads/1/1/9/7/119711421/613354286.png)
- Select the Apple at the top left of your machine and choose System Preferences - Printers and Scanners
- Review the list of devices you have installed
- Remove any devices that you do not currently use by simply highlighting the device and selecting the minus button.
Change the Screen Resolution in your Citrix settings
Some Macs have various screen resolution sizes, and sometimes have difficulties connecting to the server because of this.
- To set a screen resolution, log into https://cloud.designmanager.com
- Click on the Settings option.
- Within the User Experience section, use the drop down to change the Window Size.
- By default this is set to “Seamless”. We recommend changing this to a set screen size; for example, 1280 X 1024. This ensures a set screen size when connecting to the server and can drastically improve connection times. BE SURE to click SAVE after these changes have been made.
NOTE: when launching the program you’ll notice the application will open in its own separate window; to make it full screen, simply click the green expand button at the top right of your Mac for a full screen experience.
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/1/9/7/119711421/773499711.png)
If you’re still experiencing problems connecting to your application, Contact Support.
The following is a quick start guide to access CAG.
Using Your PIV Card
Getting started.
- If possible, make sure you are using the latest version of MacOS, 10.15 (Catalina). To check the version of MacOS click the Apple icon on the top left of your screen, then choose “About This Mac”.
- Download and install Citrix Workspace. This was recently updated and now supports MacOS 10.13-10.15.4.
- These instructions will work for Chrome and Edge for Mac. Safari can work, but is problematic and should be avoided. Firefox does not work.
- Insert your PIV card into the reader
- If you’ve inserted your PIV, accept the prompt to add certs (you’ll need to enter your MacOS password to install these certs to your MacOS Keychain).
- Access the VA Citrix Access Gateway - https://citrixaccess.va.gov. (Make sure to bookmark so you can get back to it easily for future connections to CAG.)
- If you have a PIV, select the first option, “Smartcard.” If you do not, choose the username and password option, enter your username and password, then skip to step 9.
- IMPORTANT: In most cases, if using Chrome or Edge, you will need to select the second certificate from the list when prompted.This is not 100% of the time, so if you get an error you may need to close your browser, reopen and then select the first certificate.
- If prompted, select “Open Citrix Workspace Launcher,” then check the box “I agree with the Citrix license agreement,”
- Once the CAG Storefront appears, navigate to the “Desktop” tab at the top and choose a desktop. Learn about the new CAG Desktop Options
- An *.ica file will download once you select an option and will show in the bottom-left of your browser. Click that download to open this file.
- Give Citrix permissions on the Mac if prompted.
- Once the desktop opens, if you are not using PIV (PIV exempt), enter your username and password.
- If you are using PIV, wait for the option for “Sign-in options” to populate under the username and password box. Depending on your screen resolution you may have to scroll a little to see this and this could take a few seconds to show up (be patient). Once you see “Sign-in options,” choose that and select the PIV card icon and enter your PIV PIN when prompted.
- You’re in! You can access all your regular applications and conduct your normal work.
- When you’re done, sign out of the desktop like a normal Windows machine by clicking the Windows start button, click the 'user icon', and then choosing Sign out. Close your browser.
Subsequent connections
- Go to VA Citrix Access Gateway (if you created a bookmark in the earlier instructions, then just use that. If you haven’t done that, create a bookmark now!)
- See: Things to be aware of if you experience problems re-opening Chrome and it automatically taking you to an error page or you experience other errors, like this:
- Login
- Select the PIV icon and enter your PIN
- Chrome and Edge - use the second certificate in the list and enter your pin.
- Choose the appropriate desktop you want to connect to.
- Download and open *.ica file
- Once the Windows logon screen launches, wait for the username and password screen to give you the “sign on options” prompt. Click that, choose the PIV icon, then enter your PIV PIN.
- You’re in! Work, do good things, then sign out when you’re done. Close your browser.
Things to be aware of:
Mac Citrix Workspace Uninstall
- Chrome and Edge may attempt to open the last site you went to based on the browser settings. To prevent this issue, please change this setting to open a New Tab page (preferred) or a specific page when you open a new browser window. If you continue to experience login issues, make sure you exit completely out of your browser (on Macs, click the Apple icon on MacOS's toolbar at the top, then choose 'force quit,' select your internet browser from the list, then click 'force quit.' If you don't see your browser in that list, you've already exited completely, so you can choose 'cancel.')