A method includes transmitting, from a virtual desktop client operating in a hypertext markup language (HTML) based browser application running on a client device to a remote virtual desktop agent on a server, a command to copy a file. In response to receiving the command to the copy the file, receiving, at the client device, a path from the remote virtual desktop agent, where the path is used to identify a location of the file to a web server. The method includes receiving, at the client device, a command from a user to paste the file. In response to this command, the method includes transmitting, from the virtual desktop client on the browser application on the client device, a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) command to the web server to retrieve the file. The method also includes receiving, at the client device, the file from the web server.