Techniques are described for file/folder redirection for virtual desktops using image scanning. A virtual desktop client establishes a web server on the client computing device. The virtual desktop client detects input requesting file/folder redirection and displays a QR code encoded with the IP address of the web server. A mobile device scans the QR code using a digital camera and launches a web browser to establish a connection with the web server. User input is entered on the mobile device, indicating one or more files/folders to be shared with the virtual desktop. The information identifying the selected files/folders is sent to the client computing device. The selected files/folders are registered with the virtual desktop and the virtual desktop locally mounts a corresponding folder. The client computing device receives file I/O operations from the virtual desktop and redirects the file I/O operations to the mobile device over a secured HTTP connection.