A method of connecting to a remote virtual application is carried out at a remote desktop client. The steps of the method include transmitting a request for virtual application connection information, receiving, in response to the request, a path to an executable file, a name or identifier of a remote display protocol, and an indication of a protocol configuration associated with a first virtual application, and causing the executable file for the first virtual application to be launched in a virtual computing instance and accessing the first virtual application using the remote display protocol and the protocol configuration.