---
title: "Set up URL handlers in AnyDesk"
slug: "url-handler"
tags: ["Remote Access", "URL handlers"]
updated: 2026-02-03T07:06:39Z
published: 2026-02-03T07:06:39Z
---
> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.anydesk.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Set up URL handlers in AnyDesk
> [!NOTE]
> **Relevant for:**Admin, IT agent
>
> **Platform:**Windows, macOS (6.3.1+), and Linux
You can use URL handlers to automatically launch AnyDesk actions such as starting a connection or registering a license key.
They are particularly useful for IT administrators and support teams who manage remote access or automate deployments.
> [!TIP]
> 💡 **NOTE**
>
> AnyDesk must be **installed** on your device for URL handlers to work.
---
## Client types
The URL format depends on which type of AnyDesk client you’re using.
- **Standard clients**
These are the default AnyDesk clients downloaded from the official AnyDesk [website](http://anydesk.com/downloads).
They use the default format and are not customized through [my.anydesk](http://my.anydesk.com/v2).
- **Custom clients**
Created and configured in [my.anydesk I](http://my.anydesk.com/login) (legacy) or the newer [my.anydesk II](http://my.anydesk.com/v2) customer portal..
They can include a custom prefix or be distributed as MSI installers for managed environments.
---
### Start a remote session
You can embed AnyDesk links in web pages or internal dashboards. When clicked, AnyDesk opens and starts a connection to the specified ID or alias.
```xml
Connect to AnyDesk
```
---
#### Standard clients
```plaintext
anydesk:
```
**Example:** `anydesk:123456789`
---
#### Custom clients
**Non-MSI custom clients**
```ruby
anydesk-:
```
**Example:**`anydesk-abc12345:123456789`
**MSI custom clients (Windows only)**
```php-template
anydesk:AnyDesk-_msi:
```
**Example:**`anydesk:AnyDesk-abc12345_msi:123456789`
---
#### Initiate sessions from my.anydesk
You can also use this feature directly in the [my.anydesk](http://my.anydesk.com/v2):
1. Go to the **Clients** tab.
2. Select the client you want to connect to.
3. Click **Connect** to launch a session using a URL handler.
> [!CAUTION]
> 🚨 **IMPORTANT**
>
> URL handlers in the management console work only with the **standard AnyDesk client** downloaded from our [official website](https://anydesk.com/downloads).
---
#### Example use case
If you use a web-based support dashboard, you can collect customer AnyDesk IDs through a form. These IDs can be automatically converted into clickable AnyDesk URLs. When an IT agent clicks the link, AnyDesk opens and starts the session immediately, no need to manually enter the ID.
**Example:**`anydesk:AnyDesk-abc12345_msi:123456789`
---
### **Register a license key**
You can register an AnyDesk license using URL handlers, either silently or with a visible success message.
This feature is available in:
- **Windows:** AnyDesk 9.0.0 and newer
- **macOS:** AnyDesk 9.0.2 and newer
- **Linux:** AnyDesk 7.0.0 and newer
The license key can be found in your [my.anydesk.com](https://my.anydesk.com/v2/license) customer portal.
```xml
Register license key to AnyDesk
```
To process the license registration silently, add `&silent` to the end of the URL handler.
```xml
Silently register license key to AnyDesk
```
---
#### Standard clients
```plaintext
anydesk://register-license?key=
```
**Example:** `anydesk://register-license?key=ABCD123456`
---
#### Custom clients
**Non-MSI custom clients**
```ruby
anydesk-://register-license?key=
```
**Example:**`anydesk-abc12345://register-license?key=ABCD123456`
**MSI custom clients (Windows only)**
```php-template
anydesk:AnyDesk-_msi://register-license?key=
```
**Example:**`anydesk:AnyDesk-abc12345_msi://register-license?key=ABCD123456`
## Related
- [my.anydesk](/myanydesk-portal.md)
- [Create a custom client](/create-custom-client.md)