# Access your desktop
<a name="access-desktop"></a>

To access a virtual desktop, choose the card for the desktop and connect using either the web or a DCV client.

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#### [ Web connection ]

Accessing your desktop through the web browser is the easiest method of connection.
+ Choose **Connect**, or choose the thumbnail to access your desktop directly through your browser.   
![\[Access virtual desktop through browser\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/res/latest/ug/images/res-accessdesktopbrowser.jpg)

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#### [ DCV connection ]

Accessing your desktop through a DCV client offers the best performance. To access via DCV:

1. Choose **DCV Session File **to download the `.dcv` file. You will need a DCV client installed on your system.   
![\[Virtual desktops\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/res/latest/ug/images/res-virtualdesktops.png)

1. For installation instructions, choose the **?** icon.   
![\[Access virtual desktop through DCV\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/res/latest/ug/images/res-accessdcvdesktop.jpg)

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