Abstract: Techniques for integrating the access to a virtual desktop with a local device's operating system (OS) are disclosed. Providing this integration enables a streamlined, highly convenient process for accessing the virtual desktop via the local device, thereby providing a “login-to-cloud” mode. The system displays a login screen, which is native to the system's OS. User credentials for the virtual desktop are received at the login screen. These credentials are used to identify the user and user's corresponding virtual desktop. A stream of an image of the virtual desktop is then received and displayed. Therefore, despite the virtual desktop residing in the cloud environment, the virtual desktop can still be directly accessed via the native login screen of the local device.