Meet the New ISL Light 5 (beta): A Side-by-Side Look at the New Toolbar

We’ve released ISL Light 5 (beta), introducing a redesigned toolbar with a cleaner layout and faster access to remote session tools. The new design improves usability and helps users navigate sessions more easily while keeping all existing functionality.

Along with the updated toolbar, ISL Light 5 includes several additional improvements. The Computers dashboard has been expanded with new columns such as Computer Name, Status, Last Online, Group Owner, Shares, and Tags. Persistent settings now allow user preferences to be saved across sessions. Mouse control has also been extended to support additional buttons including back, forward, and horizontal scroll. In addition, users can now view live session security details directly within the session.

Download ISL Light 5 (beta)

New Toolbar

In this blog post, we focus on the changes introduced with the new toolbar. The update focuses on making buttons easier to identify, organizing tools more clearly, and helping users navigate remote sessions more efficiently.

In the previous design, some features were difficult to locate, while others were overly prominent despite being used less frequently. The new layout addresses this by offering a more structured and balanced interface, based on user feedback and practical experience from real-world remote support sessions.

New Layout

The toolbar remains organized into three sections: left, center, and right. In the previous version the left and right sections contained only a single button each (Dashboards and Full Screen), while the center was densely populated with icon-only controls.

To create a more intuitive workflow, frequently used desktop controls are now grouped into three clearly structured menus: Session, View, and Tools.

One of the main usability challenges, recognizing icon-only buttons, has also been addressed. Key buttons such as “Session,” “Desktop,” “Files,” “View,” and “Tools” now include text labels, making their purpose easier to identify. The toolbar remains responsive: when space allows, buttons display text; when space is limited, they collapse into icons.

Additional refinements include:

• Chevron indicators (▾) on menu buttons for better predictability.
• Embedded icons within menus for faster scanning.
• Resized dropdown menus for improved readability.
• The left and right sections remain pinned, while the center section adjusts dynamically as the window width changes.

Left Section: Session, Desktop, and Files

The left section of the toolbar holds three primary menus: “Session”, “Desktop”, and “Files”. These menus provide streamlined access to essential session controls, enabling users to efficiently manage remote support and collaboration features.

“Session” menu (NEW)

The new “Session” button centralizes all session-related functionalities, regardless of whether sharing is active. It replaces the dedicated “Dashboard” button, which is now integrated into the “Session” menu. Additionally, “System Information” and “Start Recording” have been moved here, helping to declutter the center section and improve accessibility.

Former “Settings” menu items “Session Settings” and “Log” are now under “Session” menu. Options previously under the “Desktop” button, such as “Invite an Operator,” “Transfer Session,” “Connect via RDP/SSH,” “Pause Session,” and “End Session”—have been moved here.

To provide recording feedback, the Session icon changes to a Recording icon when recording is active.

“Desktop” menu

This button now contains options for “View Remote Desktop,” “Share My Screen,” “Request Control,” and “Stop Desktop Streaming.” Other previously included options have been relocated to the “Session” menu.

“Files” menu

The “Files” menu has been reorganized to improve accessibility. Since file transfers are frequently performed throughout a session, “Send Files” and “Receive Files” are now positioned at the top for quick access. “Open File Manager,” which is typically a one-time action that opens a separate window for managing files, has been moved to the bottom.

Center Section: Remote Desktop Controls

This area exposes icons for most common remote-desktop actions. It is visible only when viewing a remote desktop and remains hidden when desktop sharing is inactive. While the position of “Monitor” and “View” buttons remains unchanged, “Whiteboard Tools” have been grouped into a menu for a cleaner layout. Additionally, two labeled buttons, View and Tools, have been added for improved clarity.

“Monitors” buttons

This section remains unchanged, except for the “Open Each Monitor in Separate Window” option, which has been moved to the “View” menu. Since this option is typically used once at the start of a session, it no longer needs to be a persistent toolbar button.

“Scaling” buttons

This section remains unchanged, containing the “One-to-One Size” and “Fit to View” buttons.

“Whiteboard” menu (NEW)

The Pen, Arrow, and Eraser tools have been combined into a single menu instead of separate buttons. The menu now also includes clearing options: “Clear Manually,” “Clear Automatically in 5 Seconds,” and “Clear Automatically in 10 Seconds.” Previously, these options were only accessible via right-click on the “Clear All” button.

“View” menu (NEW)

A new “View” menu allows users to adjust “Quality,” “Screen Resolution,” “Select Region,” “Control Bar,” and “Toolbar” options, and “Open Monitors in Multiple Windows”.

“Tools” menu (NEW)

“Tools” menu still includes “Administrative mode”, “Quick Launch”, “Black Screen (Curtain)”, “Stream Remote Sound”, and “Set Unattended Access”, while also incorporating keyboard actions that were previously part of the “Keyboard” menu.

Right Section: Communication & Window Controls

This area is dedicated to communication and window controls such as chat, microphone, camera, and full screen option.

“Chat” button

The chat button has been moved from the center to the right section, grouping it with microphone and camera controls for better organization.

“Camera/Microphone” buttons (NEW)

Previously hidden inside the chat window, the “Camera/Microphone” buttons are now accessible from the toolbar, allowing users to start or manage their camera/microphone with a single click.
Please note that “Camera/Microphone” buttons are not available when connecting to “ISL AlwaysOn” (Unattended Access).

“Hide/Show Toolbar” button (NEW)

Previously, the “Hide/Show Toolbar” option was only available in “Full Screen” mode. Now, it is also accessible in “Window” mode. The function has been redesigned for manual control. Previously, if the toolbar was visible but not pinned, it would automatically hide on every desktop click, causing the screen to jump due to changes in canvas height. Now, users can manually show or hide the toolbar.

“Full Screen” button

The functionality and position remain unchanged, allowing users to expand the remote session to full-screen mode.

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Comparison: Old vs. New Toolbar

In the side-by-side comparison below, you’ll see exactly how each feature has been reorganised into the new menus for a more streamlined experience. We’ll walk through every icon and menu from the old toolbar and point you to its new home.              

Dashboard

The Dashboard button now lives inside the Session menu.

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Desktop Sharing

Five controls have shifted to the Session menu: Pause Session, Transfer Session, Invite an Operator, Connect via RDP/SSH, and End Session. All other Desktop items stay where they were.

Feature	Previous Location	New Location
View Remote Desktop	“Desktop” menu	No change (renamed to “View Desktop”)
Share my Screen	“Desktop” menu	No change (renamed to “Share Desktop”)
Stop Sharing	“Desktop” menu	No change (renamed to “Stop Desktop Streaming”)
Request Control	“Desktop” menu	No change
Pause Session	“Desktop” menu	“Session” menu
Transfer Session / Invite Operator	“Desktop” menu	“Session” menu
Connect via …	“Desktop” menu	“Session” menu (renamed to “Connect via RDP/SSH”)
End Session	“Desktop” menu	“Session” menu

—

Files

Inside the Files menu, the frequently used Send Files and Receive Files commands have been promoted to the top, while Open File Manager has been moved to the bottom for a tidier hierarchy.

Feature	Previous Location	New Location
File Manager	“Files” menu	No change (renamed to “Open File Manager”)
Eventlog	“Files” menu	No change
Send Files	“Files” menu	No change (reorder on top)
Receive Files	“Files” menu	No change (reorder on top)
Display Transfers	“Files” menu	No change

—

Chat

The Chat button has moved from the centre of the toolbar to the right-hand section, joining the microphone and camera controls so that all collaboration tools sit together in one convenient spot.

Feature	Previous Location	New Location
Chat	Toolbar (center)	Toolbar (right)

—

Monitors

All monitor-related buttons stay put; the only change is that Open Monitors in Multiple Windows has moved into the View menu.

Feature	Previous Location	New Location
Monitor 1	Toolbar	No change
Monitor 2	Toolbar	No change
Monitor 3	Toolbar	No change
All Monitors	Toolbar	No change
Open Multiple Windows	Toolbar	“View” menu

—

One-to-One / Fit to View

These two buttons are exactly where they were, and their behaviour is unchanged.

Feature	Previous Location	New Location
1:1 (scale one-to-one)	Toolbar	No change
Fit to View	Toolbar	No change

—

Whiteboard Tools

The Pen, Arrow, and Eraser tools now live in one streamlined dropdown, opening up space on the toolbar. The same menu now additionally offers three ways to clear your marks manually, or automatically after 5 or 10 seconds.

Feature	Previous Location	New Location
Marker	Toolbar	“Whiteboard” menu
Pointer	Toolbar	“Whiteboard” menu
Clear All	Toolbar	“Whiteboard” menu
Clear Manually	Right click “Clear” button	“Whiteboard” menu
Clear Automatically in 5 sec	Right click “Clear” button	“Whiteboard” menu
Clear Automatically in 10 sec	Right click “Clear” button	“Whiteboard” menu

—

Keyboard Tools

Every keyboard-related action has been consolidated into the Tools menu avoiding the overlap with the former Keyboard, Tools, and Settings buttons.

Feature	Previous Location	New Location
Remote / Local / Automatic Layout	“Keyboard” menu	“Tools > Keyboard Layout” menu
Ctrl + Alt + Del	“Keyboard” menu	“Tools” menu (reorder on top)
Win + L	“Keyboard” menu	“Tools” menu
Win + R	“Keyboard” menu	“Tools > Quick Launch” menu
Enable Clipboard	“Keyboard” menu	“Tools” menu
Print Screen	“Keyboard” menu	“Tools” menu (reorder on top)
Paste (simulate typing)	“Keyboard” menu	“Tools” menu (reorder on top)

—

System Information

The System Information option has been relocated to the Session menu.

—

Tools

The Tools menu still holds all its usual utilities. As highlighted above, every keyboard-related action now lives here too, while Select Region has been moved to the Desktop dropdown.

Feature	Previous Location	New Location
Administrative Mode	“Tools” menu	No change
Request Remote Sound	“Tools” menu	No change
Quick Launch	“Tools” menu	No change
Black Screen (Curtain)	“Tools” menu	No change
Select Region	“Tools” menu	“Desktop” menu (renamed to “Display Area”)
Set Unattended Access	“Tools” menu	No change

—

Start / Stop Recording

Recording controls have moved to the Session menu.

—

Settings

Most appearance and view preferences now reside in View, while session-specific options, Log and Session Settings have shifted to Session menu.

Feature	Previous Location	New Location
Quality Optimized / Speed Optimized	“Settings” menu	“View” menu
Quality	“Settings” menu	“View” menu (submenu items are renamed)
Screen Resolution	“Settings” menu	“View” menu
View Options	“Settings” menu	“View” menu
Toolbar	“Settings” menu	“View” menu
Show Control Bar	“Settings” menu	“View” menu
Desktop Driver	“Settings” menu	“View” menu
Log	“Settings” menu	Status Bar menu
Session Settings	“Settings” menu	“Session” menu (renamed to “Settings”)

—

End Session

The dedicated End Session command now lives in the Session menu. You can still close the session with your operating system’s window-close button.

Feature	Previous Location	New Location
End Session	Toolbar Button	“Session” menu or use native OS window “Close” button.

—

Show / Hide Toolbar

The Show / Hide Toolbar toggle is no longer full-screen-only; you can now use it in windowed mode for on-demand control over toolbar visibility.

—

Full Screen

The Full Screen button is still in its familiar spot.

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Conclusion

ISL Light 5 (beta) introduces a redesigned toolbar that simplifies navigation, improves feature discoverability, and keeps the most important controls close at hand. With structured menus, clearer grouping, and a more responsive layout, managing remote sessions is now faster and more intuitive.

Along with the redesigned toolbar, ISL Light 5 (beta) brings several additional improvements, including new columns in the Computers dashboard, persistent settings, and enhanced mouse control. Once ISL Light 5 is officially released, a complete overview of all updates will be available on the What’s New page.

Download ISL Light 5 (beta) and try the new toolbar.

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