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Azure Virtual Desktop Blog
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Migrate from Azure Virtual Desktop Preview app to Windows App

Hilary_Braun's avatar
Hilary_Braun
Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
Nov 20, 2024

Starting November 27, 2024, the Azure Virtual Desktop Preview app from the Microsoft Store will no longer be available for download or installation. Users of the Azure Virtual Desktop Preview app need to transition to Windows App.

Azure Virtual Desktop customers will continue to receive support for the Azure Virtual Desktop Preview app until it reaches end of support on December 27, 2024. After that date, it will no longer be eligible for support and won’t receive security or feature updates.

Recommended action

Current users of the Azure Virtual Desktop Preview app from the Microsoft Store should start transitioning to Windows App.  IT admins can help inform and migrate end users in their organizations with the following recommendations:

  • For frictionless migration to Windows App, we recommend that users select the “Try the Windows App” toggle in the Azure Virtual Desktop Preview app, below the title bar.

  • To transition to Windows App, we recommend reading Get started with Windows App to connect to desktops and apps to update your internal processes and create guidance for your users and help-desk teams.
  • To identify the clients your users connect with, you can monitor Azure Virtual Desktop client version usage with Azure Virtual Desktop Insights. For more information, see Client version usage.
  • After your users transition to Windows App, you can uninstall the Azure Virtual Desktop Preview app from Windows devices. For methods to perform these actions, visit Uninstall your apps and Remove Apps to determine the option best suited to how you manage your apps.

Help and support

If you have general questions, ask community experts in Microsoft Q&A. If you have a support plan and you need technical help, open the Azure portal and select the question mark icon at the top of the page.

Stay up to date! Bookmark the Azure Virtual Desktop Tech Community.

Updated Nov 19, 2024
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updates
  • raymondesray's avatar
    raymondesray
    Iron Contributor
    Nov 21, 2024

    IMHO Windows App is not yet a full replacement for the Remote Desktop Client or the AVD Preview Client. Why? Because of essential shortcomings. 
    No integration with local start menu; A lot of my customers use AVD to publish RemoteApp applications, moving away from VPN's. Providing a seamless experience from Start Menu is added value for the user. As long as this functionality is lacking in Windows App, customers won't shift to Windows App in RemoteApp usecases.

    Private Link not supported; Usecases with specific requirements to regulate connectivity to AVD session hosts. With new technology on connectivity, you still need the Remote Desktop client. 

    ADFS not supported; Many organizations are still trying to move away from complex ADFS authentication infrastructure to Password Hash Sync or other EntraID authentication option. But many organizations have specific authentication requirements to stick with ADFS or similar form of federated authentication. With Windows App that fits seamlessly in Windows 11 fresh user experience, cannot support ADFS? 

    Windows App released to early? Or are above features under construction for Windows App? 

     

  • Timlowenna's avatar
    Timlowenna
    Copper Contributor
    Dec 10, 2024

    Please help. we have just started down the road of moving avd users over to a physical entra id laptop that as soon as they sign in loads up their W365 cloud pc. however now, at the laptop log in screen we see a message that says "this device can't connect to Cloud PCs. an admin needs to install a required app". It does have the windows app installed