Start VM on connect enters GA

Chandu_P
This is valid for Personal and Pooled Desktops as well. Pls refer to the docs page https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/start-virtual-machine-connect

This feature doesn't affect the installed software when you shutdown/deallocate the VM. It only allows you to start the VMs on demand. The user's data stored under C:\users\{username} is persistent for Personal Desktops. For Pooled Desktops, you'll be using FSLogix to store user profiles in an external file share like Azure Files or Azure NetApp Files.

JacobSteentoft: see the FAQ section in our documentation. You will find on Techcommunity tools that use them as well and provide functionality on top.

Have you seen this Jacob? https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/azure-virtual-desktop/deallocate-vm-on-user-logoff/m-p/2280211

Just to clarify shutting down the VMs won't save you the money. You need to make sure the VMs are deallocated. That's why you need to use Azure REST APIs provided in the above blog to save on compute costs.