Update (2.14.2023): Beginning with the February 2023 cumulative quality update, users will no longer see a User Account Control (UAC) prompt when downloading and installing Quick Assist from the Microsoft Store. This can enable your users to download Quick Assist without administrator rights – something they couldn't do before.
Install the Windows 11 or Windows 10 December 2022 quality update for a seamless and improved Quick Assist experience! Whether you use the Microsoft Store app or the original app, you can help your clients, colleagues, family, and friends with their PC problems over a remote connection with Quick Assist. Let's quickly review Quick Assist as a client management tool, then show you how we've improved it and what you'll need to start using it today.
Quick Assist as a client management tool
Quick Assist is a Windows application that enables others to share their device with you over a remote connection. You may have used it to remotely connect to a client's or colleague's PC and then view their screen, make annotations, or take full control. It's a handy tool to troubleshoot, diagnose technical problems, and help people directly on their PC.
Quick Assist interface with two options: to get assistance and to give assistance.
How we've improved Quick Assist
Quick Assist has been helping clients, colleagues, family, and friends work together over a remote connection to fix PC problems for more than seven years. In June, we moved Quick Assist to the Microsoft Store to help improve performance and security. Starting with Windows 11, version 22H2, this version of the app is pre-installed in Windows and updated through the Store.
However, with this change, some of you couldn't install Quick Assist from the Store. If that's you, our December 2022 quality update is here to help! This release updates the original version of Quick Assist for the following versions of Windows:
- Windows 10, versions 20H2, 21H1, 21H2, and 22H2
- Windows 11, version 21H2
After you install the update, the original version of Quick Assist will have the same functionality that's in the Store app version. We'll release similar updates for Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) and Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB in the January 2023 quality update. And the best part? The original version of Quick Assist will continue to be supported for the duration of the lifecycle of the versions of Windows listed above.
Editor's note: The previous post incorrectly mentioned that the original version of Quick Assist would be updated for Windows 10 2016 Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB). However, we corrected this in the post because Quick Assist wasn't preinstalled on Windows 10 2016 LTSB. For versions of Windows that are still in service and had Quick Assist preinstalled, the January update will get the original version of Quick Assist running on your PC again.
How to start using Quick Assist
There aren't many prerequisites for Quick Assist. You don't need special roles, permissions, or policies. Whether you're the person helping or getting help, you need an internet connection and don't need to be on a network domain. The person helping must sign in with a Microsoft personal, work, or school account, while the person sharing their screen doesn't have to sign in.
With the December 2022 quality update, Quick Assist requires Microsoft Edge WebView2. How do you know if you already have it?
- If you use Windows 11 or the Microsoft Edge browser, WebView2 should already be installed. You're all set!
- If WebView2 isn't already installed, open Quick Assist. When you open Quick Assist the first time, WebView2 should be installed automatically.
- If you get an error message that WebView2 couldn't be installed, see Troubleshoot problems installing Quick Assist to try to fix things.
The December 2022 quality update also helps ensure that the correct version of Quick Assist opens when you use the Quick Assist keyboard shortcut, Windows logo key + Ctrl + Q. If the Store app isn't installed, the original version of Quick Assist will open.
Try Quick Assist today
Quick and easy! Install the December 2022 quality update today and enjoy this improved client management and support toolkit. To learn more, please see our official Quick Assist documentation:
- Use Quick Assist to help users
- Get the Quick Assist app from the Microsoft Store
- Troubleshoot problems installing Quick Assist
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