Hi Insiders! Russell Mosier and Bianca Taylor, from the Experiences + Devices team are excited to share an upcoming change to their remote assistance app, Quick Assist. Remote assistance with Quick Assist Quick Assist is an app in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that enables you to receive or provide assistance with your PC over a remote connection. The current built-in Quick Assist app is reaching end of service. To keep your remote assistance sessions secure, you will need to download the new Quick Assist from the Microsoft Store. How it works Select Start > Microsoft Store. In the Microsoft Store window, type Quick Assist in the Search box. Click Quick Assist in the list, and then click the Get button. Find out the rest here in the blog post! Cheers,Nathan Office Insider Community Manager Become an Office Insider and gaining exclusive access to new features and help shape the future of Office. Join Now: Windows | Mac | iOS | Android

How is this exciting news? This is a big problem for our company. The version of Quick Assist that came natively installed with Windows 10 was great because we could instantly provide assistance to anyone with Windows 10, regardless of whether it was their home computer or their work (domain-attached) computer. We could simply have them launch Quick assist and then give them a six-digit support code (Very simple).Not only does the new version require per-user installation from the Microsoft Store, but the installation requires admin rights. Yikes!Is there a mechanism for deploying the new version to all users on all machines? A simple GPO deployment would be preferred. Maybe an MSI could be made available? I am a one-man IT department managing roughly 70 Windows PCs and do not have any type of more sophisticated software deployment mechanism in place.I am hoping that some simple solution is in the works to replace what seemed like an ideal solution that has now been taken away. Thanks-paul

well, it was good while it lasted: Introduced with Windows 10. Gone before Windows 11 reaches 25% adoption.With Quick-Assist, we could deliver remote help to a near complete stranger. Usually someone just referred to us by an other client. To build trust, I usually begin by explaining that Quick-Assist is a Microsoft product, and in fact, it is part of Windows 10, already installed on your PC. Further, Windows even gave you a HotKey (Win+Ctrl+Q) to launch it. This is far more reassuring to security conscious users than "I need you to install something that lets me remotely control your computer".Microsoft needs to re-think this.Why can't Windows Update continue to maintain this feature?Why does the inbuilt Quick-Assist need to be eliminated so quickly? We only just learned of the change less than a month ago.If Microsoft insists, this will drive many to move back to 3rd party tools. Some will pay for proprietary solutions, making connections proxied through systems hosted by possibly trustworthy organizations (or not). Others will search out free tools, with obvious risks.

ps_alisto, Thanks for the warning.Echoing what Paul said: Best thing about the existing Quick Assist is that it's guaranteed to be on every Windows 10 computer, which means we don't have to walk someone through an installation over the phone, which always carries the risk that they will install an impostor (malicious) app.When someone is in need a remote assistance, IS NOT the time to be installing new software. What if their problem is a full system volume?Further, if we were involved with the users PC setup, they are almost certainly logged in as a Standard Local Account, and may not be able to install new apps.I came here looking for details about how Quick Assist is changing. Have searched high and low. Found only instructions to fetch new from app store. In App Store reviews, I see several experiencing trouble with new App. Why from App Store? Why not with Windows Updates? So far, I'm convinced we will stay with the old version.

Thanks for the reply. The article that you referenced indicates that "the Microsoft Store for Business and Microsoft Store for Education will be retired in the first quarter of 2023". It seems like the options described in the referenced article require deployment tools that we do not have in place. I may have to hire a consultant to explore those options. This is so frustrating. The native app just worked.Unfortunately in the case of business users, they cannot install the app themselves because it requires admin rights and we do not give users admin credentials. Isn't there a way to simply update the native Quick Assist feature through Windows Update? Alternatively (although less desirable)—If the MS Store version of the app were not user-specific, it might be far more practical to get it installed in advance.

Is there a mechanism for deploying the new version to all users on all machines? A simple GPO deployment would be preferred. Maybe an MSI could be made available?

Remote assistance with Quick Assist is changing

143 Replies

Enian_Rover
Copper Contributor
May 17, 2022
Can't it be updated via WinUpdate? Cause two biggest advantages of Quick Assist are that it's already built in and ease of use. Well, Quick Assist was great app, but farewell. Someone should teach Microsoft first rule of programming - If it works, don't touch it!
Nate_UK
Copper Contributor
May 17, 2022
Nathan_Pfeifer
This cannot be spun in any other way than purely negative.

Quick Assist was one of the better products/tools Microsoft had produced in recent years, and now in true Microsoft fashion, they're undoing that good work.

There's much this post fails to cover:
Since this will become a Store app, will it still be preinstalled on all versions of Windows similar to other Store apps, such as Mail, Calendar ect...
If so, will a future build or Windows Update, replace the version which currently exists? Windows Update is the only existing delivery method which would have permission to install this for user accounts which are not Administrators and non-Enterprise devices.
If users don't have auto updates enabled for the Store, will updates be provided through the next Windows build?
I have seen users with issues with the Windows store where they cannot download app updates or install new apps.
Following Microsoft articles and running the PowerShell commands doesn't fix the issue, and a clean install is needed (obviously the end user doesn't ever want to do this on their own equipment) - what fail safe will there be for situtations like this?
If the app isn't installed, or needs an update in order to be used, Quick Assist becomes completely useless. What is your plan?
joseph_mcglynn
Copper Contributor
May 17, 2022
Nathan

Is this April Fools or something?
Seriously, your replacing a working, in place, appropriate solution with a half baked 10 lines of difficult. (edited have to half)

Maybe if you told us what you've broken or what the security issue that you've just found is, it will make it a bit easier, but the App Store is a burning mess.

Seriously this is the equivalent of saying "to make a soufflé you mix some stuff, put it in a thing and wait a while" and then expect an amazing meal.

Why don't you try to involve everyone involved to put together the instructions on how to manage apps in Intune and the App Store, now and after you expire the app store.
Then go find out how to find, patch and update Store Apps when the are vulnerabilities found.
Then show us the next gen deployment of ms store apps.
Once you've wandered through that mess, I'll gladly use your detailed instructions on how to do it and share them with the end users in difficulty.

Or maybe you want me to redeploy SCCM and AOVPN to offer remote assistance that way.
- My1xT
  Copper Contributor
  May 17, 2022
  joseph_mcglynn well this has been what MS has been doing for a long time, like Win11 just randomly dropping things like the ability to move your taskbar onto a different side of your screen or choosing to not combine open windows of the same program, or the timeline feature, although none of these are as big as the removal of a well working quick assist tool.
Maddog351
Copper Contributor
May 17, 2022
Nathan_Pfeifer
To Whom It May Concern,

Please cancel this change ASAP.

Leave Quick Assist inbuilt and use Windows Updates to update.

I work for a major hospital in Australia, and we use Quick Assist all the time.

It will cause major headaches for users Working from Home.

Leave it.
DarkG
Copper Contributor
May 16, 2022
Thumbs Down!
AnthonyInVA
Copper Contributor
May 16, 2022
I just tested Quick Assist on a PC with a non-admin user and the old Quick Assist prompts to go to the MS Store page to download the new version. It does NOT require Admin rights to download and install. I was able to connect to that PC with the original version of Quick Assist without any problems. As long as the prompt in the old version stays available after the deadline, we should be okay.
- Martin_Mork
  Copper Contributor
  Jun 09, 2022
  What is this version that requires an 8 digit code? There doesn`t seam to be any documentation about it online.
  
  https://aka.ms/quickassistweb
  https://remoteassistance.support.services.microsoft.com/roleselection
Jim Fallon
Brass Contributor
May 16, 2022
Quick Assist is simply one of the best things that Windows has going for it, PLEASE make it attached to every install of Windows without the need of going to the store just to get it, it should be on EVERY Windows install by default.
Zsapi
Brass Contributor
May 16, 2022
The 2 biggest upsides of quick assist were that it was installed on every system by default, and the hotkey for it. I could just ask the user/family member/friend to press the key combo and start troubleshooting. This is going to add a significant amount of unnecessary hurdle, which is going to cost me days in the coming years. The worst part? I don't see any upsides to this change. Please rethink this approach if possible.
Thank you.
My1xT
Copper Contributor
May 16, 2022
I can just say big ouch.

like the old remote assistance tool never worked for me, then there was something that actually works even if it needs windows 10/11 and needs to be logged into an MS account every **bleep** time).

not only have others mentioned that local admin perms are needed for install which is annoying enough especially every literally everyone and their mother's remote support tool can work without admin in a limited fashion (as in no transmission of UAC/security page and no interaction with admin windows)

and some tools are even crazy enough to allow basically self elevation by supplying admin creds remotely and the user just clicking yes on a UAC prompt without needing to enter admin creds himself (which is pure heaven for the admin)

now people need to go onto the MS store which most people dont even really know about except it maybe existing. it might be easier for people to just go to a website and just download a different tool for remote support.
Joe_H5550
Copper Contributor
May 14, 2022
Nathan_Pfeifer

The only time I use Quick assist, is when I have to deal with office356 support.
We use Anydesk, err should i say admins and people in the know.
But it was nice to have an alternate option for users and customers that needed help.

MS really screwed up a good thing.
Why couldnt they just update it windows update. IM not going to install it on 50+ PCs.
Bye, bye Quick assist.

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Remote assistance with Quick Assist is changing

Remote assistance with Quick Assist

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