Forum Discussion
MicrosoftRemote assistance with Quick Assist is changing
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
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.- Nathan_PfeiferAppreciate the note!
Understand the frustration of pushing a user to download the Store app to get a remote assistance app.
The nature of using remote assistance is that one of the parties is stuck and needs help – so it can be frustrating.
There is some underlying functionality, in how we currently have this set up, that needed to be adjusted that led to this.
That being said, this is time sensitive and sometime in mid-May the old version will no longer be usable.
Thanks for the feedback! It is being passed along, rest assured.
Nathan- 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.
- Nathan_Pfeifer
Hello Paul, and thanks for the question.
If accessing from the Store page that opens from the app prompt does not work – it is also available as an offline app for distribution and can be accessed via the Microsoft Store for Business. More details are here: Distribute offline apps (Windows 10) | Microsoft Docs
If this will also not work/be viable then we’d love to get some more details about your scenario if you’d like to provide that.
Thanks so much for the feedback!- 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. Hi Nathan,
I think the offline installer will work for getting this rolled out in my environment but I'm running into one big issue. How do we remove the old version of Quick Assist? No matter how I install this update, it leaves both versions installed. I can find no straightforward way to remove the out dated version.- Hi Nathan,
When I try to download the offline version using the link above I get the following error:
tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com normally uses encryption to protect your information. When Chrome tried to connect to tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com this time, the website sent back unusual and incorrect credentials. This may happen when an attacker is trying to pretend to be tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com or a Wi-Fi sign-in screen has interrupted the connection. Your information is still secure because Chrome stopped the connection before any data was exchanged.
You cannot visit tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com right now because the website uses HSTS. Network errors and attacks are usually temporary, so this page will probably work later.
And I am not able to download the package to deploy.
