Editor's note 11.21.2024 – Windows App general availability for Android is coming soon. Follow this post for updates.
Editor's note 9.19.2024 – The screenshot in this post has been updated to show the Windows App experience now generally available. We have also updated the links to Windows App in Google Play and the Apple App Store.
We're excited to announce that, starting today, Windows App is generally available for Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and web browsers—and in public preview for Android. This unified app serves as your secure gateway to connect to Windows across Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Remote Desktop, Remote Desktop Services, Microsoft Dev Box, and more.
With Windows App, you can enjoy a unified experience that makes it simple for people to connect to the Windows experience they know and love from any device. Enhance productivity with features such as customizable home screens, multi-monitor support, and USB redirection. Windows App also offers advanced security features, including multifactor authentication, to ensure a seamless and robust connection and enable efficient work from any location, at any time.
Windows App: a unified gateway to Windows
Windows App provides a consistent, reliable experience for all devices, enabling secure access from any location. Whether you need to connect to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Remote Desktop, Remote Desktop Services, or Microsoft Dev Box, Windows App simplifies the process, allowing you to manage and utilize these resources from a single, intuitive app. Whether you are an IT administrator or an end user, Windows App provides immense value. IT admins benefit from enhanced security and streamlined management, while end users can tailor their experience to fit their personal workflows. Other benefits of Windows App include:
- Unified access: Manage and access multiple Windows services, including cloud PCs, virtual desktops, and local PCs, from a single, streamlined interface.
- Customizable experience: Personalize your interface with customizable home screens, multimonitor support, and dynamic display resolutions.
- Enhanced experience: Enjoy features such as device redirection, Microsoft Teams optimizations, and easy account switching for an efficient remote working experience.
We've been using Windows App through the private and public previews, and we were given the opportunity to submit recommendations for feature enhancements to ensure it has the functionality we need. During our recent go live, we received great feedback: it provides seamless access from any device and massively improves our end-user experience." -- Lee O'Connor, EUC Architect, Yorkshire Water Services Ltd.
Ready for a closer look at Windows App? Watch this short video:
What's new with Windows App?
With the general availability of Windows App, you'll see enhancements designed to make accessing and managing Windows resources even more seamless. These updates bring new features and improvements to your experience across all major platforms:
- Device and app actions: Simplify device management with a variety of integrated actions unique to supported solutions.
- Support for Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PCs: Enjoy extended compatibility for specialized use cases.
- In-app feedback: Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop users can easily provide feedback within the app.
- Account switcher for Microsoft Entra ID: iOS and macOS users can take advantage of easy account switching when using a Microsoft Entra account.
- Relayed Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Shortpath: Experience improved connectivity and performance for remote sessions. For more information, see Relayed RDP Shortpath for public networks now available.
These updates make Windows App a better tool for managing your Windows environment. Whether you work from a desktop or a mobile device, these capabilities will make an impact.
Windows App helps you manage your connected cloud PCs, virtual desktops, and local PCs from a single, streamlined interface."The new Windows App significantly saves onboarding time for new employees and reduces administration efforts of IT pros. All virtualized workplaces and apps can now be found at one centralized, familiar place.” -- Roman Kleyn, Head of Workplace Design, KRONES AG
“The cross-platform availability of the new Windows App unifies the end-user experience for all our employees and enables them to have the virtualized environment they need at their fingertips in the office, at home, and while traveling,” adds Kleyn.
Kleyn concludes, “Krones immediately started to evaluate and onboard first test users to the new Windows app at availability day one. Rolling it out widely for the enterprise was a no-brainer for us. From the beginning, we were fully convinced that the new unified experience will set a new standard for end-user experience in virtualized environments.”
Plan for change: transition to the new Windows App
With this general availability launch, users of Remote Desktop clients for Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and web will transition to Windows App.
Windows App is now available through the appropriate store for each client platform, ensuring a smooth update process. To prepare for the transition to Windows App, we recommend that if you're an IT admin you use the Windows App get started documentation to update internal processes and create guidance for your users and helpdesk teams. If moving users to Windows App is preferred, you can refer to the Windows App documentation for admins.
For more information, please visit What is Windows App?
Where to download Windows App
If you have a Windows device, you can easily download Windows App from the Microsoft Store. Or, if you prefer, you can access Windows App directly through your web browser, offering seamless connectivity without the need to install software.
You can also download Windows App from the Apple App Store (for macOS and iOS) or from Google Play (for Android). For specifics on supportability for each platform, see Compare Windows App features across platforms and devices.
Continue the conversation. Find best practices. Bookmark the Windows Tech Community, then follow us @MSWindowsITPro on X and on LinkedIn. Looking for support? Visit Windows on Microsoft Q&A.
Microsoft
