Windows App now available on all major platforms

[Hilary_Braun]

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.

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[Dhaval727]

Thanks for this initiative.

[Thomas10223]

Removing support for connecting to remote desktops on Windows. How is this better?

[meysq]

remote desktop functionality still exists. what are you even talking about

[vudarko]

Can you share the link for Android app, 

I couldn't be able to find on Google play

[Marc_Laf]

@meysq I think the reference is to the getting started page document at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-app/get-started-connect-devices-desktops-apps?tabs=windows...

If you say "Connecting to Remote PC" you can see that it's not available coming from a Windows platform. This looks like going from Windows App to another Windows machine via RDP is not supported.

[mcalef-controlup]

I have been using the pre release and enjoying it.

Will the release version allow plain RDP connections as well?

[Thomas10223]

Correct. The previous version allowed you to connect directly to PCs. That was removed from this.

[RobQ_MVP]

I'm in the UK, but the link to the Google Play Store app doesn't work... Also can't find Windows 365 if I search Google Play Store. Anyone else.? 

Update: I found the link here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.rdc.androidx.beta 

[edgerch]

Traditional RDP and Remote PC are extensively used yet, removing support for them especially on Windows Platform, is a surprising bad news... I hope the support for this is coming to the Windos Platform version in future releases, otherwise, please don't kill the Remote Desktop App from Microsoft Store.

[nick_armani03]

As other have stated the Microsoft app link for the Google Play store isn't working 

[Jake_Camp]

Windows App? What kind of name is that?

[wayne_crouch]

This is dumbest rebranding ever and has been extremely poorly communicated.  They might as well have called it "Useful Program" for all that "Windows App" tells you about what it does.  It took me far too long to work out that this was a legitimate app that I had installed under a completely different name and not some strange new malware that had been installed on my phone without my permission.  The RDP protocol can be used to connect to Linux systems using XRDP or any host OS via other products that I am not permitted to name due to the community rules of this forum.  This new name just adds confusion.

[trawg]

I've been battling some RDP issues lately so this release is interesting and timely.

I have a particular requirement that involves connecting to an RDP session that has NLA disabled. This works fine from my Windows machines but we have a significant ChromeOS deployment & the Android/ChromeOS Remote Desktop app/client does not seem to support connecting without NLA.

I realise the Android Windows App is still in preview but given it doesn't have the support/review options enabled in the Play Store I thought I'd drop a comment here - it'd be great if the Android version matched the functionality of Windows Remote Desktop & supported connecting without NLA.

[antoniusivanhan]

what programming language, it was written? JS React Native or .Net MAUI?

[bretthacker]

I use the Remote Desktop Client extensively, so this looked interesting. Installed it and get "It looks like your system administrator hasn’t set up any resources". I AM the system administrator, and I have no idea what's going on here. I have 15 RDP connections defined in the RDC. If you remove that, and don't give me the ability to connect to these machines going forward, I'll have to...revert to using Remote Desktop Connection client, one at a time?

I seriously don't understand Microsoft anymore.

[palandras]

Android link goes to  Play Store main page, search not finding this W. App. Fix it pls.

[Andr_TP]

When I sign in with my company account it tells me that my system administrator hasn't provided any ressources yet. I AM the system administrator and I have no idea how I can provide those ressources. Where is the admin side of this app?

[FViktor]

Link to Windows App on Google Play Store:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.rdc.androidx.beta

[G_Jongeneel]

I don't believe that Azure China is supported by Windows App. If that statement is correct, what is the roadmap for support? We have customers that need to support users over multiple regions, including Azure China. It would be nice to have one, consolidated client that would work for all regions. The lack of support for Azure China does not seem to be stated anywhere. Azure Virtual Desktop is available in Azure China, however. For the time being, I guess we have to access this region with the old (now legacy) clients?

[leoschroer]

@Andr_TP 
If you haven't deployed any Azure Virtual Desktops, Cloud PC's or whatsoever in your environment, you obviously won't see any available resources for your Entra ID account. However, it is possible to just add RDP servers manually, like in the old Remote Desktop client.

[Andr_TP]

@leoschroer Yea that's exactly what I can't do on the Windows version of the app. I can't add anything manually to it. I just tried the iOS app and in there I can add stuff manually. RDP would work if our phones had access to the client VLAN of our desktops. We don't have any cloud PCs to test though.

[RobQ_MVP]

@Heather_Poulsen  - updated Google Play link is here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.rdc.androidx.beta  - seen a few tweets on this and it seems to work. 

[Diaruemnus]

The Android version of the app still has the zoom/cursor offset bug when using a software keyboard from when they sunset RDP 8. That has been a severe usability bug for over three years now.

[leoschroer]

@Andr_TP 

Ah, I am working on a Mac, so I didn't know the Windows version doesn't have the option to manually add RDP hosts. The Mac version had this option for a long time, so for me it seems the only thing that changed, is the name of the app.

[RobQ_MVP]

So here we are with Windows 365 running on Samsung S24 phone connected to a TV screen via Samsung DEX - using Copilot in PowerPoint!!! Pretty Cool hey!
Windows 365 on Samsung S24 via Samsung DeX on TV

[Thomas10223]

@Andr_TP So had the windows client. Why would we switch to this when the existing one connects to both RDP and AVD resources already? All it does is make our user-facing documentation confusing because Mac users must use this app and Windows won't. Ironically, this concept of a unified app described here is actually less unified.

[Ahnaf_2013]

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ANDROID APP VERSION OF THIS APP:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.rdc.androidx.beta

[DavidW1580]

Windows App is the dumbest name for a program that I can think of.  Remote Desktop was a fine name, and the same name could have worked even after it (Remote Desktop) is able to work from iOS, Android, etc.  There is no need to give a very generic name like this.

It's like naming your local lake "Water Lake".  We could have called Windows App "Windows Program" for all the difference it makes.  I predict this name will be unpopular...

[Heather_Poulsen]

Thanks to everyone that provided the direct links to the apps in Google Play and the Apple App Store. We've updated the post!

[RobertJansen]

The link Apple App Store doesn't point to a MaOS app replacing Microsoft Remote Desktop.

Microsoft Remote Desktop has no in App upgrade possibility. Dear Heather,.. where is the corrected URL for the MAC App ?  Can't see it in this threade !?

[JADuke]

I'm not switching from my trusty Remote Desktop app…there's nothing that I've read that indicates that there's a transition path from Remote Desktop to this cluelessly named app.  If it doesn't import my configuration, it's a non-starter.  I'm not about the recreate all my connections just to please some yahoo at Micro$oft.

I'm on a Mac, but I don't see any colleague on Windows moving to clueless app either.

[nikita1996]

WHAT THE HECK!

Microsoft WHY you release app without RDP support on windows??? WHERE IS RDP SUPPORT?

[awanimran]

Hi Windows App Team,

Trying the App out . Added the IP address, Gateway as well. Its prmting me to put the Username and Password . Once this is done i get this erorr on my Iphone . Any reason you think this this happening . How can i get passed through this ?

[markeboyle]

You mentioned a new version, but the screenshot doesn't show it. I had 1.3.278 installed, and strangely, there's no update button in the Microsoft Store to check for newer versions. However, after running the program, it reports an upgrade is available and once I updated it reported version 2.0.285.0 installed on my Windows 11 PC. What version are others reporting?

[caihongxu]

Why does it require a school or work account to use this app?

[kevinsamson]

Hi everybody !

Got a question .. I have a Work account, but i have this message :

"It appears that your system administrator has not yet configured any resources for email address removed for privacy reasons. Please choose another account or try again. If you believe you have received this message in error, please contact your system administrator."

Is there something to do in the tenant admin ? Looks like there's somethin' missing :s

[leoschroer]

@kevinsamson

Do you have any Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts or Windows365 Cloud PCs published in your tenant, for your user account? If not, then there are indeed no resources configured for you.

[RobQ_MVP]

The Windows App doesn't - but the resources it accesses must be accessible on Work or School Devices. I use it on a personal device (Windows 11 Pro) - but connect my BYOD device to my work "Cloud PC".  

[RobQ_MVP]

@markeboyle I am seeing (updated today)
Windows App version 2.0.285.0
Client version 1.2.5625.0

[mike-wasowsky]

I have few points here 

• Why on earth call it with this generic name? Windows App? Really? This name fits to anything and means nothing!
• When I terminate my connection, and I get back to the main app, it seems to freeze for at least 10 seconds then it wakes up later. I have tested this on several computers, makes and models with the same results 

Thanks 

[DavidG-PDX]

Am I missing something here?  Like how to connect to local Domain windows systems?   That functionality is used by 100's of people here.   Or connect to our ESX cluster hosting Windows 10/11 workstations?

Where is the guidance for turning on access to those systems in this new Windows App (worst name ever)?

[JudahGabriel]

I read the post and assumed it could replace my usage of Remote Desktop and VNC.

I downloaded the Windows App on my Windows device, but I don't see any way to connect to one of my other devices by domain or IP. The Devices tab only shows virtual desktops and I have no use for those:

Is Windows App not meant to replace for Remote Desktop? If so, you should make that clearer in the post, which led me to believe it would supersede RDP. If there's some reason I cannot connect to my own devices (say, IT policy), there should be some explanation of that in the app. Because as it stands, this app looks useless for folks who use Remote Desktop or VNC on a daily basis.

[RDSH_MAD]

It's only a unified experience on competitor's platforms. On Windows you still need to use two apps to do you work on-prem and in the Cloud. Because you know, it's a hybrid future.  

[hemiustran]

The iOS and iPadOS editions of Windows App has no groups feature. I have been managing devices by groups for years and Windows App mix them all in one group named "Saved devices".

[lakshanperera]

Hello, I have been trying to figure this out forever, How do we deploy url/pc through intune ?

What would be the key, value and other details ? do we need to add as device configuration ?

I am trying to deploy to ios/iPadOS through intune.

Thank you.

[MatthewMcDonald_ews]

Has anyone found documentation for how to manage this app from an administrators POV, i.e. deploying it pre-configured with our Remote Desktop web URL to access published shared apps?  For iOS, that is.

[Doug-Griffin]

"Windows App"?   I can't wait for the "Who's on First" jokes. 

I want to install the Windows App. 

Which one?

The Windows app. 

You mean you want to install Windows? 

No, the Windows app.

Windows is an application.  You need to install Windows? 

Seriously guys.  You do know there already is an application named Windows, right?

[Marc_Laf]

@Doug-Griffin That's funny! I never thought about it that way but I just realized that maybe that's their angle. Seeing how this is clearly aimed at iOS, Mac, Linux, Android, it's clear that if you want to access Windows on those devices, you will need to install (not the OS Windows, but....drum roll...), the Windows App. Everything is remote, not local, so... there just might be a method to their madness.

[RDSH_MAD]

Don't even make that joke! 😉 That is exactly why the "Windows App" does not work for connecting to on-premises instances of Windows. I'm pretty ticked off about that fact. It wouldn't be so bad if the darn Remote Desktop app wasn't still the version from Windows 8.1. The built in mstsc.exe is not able to screen scale. If you look on Twitter there are all kinds of guys using script wrappers to solve the shortcomings of mstsc.exe. We're in a sad state of affairs connecting from Windows to Windows and MAC users are getting all the love and full support for connecting to Windows, cloud and on-prem! The cobbler's children have no shoes! 🤷‍:male_sign: