Improper AVD Host Decommissioning – A Practical Governance Framework
Hi everyone, After working with multiple production Azure Virtual Desktop environments, I noticed a recurring issue that rarely gets documented properly: Improper host decommissioning. Scaling out AVD is easy. Scaling down safely is where environments silently drift. Common issues I’ve seen in the field: Session hosts deleted before drain completion Orphaned Entra ID device objects Intune-managed device records left behind Stale registration tokens FSLogix containers remaining locked Defender onboarding objects not cleaned Host pool inconsistencies over time The problem is not technical complexity. It’s lifecycle governance. So I built a structured approach to host decommissioning focused on: Drain validation Active session verification Controlled removal from host pool VM deletion sequencing Identity cleanup validation Registration token rotation Logging and execution safety I’ve published a practical framework here: The framework is fully documented and includes validation logic and logging. https://github.com/modernendpoint/AVD-Host-Decommission-Framework The goal is simple: Not just removing a VM — but preserving platform integrity. I’m curious: How are you handling host lifecycle management in your AVD environments? Fully automated? Manual? Integrated with scaling plans? Identity cleanup included? Would love to hear how others approach this. Menahem Suissa AVD | Intune | Identity-Driven Architecture
RemoteApp for Word/Excel with Google Drive
I want to set up RemoteApp so users can use Word and Excel remotely. At the same time, I want them to be able to access and save files directly from Google Drive within those apps. We currently only have 3 users who need this, but we plan to expand in the future. What’s the best way to do this? Do I need a specific setup, plugin, or service to make Google Drive work seamlessly with Word/Excel in a RemoteApp environment?Need Help: Shortpath Drops & RDstack error in AVD
I’m seeing persistent AVD connection issues and would appreciate guidance. Frequent ShortpathTransportNetworkDrop (68) and ShortpathNetworkDrop (16644) errors GetInputDeviceHandlesError (4463) US based users and hostpool/sessionhost Users experience instability and degraded performance
Mouse Click Offset Issue in Azure Virtual Desktop App on Windows 11 with Dual Monitors
We are experiencing a recurring mouse misalignment issue when using the Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) Windows App on several Windows 11 clients. The problem occurs on devices with two external monitors and affects multiple users. Environment Windows version: 10.0.26200.6899 (Windows 11, 25H2) AVD Windows App: mainly version 2.0.757.0, some clients are on slightly different versions Hardware: Windows 11 PCs with two external monitors Display settings: both monitors at 1920x1080, 100% scaling Mac users (using the AVD app) report no issues Issue description The visual mouse pointer and the actual click position become misaligned inside the AVD RemoteApp session. For example, clicking on one item may select the item below it. This appears to be a rendering or coordinate-mapping issue within AVD when running inside the Windows App. Temporary workaround Minimizing the AVD window and then maximizing it immediately resolves the issue. This refresh/redraw action realigns the pointer and click coordinates. Questions Has anyone else seen mouse click offset issues in the AVD Windows App on Windows 11 25H2 with dual-monitor configurations? Are there known fixes, configuration adjustments, or recommended workarounds beyond the minimize/maximize redraw?
AVD RemoteApp disconnects after sleep — any way to mimic Citrix Session Reliability?
In Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), whenever my laptop goes into sleep/hibernate and I wake it up, my RemoteApp disconnects and throws an error. With Citrix, the session stays “alive” because of Session Reliability, but AVD doesn’t seem to handle this the same way. I’ve already set session timeouts and keep-alive settings via RDP properties/GPO, but the problem isn’t policy-related — it’s triggered by the local device going to sleep and dropping the network. I have full permissions to configure and manage host pools, session hosts, and RDP properties. Is there any way to mimic Citrix’s behavior (Session Reliability / seamless resume) so users don’t get disconnected after sleep? Or is this simply a limitation of the AVD client?
Windows App Application Protection Policy
I have been testing out an Intune MAM policy to restrict copy/paste and drive redirection to AVD session hosts based on the link here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-app/require-device-security-compliance-intune?tabs=web#related-contentHowever, I've run into problems (in two separate tenants) that have halted me from being able to test. Setup Intune App Protection Policy targeting Windows Devices & Microsoft Edge\ Conditional Access Policy enforcing App Protection Policy when users access 'Azure Virtual Desktop' target resource via https://windows.cloud.microsoft.com Results First When signing into a user account targeted by the policy, they are prompted to Switch Edge Profile which signs in the user to a new Edge profile for 'Work or School Account'. The account has to sign in again. The account can access Windows App resources When launching a desktop session, this authentication page pops up for an account "local@debugonly" Second When signing into a user account targeted by the policy, they are prompted to Switch Edge Profile which signs in the user to a new Edge profile for 'Work or School Account'. The account has to sign in again. After sign in, the account loops with 'Switch Edge Profile' and gets stuck here I'm curious if anyone has gotten this to work and what was your setup? Or if Microsoft or provide some assistance or if this is in the wrong forum, any help would be appreciated.TURN relay regional expansion for Azure Virtual Desktop
TURN (Traversal Using Relays around NAT) enables devices behind firewalls to establish reliable UDP connections. With RDP Shortpath for public networks, TURN acts as a fallback when a direct UDP-based connection isn’t possible—ensuring low-latency, high-reliability remote desktop sessions. Starting June 15, 2025, we are launching a dedicated TURN relay IP range across the Microsoft Azure public cloud. This new range—51.5.0.0/16—enhances RDP Shortpath connectivity and delivers faster, more reliable performance for Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 users in 40 regions worldwide. For the full list of supported regions and guidance on how to plan for this change, read the full announcement: Expanded TURN relay regions for Windows 365 and Azure Virtual DesktopAVD on Azure Local: Increase memory of Sessionhosts after Hostpool deployment
Hi there, Is there a best practice for increasing the RAM of the session hosts in an Azure Virtual Desktop host pool? We are using the autoscaler to start and stop VMs on demand. Since this is an automated process, all the settings changed via HyperV-Manager get overwritten, presumably by the host pool template. Can someone confirm that I am on the right track and maybe give me a hint or a how-to on how to change the RAM for my session hosts? Hostpool Type: Pooled Uses Session Host Config: No Thanks in Advance, MaikMicrosoft Technical Takeoff: Windows + Intune
Welcome to the third installment of the Microsoft Technical Takeoff for Windows and Microsoft Intune! This free, virtual skilling event offers prescriptive, technical deep dives and panel-based discussions to help you feel prepared and confident in deploying and managing devices, apps, and experiences from client to cloud! Experts from the Windows, Windows 365, Intune, Azure Virtual Desktop, and security teams answer your questions live during the sessions and throughout the week. This event is all about getting you the information and skills you need to be successful! Monday, March 3, 2025 - now on demand! Let's talk Windows and Intune: 2025 edition Enhance and supercharge IT management with Copilot in Intune The hottest way to update Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 The path ahead: The roadmap for Windows in the cloud Achieving update harmony through unified update management Intune 'fast lane' - Let's talk about all things latency Untangling this thing called AI in a Windows ecosystem Understanding security and management on Windows 365 Link Unlocking productivity on the frontline with Windows 365 From admin to standard user with Endpoint Privilege Management Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - now on demand! Managing macOS updates in Intune Windows Autopatch: Your playbook for advanced update management Unified security: Intune + Microsoft Defender for Endpoint AMA: Microsoft Application Management for Windows Effective prompt engineering for IT pros Utilize, configure, and manage Cloud PKI like a pro Skill up! Cloud PC management and reporting Get to know Windows security and resiliency in the cloud Windows 11 kiosks: Cloud management for the win Wednesday, March 5, 2025 - now on demand! Enabling accessible Windows 11 experiences: an IT pro's guide Never trust, always verify: Tips for Zero Trust with Intune Data protection with hardware-based security and Windows 11 Best practices for Windows Autopilot and device preparation Intune data platform and Advanced Analytics Enhancing resiliency with Windows 365 How to protect your administrator users on the device Delivering like-local Windows experiences from the cloud Deploying Microsoft Connected Cache for Enterprise at scale Secure corporate data and privacy with Win32 app isolation Thursday, March 6, 2025 - now on demand! Azure Virtual Desktop app management Azure Virtual Desktop hostpool management at scale Device management for the frontline: Intune to the rescue The latest and greatest in the world of Windows LAPS AMA: Cloud native with Microsoft Intune Secure helpdesk support using Intune Remote Help Enterprise Application Management with Microsoft Graph Windows cloud migration and deployment best practices Windows 10 EOS: Myths, misconceptions, and FAQs The full agenda Here is a day-by-day look at the 2025 session grid, which was available for download.
