Get started with Windows App to connect to devices and apps

Important

Windows App is currently in PREVIEW. This information relates to a prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it's released. Microsoft makes no warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Tip

Select what you want to connect to using the buttons at the top of this article.

Windows App securely connects you to Windows devices and apps on a device of your choice from:

  • Azure Virtual Desktop
  • Windows 365
  • Microsoft Dev Box
  • Remote Desktop Services
  • Remote PC

Windows App is available on Windows, macOS, iOS and iPadOS, and web browsers. To learn more about Windows App, see What is Windows App?

The following table shows what you can connect to and from:

Connect to/from Windows macOS iOS/iPadOS Web browser
Azure Virtual Desktop
Windows 365
Microsoft Dev Box
Remote Desktop Services
Remote PC

Important

You can connect to Remote Desktop Services and a remote PC with Windows App on macOS or iOS/iPadOS, but Microsoft doesn't currently support these connections.

This article shows you how to get started with Windows App on each platform. Make sure you select what you want to connect to using the buttons at the top of this article before continuing.

Prerequisites

Select a tab for the platform you're using.

Before you can connect to your devices and apps from Windows, you need:

  • Internet access.

  • Your user account, and you're assigned devices or apps by your administrator.

  • A device running a supported version of:

    • Windows 11
    • Windows 10

Before you can connect to your Cloud PC from Windows, you need:

  • Internet access.

  • Your user account, and you're assigned a Cloud PC by your administrator.

  • A device running a supported version of:

    • Windows 11
    • Windows 10

Before you can connect to your dev box from Windows, you need:

  • Internet access.

  • Your user account, and you're assigned a dev box by your administrator.

  • A device running a supported version of:

    • Windows 11
    • Windows 10

Before you can connect to your devices and apps from macOS, you need:

  • Internet access.

  • Your user account, and you're assigned devices or apps by your administrator.

  • Connection details for Remote Desktop Services from your administrator. You either need to use your email address or a URL.

  • A device running macOS 12.0 or later.

Before you can connect to a remote PC from macOS, you need:

  • Network connectivity to the remote PC.

  • Credentials for the remote PC.

  • A device running macOS 12.0 or later.

Connect to your devices and apps

Select a tab for the platform you're using.

To connect to your devices and apps from Azure Virtual Desktop on Windows, follow these steps:

  1. Download and install Windows App in the Microsoft Store. When Windows App is installed, open it.

    Tip

    Windows App replaces the Windows 365 app in the Microsoft Store. If you already have the Windows 365 app installed, make sure you've updated to the latest version, then change the Preview toggle to on. The app and restarts and is renamed and branded Windows App. Once you enable the preview, if you toggle back to the Windows 365 experience, the icon and name in Start menu, Windows taskbar, and your list of installed apps is still called Windows App.

    A screenshot showing the preview toggle on for Windows App on Windows with Azure Virtual Desktop.

  2. Select Sign in and sign in with your user account. If you're signed in to your local Windows device with a work or school account on a managed device, you're signed in automatically.

    A screenshot showing the welcome tab for Windows App on Windows with Azure Virtual Desktop.

  3. If it's your first time using Windows App, navigate through the tour to learn more about Windows App, then select Done, or select Skip.

  4. From the Home tab, select Go to devices or Go to apps (depending on which you have access to).

    A screenshot showing the home tab for Windows App on Windows with Azure Virtual Desktop.

  5. You'll see your devices and apps from Azure Virtual Desktop, along with any other remote resources you have access to. If you don't see any devices or apps, contact your administrator. Find the device or app you want to connect to. You can use the filters to help you find what you want to connect to.

    A screenshot showing the devices tab for Windows App on Windows with Azure Virtual Desktop.

  6. Select Connect. Once the connection to your device or app is complete, you're ready to start using it. You might be prompted to enter the password for your user account again, depending on how your administrator configures Azure Virtual Desktop.

Tip

You can pin your favorite devices and apps to the Home tab for quick access. To learn more, see Device and app actions in Windows App.

Provide feedback

You can provide feedback about Windows App using Feedback Hub, which is installed on Windows by default, whether you want to make a suggestion or report a problem.

To easily provide feedback:

  1. Open Windows App.

  2. Select the Feedback tab. Feedback Hub automatically opens and shows all feedback provided for Windows App on Windows. You need to be signed in to Feedback Hub to provide feedback.

  3. Select Give new feedback, then complete the form.

  4. Once you've completed the form, select Submit. Feedback you post is public.

Connect to your Cloud PC

Select a tab for the platform you're using.

To connect to your Cloud PC from Windows 365 on Windows, follow these steps:

  1. Download and install Windows App in the Microsoft Store. When Windows App is installed, open it.

    Tip

    Windows App replaces the Windows 365 app in the Microsoft Store. If you already have the Windows 365 app installed, make sure you've updated to the latest version, then change the Preview toggle to on. The app and restarts and is renamed and branded Windows App. Once you enable the preview, if you toggle back to the Windows 365 experience, the icon and name in Start menu, Windows taskbar, and your list of installed apps is still called Windows App.

    A screenshot showing the preview toggle on for Windows App on Windows with Windows 365.

  2. Select Sign in and sign in with your user account. If you're signed in to your local Windows device with a work or school account on a managed device, you're signed in automatically.

    A screenshot showing the welcome tab for Windows App on Windows with Windows 365.

  3. If it's your first time using Windows App, navigate through the tour to learn more about Windows App, then select Done, or select Skip.

  4. From the Home tab, select Go to devices to see your Cloud PCs from Windows 365, along with any other remote resources you have access to. If you don't see any Cloud PCs, contact your administrator.

    A screenshot showing the home tab for Windows App on Windows with Windows 365.

  5. Find the Cloud PC you want to connect to, then select Connect. You can use the filters to help you find what you want to connect to.

    A screenshot showing the devices tab for Windows App on Windows with Windows 365.

  6. Once the connection to your Cloud PC is complete, you're ready to start using it.

Tip

You can pin your favorite Cloud PCs to the Home tab or the Windows taskbar for quick access. To learn more, see Device and app actions in Windows App.

Provide feedback

You can provide feedback about Windows App using Feedback Hub, which is installed on Windows by default, whether you want to make a suggestion or report a problem.

To easily provide feedback:

  1. Open Windows App.

  2. Select the Feedback tab. Feedback Hub automatically opens and shows all feedback provided for Windows App on Windows. You need to be signed in to Feedback Hub to provide feedback.

  3. Select Give new feedback, then complete the form.

  4. Once you've completed the form, select Submit. Feedback you post is public.

Connect to your dev box

Select a tab for the platform you're using.

To connect to your dev box from Microsoft Dev Box on Windows, follow these steps:

  1. Download and install Windows App in the Microsoft Store. When Windows App is installed, open it.

    Tip

    Windows App replaces the Windows 365 app in the Microsoft Store. If you already have the Windows 365 app installed, make sure you've updated to the latest version, then change the Preview toggle to on. The app and restarts and is renamed and branded Windows App. Once you enable the preview, if you toggle back to the Windows 365 experience, the icon and name in Start menu, Windows taskbar, and your list of installed apps is still called Windows App.

    A screenshot showing the preview toggle on for Windows App on Windows with Microsoft Dev Box.

  2. Select Sign in and sign in with your user account. If you're signed in to your local Windows device with a work or school account on a managed device, you're signed in automatically.

    A screenshot showing the welcome tab for Windows App on Windows with Microsoft Dev Box.

  3. If it's your first time using Windows App, navigate through the tour to learn more about Windows App, then select Done, or select Skip.

  4. From the Home tab, select Go to devices to see your dev boxes from Microsoft Dev Box, along with any other remote resources you have access to. If you don't see any dev boxes, contact your administrator.

    A screenshot showing the home tab for Windows App on Windows with Microsoft Dev Box.

  5. Find the dev box you want to connect to, then select Connect. You can use the filters to help you find what you want to connect to.

    A screenshot showing the devices tab for Windows App on Windows with Microsoft Dev Box.

  6. Once the connection to your dev box is complete, you're ready to start using it.

Tip

You can pin your favorite dev boxes to the Home tab or the Windows taskbar for quick access. To learn more, see Device and app actions in Windows App.

Provide feedback

You can provide feedback about Windows App using Feedback Hub, which is installed on Windows by default, whether you want to make a suggestion or report a problem.

To easily provide feedback:

  1. Open Windows App.

  2. Select the Feedback tab. Feedback Hub automatically opens and shows all feedback provided for Windows App on Windows. You need to be signed in to Feedback Hub to provide feedback.

  3. Select Give new feedback, then complete the form.

  4. Once you've completed the form, select Submit. Feedback you post is public.

Connect to your devices and apps

Select a tab for the platform you're using.

To connect to your devices and apps from Remote Desktop Services on macOS, follow these steps:

  1. Download and install Windows App for macOS by going to Windows App in TestFlight or Windows App in App Center and following the steps. When Windows App is installed, open it.

    Note

    During the preview, if you choose to use TestFlight from Apple, keep in mind there is a capacity limit. Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're accepted into the preview from TestFlight, we might not be able to accommodate your availability for its full duration. As spaces are limited, we rotate participants to reach a wider testing audience. We rotate a subset of participants on the 2nd and 4th Monday at 7 PM PST each month, so if there's not capacity now, please check back.

  2. Select Connect using a URL.

    A screenshot showing the welcome tab for Windows App on macOS with Remote Desktop Services.

  3. In the box that appears, enter your email address or the URL your administrator gave you to connect to Remote Desktop Services, then select Add.

    A screenshot showing the add workspace tab for Windows App on macOS with Remote Desktop Services.

  4. Sign in with your user account.

  5. If it's your first time using Windows App, navigate through the tour to learn more about Windows App, then select Done, or select Skip.

  6. From the Home tab, select Go to devices or Go to apps (depending on which you have access to) to see your devices and apps from Remote Desktop Services, along with any other remote resources you have access to. If you don't see any devices or apps, contact your administrator.

    A screenshot showing the home tab for Windows App on macOS with Remote Desktop Services.

  7. Find the device or app you want to connect to, then select Connect. You can use the filters to help you find what you want to connect to. You might be prompted to enter the password for your user account again, depending on how your administrator configures Remote Desktop Services.

    A screenshot showing the devices tab for Windows App on macOS with Remote Desktop Services.

  8. Once the connection to your device or app is complete, you're ready to start using it.

Tip

You can pin your favorite devices and apps to the Home tab for quick access. To learn more, see Device and app actions in Windows App.

Provide feedback

You can provide feedback about Windows App using TestFlight, whether you want to make a suggestion or report a problem.

To easily provide feedback:

  1. Open the TestFlight app on your device.

  2. Select Windows App in the apps list.

  3. Select Send Beta Feedback, then complete the form.

  4. Once you've completed the form, select Submit. Feedback you post isn't anonymous.

Connect to a remote PC

Select a tab for the platform you're using.

To connect to a remote PC on macOS, follow these steps:

  1. Download and install Windows App for macOS by going to Windows App in TestFlight or Windows App in App Center and following the steps. When Windows App is installed, open it.

    Note

    During the preview, if you choose to use TestFlight from Apple, keep in mind there is a capacity limit. Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're accepted into the preview from TestFlight, we might not be able to accommodate your availability for its full duration. As spaces are limited, we rotate participants to reach a wider testing audience. We rotate a subset of participants on the 2nd and 4th Monday at 7 PM PST each month, so if there's not capacity now, please check back.

  2. Select Connect to a remote PC. If you already added a remote PC or connected to another service, from the home tab select the plus (+) icon to add a new connection.

    A screenshot showing the welcome tab for Windows App on macOS with a remote PC.

  3. For PC Name and enter hostname or IP address of the remote PC you want to connect to.

    A screenshot showing the connect to a remote PC tab for Windows App on macOS with a remote PC.

  4. Optional: you can make other changes, such as add a user account to connect with, provide a friendly name for the connection, configure display settings, and configure device and audio redirection. You can also configure these settings later. To learn more, see the links provided in Next steps.

  5. Select Add.

  6. From the Devices tab, find the remote PC you want to connect to, then select Connect. If you also signed into Windows App and have other devices, you can use the filters to help you find what you want to connect to.

    A screenshot showing the devices tab with a remote PC for Windows App on macOS with a remote PC.

  7. Once the connection to your remote PC is complete, you're ready to start using it.

Tip

You can pin your favorite remote PCs to the Home tab for quick access. To learn more, see Device and app actions in Windows App.

Provide feedback

You can provide feedback about Windows App using TestFlight, whether you want to make a suggestion or report a problem.

To easily provide feedback:

  1. Open the TestFlight app on your device.

  2. Select Windows App in the apps list.

  3. Select Send Beta Feedback, then complete the form.

  4. Once you've completed the form, select Submit. Feedback you post isn't anonymous.

Next steps

Learn how to use the features and functionality of Windows App and configure settings in the following articles: