Get started with Windows App to connect to desktops and apps

Tip

This article is shared across different services and products. Select what you want to connect to using the buttons at the top of this article.

Windows App securely connects you to Windows desktops 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 for:

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • iOS/iPadOS
  • Android/Chrome OS (preview)
  • Web browsers

To learn more about Windows App, see What is Windows App?

The following table shows what services and products you can connect to from different platforms:

Connect to Windows macOS iOS/iPadOS Android/Chrome OS Web browser
Azure Virtual Desktop
Windows 365
Microsoft Dev Box
Remote Desktop Services     ¹
Remote PC     ²
  1. To connect to Remote Desktop Services on Windows, continue to use the Remote Desktop app on Windows.
  2. To connect to a remote PC on Windows, continue to use the Remote Desktop Connection app that comes with Windows (also known as MSTSC).

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 download Windows App and connect to your desktops and apps from Windows, you need:

  • Internet access to download Windows App from the Microsoft Store and connect to Azure Virtual Desktop. Most networks don't block access to the internet, but if your network does, you need to allow access to the list at Required FQDNs and endpoints for Azure Virtual Desktop. Contact your network administrator if you need help.

  • Your user account for Azure Virtual Desktop, and you're assigned devices or apps by your administrator. You can also sign in with multiple accounts and easily switch between them.

  • A device running a supported version of:

    • Windows 11 (x64 or Arm64).
    • Windows 10 (x64 or Arm64).

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

  • Internet access to download Windows App from the Microsoft Store and connect to Windows 365. Most networks don't block access to the internet, but if your network does, you need to allow access to the list at Required FQDNs and endpoints. Contact your network administrator if you need help.

  • Your user account for Windows 365, and you're assigned a Cloud PC by your administrator. You can also sign in with multiple accounts and easily switch between them.

  • A device running a supported version of:

    • Windows 11
    • Windows 10

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

  • Internet access to download Windows App from the Microsoft Store and connect to Microsoft Dev Box. Most networks don't block access to the internet, but if your network does, you need to allow access to the list at Required FQDNs and endpoints. Contact your network administrator if you need help.

  • Your user account for Microsoft Dev Box, and you're assigned a dev box by your administrator. You can also sign in with multiple accounts and easily switch between them.

  • A device running a supported version of:

    • Windows 11
    • Windows 10

Before you can download Windows App and connect to your desktops and apps from macOS, you need:

  • Internet access to download Windows App from the Mac App Store.

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

  • Your user account for Remote Desktop Services, and you're assigned devices or apps by your administrator. You can also sign in with multiple accounts and easily switch between them.

  • A device running macOS 12.0 or later.

Before you can download Windows App and connect to a remote PC from macOS, you need:

  • Internet access to download Windows App from the Mac App Store.

  • Network connectivity to the remote PC.

  • A user account to access the remote PC.

  • A device running macOS 12.0 or later.

Connect to your desktops and apps

Select a tab for the platform you're using.

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

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

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

  2. Select Sign in and sign in with your user account for Azure Virtual Desktop. 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.

  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.

    A screenshot showing the first time tour for Windows App on Windows with Azure Virtual Desktop.

  4. After you sign in, select the Devices tab or Apps tab to show your remote resources from Azure Virtual Desktop and any other services you have access to. Tabs are hidden if you don't have that type of resource assigned to you. If you don't see any devices or apps, contact your administrator.

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

  5. Find the device or app you want to connect to. You can use the search box and filters to help you.

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

  6. Select Connect on a device, or select an app to connect. You might be prompted to enter the password for your user account again, depending on how your administrator configures Azure Virtual Desktop.

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

Tip

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 on Windows, follow these steps:

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

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

  2. Select Sign in and sign in with your user account for Windows 365. 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.

  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.

    A screenshot showing the first time tour for Windows App on Windows with Windows 365.

  4. After you sign in, select the Devices tab to show your Cloud PC and any other services you have access to. If you don't see a Cloud PC, 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. You can use the search box and filters to help you.

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

  6. Select Connect on a Cloud PC to connect. Once the connection to your Cloud PC is complete, you're ready to start using it.

Tip

You can add your favorite Cloud PCs to Task view in Windows 11 or the Favorites tab of Windows App for quick access. To learn more, see Device and app actions in Windows App.

A screenshot showing a Cloud PC added to Task view in Windows 11.

  • For administrators: you can also download Windows App for Windows outside of the Microsoft Store as a .msix installer from What's new 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 on Windows, follow these steps:

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

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

  2. Select Sign in and sign in with your user account for Microsoft Dev Box. 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.

  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.

    A screenshot showing the first time tour for Windows App on Windows with Microsoft Dev Box.

  4. After you sign in, select the Devices tab to show your dev box and any other services you have access to. If you don't see a dev box, 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. You can use the search box and filters to help you.

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

  6. Select Connect on a dev box to connect. Once the connection to your dev box is complete, you're ready to start using it.

Tip

You can add your favorite dev boxes to Task view in Windows 11 or the Favorites tab of Windows App for quick access. To learn more, see Device and app actions in Windows App.

A screenshot showing a dev box added to Task view in Windows 11.

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.

  • For administrators: you can also download Windows App for Windows outside of the Microsoft Store as a .msix installer from What's new in Windows App.

Connect to your desktops and apps

Select a tab for the platform you're using.

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

  1. Download and install Windows App from the Mac App Store. When Windows App is installed, open it.

  2. 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.

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

  3. Windows App opens on the Devices tab. Select the plus (+) icon, then select Add Workspace.

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

  4. In the box that appears, enter the workspace URL your administrator provided. The URL is checked to make sure it's valid. Once the check is complete, select Next.

  5. Sign in with your user account for Remote Desktop Services.

  6. After you sign in, the Devices tab or Apps tab shows your remote resources. If you don't see any devices or apps, contact your administrator.

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

  7. Find the device or app you want to connect to. You can use the search box to help you find what you want to connect to.

  8. Double-click the device or app to connect. You might be prompted to enter the password for your user account again, depending on how your administrator configured Remote Desktop Services.

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

Tip

Provide feedback

If you want to provide feedback about Windows App on macOS, you can do so from Windows App itself.

  1. Open the Windows App on your device.

  2. From the macOS menu bar, select Help, then select Submit Feedback.

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 from the Mac App Store. When Windows App is installed, open it.

  2. 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.

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

  3. Windows App opens on the Devices tab. Select the plus (+) icon, then select Add PC.

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

  4. In the dialog box that appears, for PC Name, enter the hostname or IP address of the remote PC you want to connect to.

    A screenshot showing the add PC screen for Windows App on macOS.

  5. 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.

  6. Select Add. Your remote PC is added to the Devices tab.

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

  7. On the Devices tab, double-click the remote PC to connect. If you didn't add a user account for this remote PC yet, you're prompted to enter a user account.

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

Tip

Provide feedback

If you want to provide feedback about Windows App on macOS, you can do so from Windows App itself.

  1. Open the Windows App on your device.

  2. From the macOS menu bar, select Help, then select Submit Feedback.

Next steps

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