A Universal Companion: Windows Now App for iOS/Mac and Windows Devices

Key Takeaways

• Microsoft has announced a new Windows App that allows users to connect to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and remote PCs from any device with an internet connection.
• The Windows App serves as a hub for Microsoft’s desktop and app virtualization services, similar to how the Microsoft 365 app is a gateway to productivity apps.
• The app is available for Preview on Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and web browsers, and can be accessed through a web browser or installed from the Microsoft Store or TestFlight. It currently requires a business or education Microsoft account, with potential availability on Android in the future.

At the Ignite 2023 event, Microsoft announced the Windows App for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and PC. The simply named app allows users to connect to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Microsoft Dev Box, and remote PCs from anywhere with an internet connection. The app is now available for Public Preview.

Power Tools add-on for Google Sheets, 12-month subscription

Windows Is Now a Remote Desktop App for Other Devices

Image: Microsoft

Windows App is designed to let users access Microsoft’s OS through different means on various devices. The Windows App is a hub for Microsoft’s desktop and app virtualization services like Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 , and Remote Desktop Services. You can think of it like how the Microsoft 365 app is the gateway to all your productivity apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

The Windows App is available in Preview for Windows, macOS, iOS and iPadOS, and web browsers. Before leaving Preview, the app may undergo several changes to become a better version of itself and serve the users better. At the time of writing, the app is not available on Android, but that might change in the future.

How to Use the Windows App to Connect to a Remote Windows System

Microsoft specified the operating systems you can run the Windows App on. But since you can open it through a web browser, you can open the Windows App from anywhere, as long as the device can run a modern web browser.

To open the Windows App on a web browser, visit windows.cloud.microsoft . You can install the Windows App from the Microsoft Store for Windows devices or TestFlight for Apple devices. For now, you can only sign in with a business or education Microsoft account. The Windows App documentation details how you can connect to different devices.

After installing the app on your device, the first action is to sign in to the app using your work, school, or personal account. It’s important to note that you should use the account associated with all the virtual PCs you want to access.

You don’t have to install any other software. But no matter what device you use, the Windows App allows you to take advantage of the peripherals and features on the local device. For instance, you can use multiple monitors, webcam, audio, storage devices, and printer connections with the remote Windows system. The app also supports custom display resolutions, dynamic display resolutions, and scaling.

Getting Started With the Windows App

Working on a virtual Windows OS from anywhere is a natural development for a mobile workforce. The Windows App can become something better than a remote desktop connection when you can access Microsoft’s powerful tools and platforms via the cloud.

At the Ignite 2023 event, Microsoft announced the Windows App for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and PC. The simply named app allows users to connect to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Microsoft Dev Box, and remote PCs from anywhere with an internet connection. The app is now available for Public Preview.