Remote Support
02 May Remote Desktop Reaching End of Life
Remote Desktop has been an integral tool for Windows users around the world since its inception. Allowing users to remotely connect to their computers, Remote Desktop provided a useful function for businesses that needed to be able to have the flexibility and convenience of always having access to their main desktop.
However, Microsoft has announced that in 2025, Remote Desktop will reach the end of life stage of development. This can be worrying for any business that relies on Remote Desktop, as it may feel like a key part of your system has completely vanished. But that’s not the whole story.
In this article, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about Remote Desktop’s end of life, as well as what you can expect in the future from Windows App and how you can prepare to move forward from Remote Desktop.
Overview of Remote Desktop’s End of Life
Microsoft has announced that Remote Desktop will go into end-of-life on May 27, 2025. This has significant implications for users and organisations that rely on the application for remote access, as the Remote Desktop app will no longer be supported with critical updates or security patches by Microsoft. This leaves systems running the application vulnerable to potential security risks and compatibility issues.
Moreover, the end of support also means that Microsoft will no longer provide technical support for the Remote Desktop app. This could have a knock-on effect for remote working in general, as no technical support will mean that any bugs or difficulties that may come with Remote Desktop will not be fixed by Microsoft, bringing your business to a halt over time.
This isn’t the end of Remote Desktop, however. It’ll be moving to the Microsoft App, where you’ll still be able to facilitate remote working through Remote Desktop as well as do lots of other tasks and take advantage of other Microsoft tools.
Why the Change is Happening
Essentially, Microsoft wants to have all of its tools in one place and to unify its offerings for simplicity. This is why the Windows App exists, as it will be the whole Windows toolset in one place, which helps both accessibility and the ability to link with other applications.
Ultimately, Microsoft believes that Remote Desktop should still be a core function of their systems, but has decided that it doesn’t need its own standalone app to facilitate this. Hence, the sunsetting of Remote Desktop and the move over to a newer, more polished system that will be able to do so much more.
Key Differences Between Remote Desktop and Windows App
Both Remote Desktop and Windows App will be able to facilitate Remote Desktop, but there are differences between the two. Windows App is newer, whereas Remote Desktop is still a product of an earlier Windows iteration, meaning it doesn’t have access to some of those features and quality-of-life benefits.
Here are some of the key differences you can expect:
- Scope of Access: It is designed for 1-to-1 PC connection, whereas Windows App gives you access to a wider scope, with the ability to link important modern technologies like Azure Virtual Desktop.
- User Interface: The interface is unappealing at best, and Windows App will bring a better, more digestible interface that’ll allow for much more personalisation.
- Feature Integration: Remote Desktop is a standalone application, making it quite isolated from the wider Microsoft ecosystem. Contrastingly, Windows App is connected with the wider ecosystem, meaning that you can integrate more features and tools throughout.
Benefits of the Windows App
The Windows App is a powerful move from Microsoft, as it gives a host of benefits to businesses that want to take advantage of it in ways that were not possible when the ecosystem was more isolated.
Here are a few of the benefits:
- Unified Access: The Windows App is a centralised hub, letting you access various remote environments, including Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop, from one place.
- Enhanced User Experience: The Windows App offers a modern and customisable interface, letting you ensure that your setup caters to your specific needs.
- Improved Multi-Monitor Support: The version of Remote Desktop within the Windows App has enhanced multi-monitor capabilities when compared to its predecessor. This is great for productivity, as many use multiple monitors for this.
Steps to Prepare for the Transition
Preparing to make the move over to Windows App will be vital to hit the ground running, and to ensure there’s minimal downtime and no other errors or crashes when transitioning over. By taking these steps to prepare, you can ensure that you’re all good to go for moving to the Windows App.
Here are the key steps:
- Assess Current Usage: The first important thing to do is to look at your current usage, assessing your current usage needs to be able to transition effectively.
- Plan: Planning your migration will allow the whole process to go more smoothly, making it easier than ever to take advantage of new and supercharged abilities in the process.
- Test: Learning how to test in a controlled environment will allow you to get a better idea of not only your company’s reaction to that suite but also other suites that may cause issues for your business in the long run.
How We Can Help
By effectively learning about Windows App, Remote Desktop’s end of life, and how it’ll affect your business, you can plan and prepare to make sure you’re not hit by issues and glitches when trying to utilise wider features within the ecosystem.
If you’re looking to get started with Windows App but need a helping hand, reach out to us today. Our experts are here to help and will ensure that you get everything you need to be able to hit the ground running in a post-Remote Desktop world.
Contact us now, and see how we can help you take your business to the next level.
