Microsoft 'Windows App' Offers Access to Windows PCs From Any Device - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Microsoft 'Windows App' Offers Access to Windows PCs From Any Device

Microsoft is launching a "Windows App" that can remotely connect to a Windows PC and provide access to it from any platform. Available for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, PCs, and web browsers, the app also provides a gateway to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Microsoft Dev Box, and the company's Remote Desktop Services.

windows app overview
The Windows app includes a customizable Home Screen from which users can access multiple different cloud services and remote PCs. The app features multiple monitor support, custom display resolutions, dynamic display resolutions and scaling, peripheral redirection, and more.

Microsoft has offered the Remote Desktop Connection app in Windows for years now, but the Windows app signals a broader shift to cloud computing for Windows more generally.

For now the app is only available as a preview for enterprise accounts, but it is likely to support regular customers in time, although the option to sign in using a personal Microsoft account doesn't currently work, according to The Verge. The Mac version requires macOS 12 or later, while the iOS/iPadOS app needs a device running iOS or iPadOS 16 or later. The web version of the app can be accessed by going to windows.cloud.microsoft.

Popular Stories

iphone duo standby

Apple Retail Staff Told to Warn Against iPhone Duo Walk-In Purchases

Saturday October 17, 2026 2:30 pm PDT by
Some Apple retail employees have been told to warn customers against visiting to purchase an iPhone Duo without a pre-order on Friday, October 23. Apple Store employees told MacRumors that they have been advised that there will likely be no iPhone Duo stock available for walk-in purchases on launch day. Staff have been instructed to discourage customers without pre-orders from coming in...
M5 MacBook Pro

RIP, MacBook Ultra

Monday October 19, 2026 9:37 am PDT by
Apple today sent out invites for an experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, and the "Pro and tell" tagline on the invitation likely means that the rumored MacBook models with touch-enabled OLED displays will stick with MacBook Pro branding instead of the once-rumored "MacBook Ultra" name. The long-rumored "iPhone Ultra" ended up being named iPhone Duo, so speculation that Apple...
iphone duo feature

Mark Gurman: Apple Made 'Major Mistake' With iPhone Duo Pre-Orders

Sunday October 18, 2026 7:33 am PDT by
Despite knowing that the iPhone Duo would face "severe supply constraints" due to manufacturing challenges, Apple chose to begin iPhone Duo pre-orders on Friday instead of waiting until it had more inventory ready, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, he called this decision a "major mistake." "Let me cut to the chase: Apple made a major mistake here," he...

Top Rated Comments

38 months ago
Isn’t this essentially the same as Microsoft Remote Desktop, or what am I missing here?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bradman83 Avatar
38 months ago

Isn’t this essentially the same as Microsoft Remote Desktop, or what am I missing here?
It builds on remote desktop by adding support for Windows 365 and Azure desktops, so you can access cloud-based Windows VMs in addition to remote access to physical PCs.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
38 months ago

So no more Parallels?
No, this doesn't replace all of the use cases for a virtual machine. This would require some physical machine running Windows to be accessible to you, either locally or via the cloud. It's more like Remote Desktop than Parallels, with the difference being the cloud components built into it.

Parallels would still be useful for when you need to run Windows directly on the same machine.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
38 months ago
Now I can run Windows on my iPhone!



Attachment Image
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chucker23n1 Avatar
38 months ago

Isn’t this essentially the same as Microsoft Remote Desktop, or what am I missing here?
Yes. This is basically a rebrand of their previous RDP client. Some of the previous UI is also still there:



They do seem to have improved a few things. Resizing the window to set the resolution now sort of works, although I find text to be blurry on on-Retina Displays.

Copying files finally seems to be implemented.

I still prefer Royal, but my use cases are more advanced…

Attachment Image
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chucker23n1 Avatar
38 months ago

Oh look. Another way for Windows to run better on a Mac than on a PC.
In this setup, Windows actually does run on a PC, except that drawing the virtual monitor occurs on your Mac.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple's October 28 'Pro and Tell' Launch: What's Coming
Apple's October 28 'Pro and Tell' Launch: What's Coming
8 hours ago
Apple Limiting U.S. iPhone Duo Orders to Two Per Customer
Apple Limiting U.S. iPhone Duo Orders to Two Per Customer
8 hours ago
Apple Buys AI Audio Editing App Samplab
Apple Buys AI Audio Editing App Samplab
9 hours ago
EFF's Privacy Badger Anti-Tracking Extension Expands to Safari
EFF's Privacy Badger Anti-Tracking Extension Expands to Safari
11 hours ago
HomePod 27.2 Adds Sound Glow to Existing HomePod Models
HomePod 27.2 Adds Sound Glow to Existing HomePod Models
11 hours ago
Apple Starts Moving Up iPhone Duo Delivery Dates
Apple Starts Moving Up iPhone Duo Delivery Dates
12 hours ago
tvOS 27.2 RC Lays Groundwork for HomePod Surround Sound
tvOS 27.2 RC Lays Groundwork for HomePod Surround Sound
13 hours ago
Apple Says iPhone Duo Not Available on Walk-In Basis in Two Countries
Apple Says iPhone Duo Not Available on Walk-In Basis in Two Countries
14 hours ago
Apple Seeds macOS Golden Gate 27.2 Release Candidate to Developers
Apple Seeds macOS Golden Gate 27.2 Release Candidate to Developers
14 hours ago
Apple Releases iOS 27.2 Release Candidate
Apple Releases iOS 27.2 Release Candidate
15 hours ago
Apple Seeds watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 Release Candidates
Apple Seeds watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 Release Candidates
15 hours ago
Samsung Slashes Prices on Frame TVs With Biggest Savings Yet for 2026 Models
Samsung Slashes Prices on Frame TVs With Biggest Savings Yet for 2026 Models
15 hours ago
RIP, MacBook Ultra
RIP, MacBook Ultra
15 hours ago
Apple Announcing New Products Next Week: 'Pro and Tell'
Apple Announcing New Products Next Week: 'Pro and Tell'
16 hours ago
GM Says Apple Wallet Car Keys Coming to These Vehicles
GM Says Apple Wallet Car Keys Coming to These Vehicles
18 hours ago
Amazon Offers $900 Off 2026 16-Inch MacBook Pro With M5 Max Chip
Amazon Offers $900 Off 2026 16-Inch MacBook Pro With M5 Max Chip
19 hours ago
Amazon Discounts New Mac Mini by Up to $149, Mac Studio by $200
Amazon Discounts New Mac Mini by Up to $149, Mac Studio by $200
2 days ago
Apple Expected to Release New Products on Next Four Fridays
Apple Expected to Release New Products on Next Four Fridays
2 days ago
Apple Reveals iPhone Duo's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals iPhone Duo's Battery Capacity
2 days ago
Apple Planning 'HomeView Max' With 9-Inch, 360-Degree Screen
Apple Planning 'HomeView Max' With 9-Inch, 360-Degree Screen
2 days ago
Mark Gurman: Apple Made 'Major Mistake' With iPhone Duo Pre-Orders
Mark Gurman: Apple Made 'Major Mistake' With iPhone Duo Pre-Orders
2 days ago
Apple Retail Staff Told to Warn Against iPhone Duo Walk-In Purchases
Apple Retail Staff Told to Warn Against iPhone Duo Walk-In Purchases
2 days ago
Apple Hires Former Meta Lawyer to Oversee Global Litigation
Apple Hires Former Meta Lawyer to Oversee Global Litigation
3 days ago
Top Stories: Apple HomeView, New Apple TV and HomePod mini, and Sold-Out iPhone Duo
Top Stories: Apple HomeView, New Apple TV and HomePod mini, and Sold-Out iPhone Duo
3 days ago
Verizon Will Charge $10 a Month for iPhone Handoff
Verizon Will Charge $10 a Month for iPhone Handoff
3 days ago
Apple Calls iPhone Duo Demand 'Extraordinary' After Orders Slip to 2027
Apple Calls iPhone Duo Demand 'Extraordinary' After Orders Slip to 2027
3 days ago
New App Store Rules Target AI Deepfakes and Nudify Apps
New App Store Rules Target AI Deepfakes and Nudify Apps
3 days ago
Didn't Pre-Order Apple's HomeView? Here's How Long the Wait is Now
Didn't Pre-Order Apple's HomeView? Here's How Long the Wait is Now
4 days ago
Apple's $79 iPhone Duo Case Sticks On With Adhesive
Apple's $79 iPhone Duo Case Sticks On With Adhesive
4 days ago
Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini Price Increases 'Much More Striking' Than New Features
Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini Price Increases 'Much More Striking' Than New Features
4 days ago