Table of Contents
Summary
- Remote Desktop client for Windows will no longer be available for download after end of support.
- Organizations must migrate users to Windows App to maintain access to Windows 365 Cloud PCs.
- Users will see an in-app banner notifying them of the change prior to end of support.
- Security updates will be provided until the end of support date.
- Resources like migration scripts and reporting APIs are available to assist with the transition.
Admin Impact: High
User Impact: Medium
Release Start: 27 Mar 2026
Release End: 27 Mar 2026
Services: Windows 365
Category: Plan for change
Tags: User Adoption, Admin Action, Retirement
History
3/2/2026 Item Added to Message Center
Microsoft Message
As previously mentioned, Remote Desktop client for Windows will reach end of support on March 27, 2026. It is a standalone installer for the purpose of connecting to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Microsoft Dev Box. Remote Desktop client will continue to receive all security updates until end of support.
When this will happen
End of support: March 27, 2026.
How this affects your organization
Who is affected: Organizations using the Remote Desktop client for Windows to connect to Windows 365.
What will happen:
- After March 27, 2026, the Remote Desktop client for Windows will no longer be available for download and will not receive security or feature updates.
- Security updates will continue until March 27, 2026.
- Users will need to migrate to Windows App to maintain access to Windows 365 Cloud PCs.
Prior to end of support, users will see an in-app banner notifying them of the upcoming change. This banner is designed to raise awareness and help organizations prepare for timely migration. Admins can disable this banner by configuring the following registry key:
Path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\MSRDC
Key: SuppressEndOfServiceBannerMessage
Type: DWORD
Value: 1
Resources are available to support migration:
- Windows 365 Remote Desktop Usage Reporting API: This API enables you to programmatically report on Remote Desktop client usage to identify users who still rely on the legacy client.
- Remote Desktop Client Migration Script for Windows App: A supported migration script is available to help organizations move users from the Remote Desktop client to Windows App at scale.
We’re working to ensure Windows App reaches feature parity with the Remote Desktop client for Windows to ease this migration. Windows App also provides:
- Unified access to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Microsoft Dev Box.
- Customizable home screens, multimonitor support, and dynamic display resolutions.
- Enhanced remote work experiences with device redirection, Microsoft Teams optimizations, and easy account switching.
What you can do to prepare
- To avoid disruptions to users’ access to their remote resources, inform them of the change and migrate them to Windows App as soon as possible before March 27, 2026.
- You may also use the Remote Desktop Usage Reporting API to identify users still on the legacy client and the migration script to transition those users to Windows App more efficiently.
- Update internal documentation and helpdesk guidance as needed.
Note: Remote Desktop Connection, also known as Microsoft Terminal Services Client (MSTSC), has no plans for retirement or removal. Remote Desktop Connection is used to make RDP connections to another computer and is out of scope for this notification.
Additional resources:
- Windows App Documentation
- Accessing Cloud PCs
- Migrate to Windows App – Remote Desktop client
- cloudPcReport: retrieveCloudPcClientAppUsageReport
Compliance considerations
No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.