Microsoft replaces Remote Desktop app for Windows with an app that is liked even less
Windows 11 users and administrators who want remote desktop connectivity can use the baked-in functionality. First, be enabling Remote Desktop on non-Home devices, and then downloading the Remote Desktop app for Windows to PCs to establish connections between the two devices.
This happened: Microsoft announced this week that it is retiring the Remote Desktop app at the end of May 2025. The app will be removed from the Microsoft Store and it won't be supported anymore.
Microsoft says that users need to transition to the Windows app to "ensure continued access to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Microsoft Dev Box".
Microsoft highlights the improvements of the Windows app, stating that the new app provides users with "unified access to multiple Windows services" and offers "customizable home screens, multimonitor support, and dynamic display resolutions".
The problem: The new Windows app supports Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Microsoft Dev Box only at this point. It does not support remote desktop connections or services at this stage. To make matters worse, the new Windows app requires a work or school account for use.
Microsoft maintains a list of known issues and limitations of the Windows App. The list includes the following points for the Windows Windows App.
- Resetting user data through the user interface is not supported (needs to be done via the Settings app).
- No local Windows Start menu integration.
- Private Link to Azure Virtual Desktop is not supported.
- SSO with Active Directory Federation Service is not supported.
- Connecting to Azure Government, Azure Germany, Azure operated by 21Vianet, or Azure Virtual Desktop (Classic) isn't supported.
- Windows App does not work in environments where proxy servers require proxy/HTTP authentication.
The rating of the Windows App in Microsoft's Store reflects the missing functionality. It has a rating of 2.6 out of 5 currently. Users complain that the app does not work with personal Microsoft accounts, and does not support RDP on local networks, while the Mac, Android, and iOS versions of the app do.
Microsoft recommends that remote desktop and remote desktop services users use the RemoteApp and Desktop Connections until the functionality is integrated into the Windows app. The functionality was introduced in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, and it shows. It is integrated in the Control Panel of the operating system, and not the Settings app.
Now You: do you use the Remote Desktop app for Windows? What is your take on the change and the newer Windows App? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
Found this comment from a Microsoft employee Hilary Bruan:
“This announcement only pertains to the Remote Desktop app from the Microsoft Store. It does not impact the Remote Desktop client standalone installer (MSI). That version is still available for download and is still supported.
This statement also does not impact the Remote Desktop web client”
See the comment from March 11th in the blog.
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/windows-itpro-blog/windows-app-to-replace-remote-desktop-app-for-windows/4390893
@Bob – “RDP works well with multiple PCs around the house, and that traffic does not leave the LAN.”
Exactly!
I have 8 desktops and 3 laptops on my home network. But instead of RDC (Remote Desktop Connection) I use RDCMan (Remote Desktop Connection Manager). Sometimes I have 3-5 PCs open in RDCMan and I only have one tab on taskbar instead of 3-5 tabs when using RDC.
RDCMan was created by Mark Russinovich from Sysinternals. Here is link to RDCMan:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/rdcman
Cheers!
—
Small bits about Mark Russinovich :
In 2005, Russinovich discovered the Sony rootkit in Sony DRM products, whose function was to prevent users from copying their media.
In January 2006, Russinovich discovered a rootkit in Norton SystemWorks by Symantec.
This one is pretty sure micosoft is pissing off sys admins with this decision as mstcs.exe is the default for managing ms servers for a very high percentage of companies
No one uses that app… and no one will use the new one…
Nice clickbait…
Who uses that junk anyways? Remote Desktop Connection is more than enough.
Ha ha ha! Only a FOOL would enable “Remote Desktop” of *any kind* on their computer. It’s one of the very first things I disable before going online with a new computer or one on which I’ve put a fresh install of the Windows OS.
Try as I might, I can think of no earthly reason why I would *ever* expose my computer’s soft underbelly to hackers by having this monstrosity activated.
Most users are behind a NAT anyways. No harm unless you open the port or forward it.
You don’t use it on your home computer. You use it to manage multiple Windows servers.
But if you only use a computer for gaming and watching memes, it makes sense you are ignorant of the real life uses.
@Mike, please bring me a coffee! No sugar!
“Remote” does not imply “open to the entire internet.” RDP works well with multiple PCs around the house, and that traffic does not leave the LAN.
Also, for real peace of mind, don’t trust that disabling a feature will prevent the connections forever. We’ve all seen updates revert settings in Windows, right? Explicitly block 3389 in your router (both directions) & disable UPNP so clients can’t poke holes in your firewall.
Hold on a moment, because I’m totally confused by this. Which one of those you talk about is “mstcs.exe”?