Microsoft Announces Integration of Windows 365 Cloud PCs into Windows 11

Highlights –

• Microsoft is working on three new Windows 365 features, which will be deeply integrated into Windows 11.
• Features include Windows 365 boot, Windows 365 switch, and Windows 365 app. Additionally, it is also working on an offline feature of Windows 365.

Last year, Microsoft put PCs in the cloud with Microsoft 365, and this year, it’s integrating these Cloud PCs directly into Windows 11. Windows 365 allows businesses to access Cloud PCs from any location to stream a version of Windows 10 or Windows 11. It’s something that Citrix and many others have attempted for years, but Microsoft is taking an extra step to allow Windows 11 PCs to boot straight to Windows 365 Cloud PCs or easily switch between them using Windows 11’s virtual desktop feature.

It’s in sync with the hybrid work push for Windows, allowing businesses to back a mix of working remotely on traditional devices or through virtual cloud-powered ones. Microsoft is working on three new Windows 365 features. All of that will be deeply integrated into Windows 11.

The first is Windows 365 Boot, which will allow Windows 11 devices to log directly into a Cloud PC instance at startup instead of local install of Windows. It is designed for devices that work as a common source between multiple people or businesses, allowing workers/employees to bring their own device (BYOD) to work.

Wangui McKelvey, General Manager of Microsoft 365, said, “It allows different users to log in directly to their own personal and secure Windows 365 Cloud PC with their credentials.”

The second option being added is Windows 365 Switch. Like its name, the integration will let Windows 365 users hop between a Cloud PC and a local desktop within Windows 11. It will be integrated within the Task View feature of Windows 11, and all the keyboard shortcuts and swipe gestures will be supported.

Another feature that Microsoft is working on is Windows 365 offline, which will allow people to work locally when there is no connectivity to access a Cloud PC.

“When connectivity is restored, the Cloud PC will automatically resync with the Windows 365 service without data loss so the user experience and workflow are persistent,” says McKelvey.

Windows 11 is also getting a native Windows 365 app. It will allow Windows 11 users to power up a Cloud PC from Start Menu or Task Bar without moving to the browser.

Microsoft’s Windows and Surface Chief, Panos Panay, talked about the latest features and called them “just the beginning of our Windows and Microsoft cloud integration.”

“Over the last two years, the organizations that thrived were those that embraced digital transformation,” says Panay. “We cannot always predict what’s coming, but we can ensure that Windows stays at the forefront of technology and experiences — from cloud to intelligence to devices — empowering your organization to embrace whatever comes next.”