Windows 365 should soon be getting new features that will see it more tightly integrated into the Windows 11 OS.
Windows 365 App
First, there is now a native Windows 365 app. This will allow Windows 11 users to power up a Cloud PC from the Task Bar or Start menu without having to head into a browser.
Microsoft Windows and Surface VP, Panos Panay, described these new features at Ignite 2022, as “just the beginning of our Windows and Microsoft cloud integration.” These changes could signal a new direction for Windows, as Microsoft looks to continue to blend Windows 365 and Windows 11 together in the future. This is available for Windows 10 and Windows 11 today and is coming soon to iOS, Android and macOS.
You can see the Windows 365 app experience on Windows 10 below.
Windows 365 Boot
When released later this year, Windows 365 Boot will enable Windows 11 devices to log directly into a Cloud PC instance at startup instead of using the local install of Windows 11.
But why would you want to do this? Well, it is designed for devices that are shared between multiple people or for organisations that allow (or want to allow) their employees to bring their own devices to work (BYOD). This is also good for contractors and temporary staff since it ensures they have a corporate desktop experience and access to all the apps the services without IT having to install VPN software or enroll the devices into their organisations’
“Windows 365 Boot will allow different users to log in directly to their own personal and secure Windows 365 Cloud PC with their credentials”
Wangui McKelvey | General Manager | Windows 365
Windows 365 Switch
….. the name I’m not a fan of, however we will see much deeper integration between Windows 11 and Windows 365 at the OS level. As the name implies, this level of deep integration will allow Windows 365 users seamlessly switch between their local desktop and that of the Cloud PC directly from the Task View (virtual desktops) feature of Windows 11.
In case you are not familiar with “desktops” in Windows 11, then using the task view control in the Windows 11 taskbar allows users to create customise and move between desktops. This update will introduce a new option, which will allow users to quickly switch from the local desktop environment to their Cloud PC directly from the taskbar. Users will even be able to see a preview of what’s running on it. This will work both ways too – meaning when users open task view from the Cloud PC, they will also be able to quickly hop back onto the local device.
Windows 365 Offline Mode
Finally, Microsoft is working on a Windows 365 offline feature, which will enable users to continue to work locally when they do not have an internet connectivity to access their Cloud PC. This will work like a cached mode essentially and will resync automatically resync with the Windows 365 service without data loss when connectivity is restored ensuring that the user experience is consistent and un-interrupted.
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