Microsoft unveils new 'Windows App' for cross-platform access to Windows from the Cloud

Microsoft has launched a new 'Windows App' that provides cross-platform access to the Windows 11 operating system from various devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, Windows PCs, and web browsers. The app functions as a hub for streaming Windows from different sources such as remote PCs, Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Microsoft Dev Box, and Microsoft Remote Desktop Services. It supports multiple monitors, custom display resolutions, scaling, and device redirection for peripherals like webcams, storage devices, and printers.

The app is primarily available for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Windows, but is currently not available for Android; however, there are hints of future availability. While it primarily focuses on Microsoft's business accounts, there are signs that it might eventually be extended to consumers. This is suggested by the sign-in prompt on the Windows App for Windows, which hints at potential access using a personal Microsoft Account, although this function is not currently active.

This is part of Microsoft's broader goal of fully transitioning Windows to the cloud, along with the launch of Windows 365 on the Cloud, and the the recent formation of a web-focused Windows team and the "Windows and Web Experiences" team, indicates Microsoft's focus on building AI-powered web services for Windows. The Windows App could potentially serve as a stepping stone for consumers to access cloud PCs and Windows apps on non-Microsoft operating system devices.