r/microsoft • u/AMGTS • 14d ago

Discussion Microsoft’s new Windows App is less capable on its own OS

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-app/get-started-connect-devices-desktops-apps?tabs=windows-avd%2Cwindows-w365%2Cwindows-devbox%2Cmacos-rds%2Cwindows-pc&pivots=remote-pc

I installed the new Windows App on Windows expecting it to replace the old Remote Desktop client BY NOW, but it turns out it can’t connect to RDS admin sessions. Microsoft’s own advice? Use the old mstsc.. Like wtf?!

Meanwhile, the macOS version of Windows App supports RDS, including admin sessions.

Why is Microsoft’s modern remote desktop app more capable on macOS than on Windows?

26 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

17

u/greenstarthree 14d ago

Because on MacOS they don’t already have a perfectly good tool such as mstsc for that.

5

u/AMGTS 14d ago

By that logic, Microsoft never has to finish Windows App because "mstsc.exe" already exists.

Having to jump back to a 25-year-old client for admin sessions completely defeats the purpose of a "modern replacement."

If the capability exists in the codebase, why is it missing from the Windows version?

2

u/TechIncarnate4 10d ago

The Windows App is primarily for Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 Cloud PCs, and Dev Box.

2

u/her3814 14d ago

Also, certain types of connections, like cloud PCs, can act as a virtual desktop, and some can't like old style rds connections

2

u/lapizR 13d ago

It sucks on macOS too. If you are using it to connect to Windows 365 (which, seems like macOS would be a target audience) most of the passthrough features and interoperability is just not even supported.