Based on other recent MS announcements, looks like May is “retirement month” for multiple apps and applications. The latest item scheduled for a retirement party (but no gold watch) is Remote Desktop. Yesterday, the Windows IT blog featured an item entitled “Windows App to replace Remote Desktop…” to announce the changeover. Interestingly, the same blog post also advises continued use of Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) for plain vanilla remote access. When the Windows App replaces Remote Desktop (May 2025), RDC remains a primary remote access tool.

Once Windows App Replaces Remote Desktop, Then What?

The kicker for some users — including your humble author — lurks in the tag line on the Windows App page in the MS Store. It reads “Requires work or school account,” which means not just a Microsoft Account (MSA) per se, but one with Entra ID capabilities and attributes. Indeed, most people get those through work or school (hence, the tagline) because it costs upwards of US$20 monthly for a properly-qualified Microsoft 365 subscription.

Those who want to use the Windows App must provide an appropriate and qualified MSA to use it. I’m still pondering whether I want to shoulder those costs. But when May comes and goes, none of us, across all MSAs, will have Remote Desktop to kick around any more.

Here in Windows-World, “plus ça change” (in English: “the more things change, the more they stay the same”) is not just a catch-phrase, it’s a way of life. That said, it looks like May 2025 will be a little more change-forward than other months this year. Cheers!