--- title: Windows App canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/windows-app/ category: Remote Desktop Software points: 80 rank: 4 of 8 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Windows App Microsoft's free Remote Desktop app, for reaching a Windows Pro PC or a cloud PC from Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad or Android. 80 points out of 100. #4 of 8 remote desktop tools. Vendor: Microsoft Corporation. Website: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-app/overview - Windows App is a free download, and it connects to a remote PC without signing in to a Microsoft account [5][1]. - The PC you connect to must run Windows Pro, Enterprise or Education; Windows Home cannot host Remote Desktop [4]. - Apps run on Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS and Android, but the web version cannot reach a remote PC [1]. - Sessions can use all your monitors on Windows and macOS, and redirect printers and local drives [2]. - To connect from outside your home network you need port forwarding or a VPN [4]. Verdict: Windows App is the free choice if the PC you want to reach runs Windows Pro or higher: it uses Remote Desktop, which is built into those editions [4][5]. It handles several monitors, printers and local drives well [2]. The catch is setup: Windows Home cannot host, and reaching a PC from outside your network needs port forwarding or a VPN [4]. Best for: People with Windows Pro who want free remote access to their own PC. Status: Windows App replaces Microsoft's Remote Desktop client, and the Remote Desktop app from the Microsoft Store is no longer supported [6]. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Apps | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | 12/15 | Windows App is available for Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS and Android/Chrome OS [1]. | | Systems | Connect from a browser | No | 0/5 | The web version reaches Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365, but not a remote PC [1]. | | Features | Unattended access | Yes | 6/6 | You can connect to a powered-on PC with Remote Desktop enabled and use it as if you were at your desk [4]. | | Features | File transfer | Yes | 5/5 | Local drives can be redirected into the session; in a browser, files upload and download [2]. | | Features | Multiple monitors | Yes | 4/4 | Multiple monitors are supported on Windows and macOS [2]. | | Features | Remote printing | Yes | 3/3 | Printer redirection lets you print from the session to a local printer [2]. | | Features | Session recording | Not published | 0/4 | | | Features | Wake-on-LAN | Not published | 0/4 | | | Features | Control Android devices | Not published | 0/4 | | | Security | Encrypted sessions | Yes | 5/5 | Microsoft says Remote Desktop Protocol traffic is encapsulated and encrypted within TCP [7]. | | Security | Two-factor sign-in | Yes | 5/5 | Work or school sign-in supports Microsoft Authenticator for multifactor authentication [2]. | | Security | Single sign-on | Yes | 5/5 | Single sign-on and federated identity through Microsoft Entra ID, for cloud services [2]. | | Security | SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 | Yes | 5/5 | Microsoft lists Windows 365 and Microsoft Entra ID as in scope for ISO/IEC 27001 [8]. | | Security | Self-hosting | Yes | 5/5 | Remote PC connections are point to point to your own PC [6][4]. | | Price | Free for personal use | Yes | 10/10 | Free download; remote PC connections work without signing in [5][1]. | | Price | Cheapest paid plan | $0 | 10/10 | Entirely free; the host PC needs Windows Pro or higher [5][4]. | | Price | Monthly billing | Yes | 5/5 | Entirely free, so there is nothing to pay up front [5]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Windows App | Free [5][4] | $0 | Windows App costs nothing, but hosting needs Windows Pro or higher; Windows Home cannot be a Remote Desktop host [4]. ## Strengths - Free on every platform it supports, with no paid tier [5]. - Connections to a remote PC go point to point, not through a vendor relay [6]. - Uses all local monitors and can redirect printers, drives and the clipboard into the session [2]. - Work and school sign-in supports single sign-on and Microsoft Authenticator [2]. ## Limits - Windows Home editions cannot be Remote Desktop hosts [4]. - Reaching a PC from outside its network needs port forwarding or a VPN [4]. - Windows App in a web browser cannot connect to a remote PC [1]. - On Windows, remote PC connections in Windows App are still in preview; Microsoft points to the built-in Remote Desktop Connection app instead [1][3]. ## Sources 1. [What is Windows App? - Windows App | Microsoft Learn](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-app/overview), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Compare Windows App features across platforms and devices - Windows App | Microsoft Learn](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-app/compare-platforms-features), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [How to use Remote Desktop | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-use-remote-desktop-5fe128d5-8fb1-7a23-3b8a-41e636865e8c), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Enable Remote Desktop on your PC | Microsoft Learn](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/remotepc/remote-desktop-allow-access), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Windows App App - App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/windows-app/id1295203466), Apple, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Remote Desktop client overview - Remote Desktop client | Microsoft Learn](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/remote-desktop-client/overview), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Understanding Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) - Windows Server | Microsoft Learn](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/remote/understanding-remote-desktop-protocol), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Information Security Management Standards - Microsoft Compliance | Microsoft Learn](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/compliance/regulatory/offering-iso-27001), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08