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Windows, devices and Cloud PCs

Endpoints and virtual desktops: Windows 11 (version 26H2 released September 29, 2026), Copilot+ PCs with NPUs above 40 TOPS, Windows 365 Cloud PCs as SaaS, and Azure Virtual Desktop for multi-session desktops run in your own Azure subscription.

4 technology profiles in this area

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Overview

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Windows 11 version 26H2 became available on September 29, 2026; version 26H1 is only for new devices that launched in 2026 and is not offered as an update to existing PCs.

Copilot+ PCs are Windows 11 devices with an NPU that performs more than 40 trillion operations per second. Developers reach the NPU through Windows ML and the Microsoft Foundry on Windows APIs.

For virtual desktops there are two models. Windows 365 is SaaS: assigning a license creates a Cloud PC for the user at a fixed monthly price, in Business (up to 300 seats), Enterprise, Government and Flex editions, with Windows 365 for Agents in preview. Azure Virtual Desktop runs in your own Azure subscription, supports Windows 11 and Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session, and can run on Azure Local. Azure Virtual Desktop classic retired on September 30, 2026.

If staff work on managed laptops and do not need remote desktops, neither service is required; managing the physical devices with Intune may be enough.123456

Problems it addresses

  • Windows 10 devices still in use1

    Windows 10 Enterprise and Education support ended October 14, 2025, and version 22H2 was the final Windows 10 release.

  • Contractors and shift workers4

    Windows 365 Flex lets one license provision up to three Cloud PCs for people who need access for part of a day, not at the same time.

  • High cost per virtual desktop user5

    Azure Virtual Desktop multi-session lets several users share one virtual machine, reducing the number of VMs.

  • Running AI on the device3

    Windows ML detects the hardware on a Copilot+ PC and loads the right execution provider for the NPU, GPU or CPU.

  • Agents that need a desktop4

    Windows 365 for Agents (preview) provides sandboxed Cloud PCs for computer-using agents, billed pay-as-you-go.

A typical workflow

  1. Plan the Windows 11 version2

    Standardize existing PCs on 25H2 or 26H2; 26H1 ships only on new hardware.

  2. Enroll and manage6

    Enroll PCs in Intune through Windows Autopilot and apply configuration and security policies.

  3. Choose a virtual desktop model4

    Pick Windows 365 for fixed per-user pricing and automatic Cloud PC creation, or Azure Virtual Desktop for multi-session and control of images.

  4. Provision4

    Assign Windows 365 licenses to an Entra group, or create Azure Virtual Desktop host pools in your subscription.

  5. Connect users4

    Users connect through windows365.microsoft.com, Windows App or a Windows 365 Link device.

Technologies

  • Cloud service

    Azure Virtual Desktop

    Azure Virtual Desktop is a desktop and app virtualization service on Azure. Microsoft runs the broker and gateway; you run the session host VMs and images in your subscription, with Windows 11 or 10 Enterprise multi-session, full desktops or single apps (RemoteApp), and session hosts in Azure or on Azure Local.

    • Copilot and apps
    • Infrastructure
  • Operating system

    Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCs

    Windows 11 is Microsoft's current PC operating system, updated yearly with 24 or 36 months of support per version. Copilot+ PCs are Windows 11 devices with an NPU above 40 TOPS that run on-device AI features such as Recall (preview) and Click to Do, and give developers local models through Microsoft Foundry on Windows.

    • Copilot and apps
    • AI
    • Infrastructure
  • Cloud application

    Windows 365

    Windows 365 is a SaaS service that creates a personal Windows virtual machine, a Cloud PC, for each licensed user, at a fixed price per user per month. It is managed in Microsoft Intune. Editions cover small businesses, enterprises, US government, shared or part-time use (Flex, formerly Frontline) and AI agents.

    • Copilot and apps
    • Infrastructure
    • Agents
  • Cloud service

    Microsoft Intune

    Microsoft Intune is a cloud endpoint management service. It enrolls and configures Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS/iPadOS, Android, tvOS and visionOS devices, deploys and protects apps (including on personal devices) and reports device compliance to Microsoft Entra Conditional Access.

    • Security
    • Infrastructure

Use cases

Next steps

  1. Count remaining Windows 10 devices and schedule their upgrade or replacement.

  2. Test Windows 365 with a small group of remote staff before buying in volume.

  3. If you had Azure Virtual Desktop classic resources, confirm they were migrated; connections to classic resources are blocked after retirement.

Connected areas

Sources

  1. Windows 10 Enterprise and Education lifecycle (Microsoft Learn) (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Vendor-reported
  2. Windows 11 release information (Microsoft Learn) (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Vendor-reported
  3. Copilot+ PCs developer guide (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Vendor-reported
  4. What is Windows 365? (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Vendor-reported
  5. What is Azure Virtual Desktop? (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Vendor-reported
  6. What is Microsoft Intune? (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Vendor-reported

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