Windows Virtual Desktop is a comprehensive desktop and app virtualization service running in the cloud. It’s the only virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) that delivers simplified management, multi-session Windows 10, optimizations for Office 365 ProPlus, and support for Remote Desktop Services (RDS) environments
– Microsoft
Windows Virtual Desktop supports access from a variety of platforms through the use of different clients. Here is a list of the most common clients:
Choosing which client to use depends on which computing platform you use or have access to. It may also depend on which feature you need. For example, if you do not use video conferencing, then the Web Client will be sufficient as you do not need to use the microphone and/or camera. Here’s a breakdown of the key features supported for each client.
| Feature | Web Client | Windows Desktop Client | Windows Store Client | macOS Client | Android Client | iOS Client |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keyboard | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Mouse | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Touch | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pen | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Serial Port | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| USB | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Cameras | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Clipboard | Text | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Text | Text, Image |
| Local Storage | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Location | ✔ | |||||
| Microphones | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Printers | ✔ | |||||
| Scanners | ✔ | |||||
| Smart Cards | ✔ | |||||
| Speakers | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |