Windows 365 Link celebrates first anniversary of simple, secure, purpose-built Cloud PC device

IT practitioners don't hand out praise easily. So when a solution architect, a head of workplace design and a modern workplace product manager start saying the same thing about an endpoint - simpler to manage, faster to deploy, easier to secure - it's worth paying attention to.

Windows 365 Link turns one year old this month. To understand why it matters, it helps to understand the service it is purpose-built for: Windows 365 is a cloud service that streams a full Windows experience - your apps, your settings, your desktop - directly from the Microsoft Cloud to any device. Your PC, essentially, lives in the cloud. Windows 365 Link was built to take that idea further, giving organizations a simple-to-manage, secure endpoint for Windows 365 with no local data, no local apps and no local admin users, so they could scale Cloud PCs simply, securely and cost-effectively. In the year since its launch, it has expanded to new regions and found a home across industries as different as manufacturing, healthcare, retail and professional services.

Windows 365 Link is helping a set of organizations with genuinely different challenges - an energy company looking to eliminate the management overhead that comes with running different devices for different roles; a global packaging manufacturer trying to give hundreds of factory workers seamless access to resources as they move station to station; a New Zealand telco rebuilding its entire desktop environment after separating from its parent company; and a Japanese IT infrastructure service provider developing a robust hybrid work foundation that balances convenience with security. What they found in Windows 365 Link wasn't just a device; it was a way to stop reconciling complexity and start running IT the way it should work.

Across organizations, the feedback tells a consistent story:

Our growing partner network helps organizations quickly procure and deploy Windows 365 Link. We've onboarded more than 200 resellers across 20 countries. Feedback from partners with experience deploying Windows 365 Link highlights Windows 365 Link's ability to simplify endpoint management and deliver reliable experiences:

Based on customer feedback, we make regular updates to Windows 365 Link devices to further enhance user experience and streamline IT management. Key updates targeted for release this quarter include:

• Support for pairing Bluetooth® devices during the out-of-box experience, so you can use a wireless keyboard and mouse to set up the device

• Support for tenant branding including setting a custom wallpaper, logo and name on the sign-in screen, so you can provide a tailored experience for your users

• Support for unique peripherals via USB redirection with no endpoint configuration required (GA) and ability to configure specific USB devices via centralized IT Admin controls (Public Preview)

• Support for visibility into pending updates directly on the sign-in screen and ctrl+alt+del screen, so users know when updates are available

Support for tenant branding on the Windows 365 Link sign-in screen

As we mark this milestone, we thank our Windows 365 customers and partners for their trust and collaboration. If you're planning a device refresh for frontline or desk-based workers, consider Windows 365 Link as a more secure, simple-to-manage and cost-effective alternative to traditional desktops. For more on the potential benefits of deploying Windows 365 Link in shared spaces, read the Forrester Consulting study New Technology: The Projected Total Economic Impact™ of Windows 365 Link, July 2025,commissioned by Microsoft. We're committed to expanding Windows 365 Link's availability so more organizations can benefit from the power, simplicity and security of Windows 365.