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What is Windows 365 Frontline?

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Windows 365 Frontline is a version of Windows 365 that helps organizations save costs by letting them provision a Cloud PC that can be used by multiple users with a single license.

Windows 365 Frontline is currently only available for Azure Global Cloud.

Frontline Cloud PCs can't be accessed directly from Remote Desktop app. Instead, you must use Windows App if you want to access your Frontline Cloud PC. You can find Windows App at the Microsoft Store.

Windows 365 Frontline has two different modes: dedicated mode and shared mode.

Windows 365 Frontline in dedicated mode

A single license:

  • Lets you provision up to three Cloud PCs that can be used nonconcurrently, each assigned to a single user.
  • Provides one concurrent session.

Windows 365 Frontline dedicated mode is designed specifically for workers who need a dedicated Cloud PC but don't need 24/7 access. This system better supports organizations that are more elastic and distributed, working across various devices. Frontline Cloud PCs in dedicated mode can be helpful for users who are:

  • On a rotation schedule.
  • Working across time zones and regions.
  • Part-time workers.
  • Contingent staff.

The maximum number of active Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PC sessions in your organization is equal to the number of Windows 365 Frontline licenses that you purchased. For example, if you purchase 10 licenses, up to 30 Cloud PCs can be provisioned in dedicated mode. Ten of those Cloud PCs can be active at a given time. The active sessions are managed automatically. When a user signs off from their Cloud PC, the session is released for another user to start using their Cloud PC. A concurrency buffer exists to exceed the maximum a limited number of times per day. For more information, see Exceeding the maximum concurrency limit .

Windows 365 Frontline in shared mode (preview)

A single license:

  • Lets you provision one Cloud PC that can be shared noncurrently among a group of users.
  • Provides one concurrent session.

Note

During public preview, we are evaluating the potential limits for assigned users for shared Cloud PCs. More information will be shared at general availability.

Windows 365 Frontline in shared mode is designed specifically for workers who

  • Require access to a Cloud PC to perform specialized tasks for a short time during their work day.
  • Don't require data persistence.

Frontline Cloud PCs in shared mode can be helpful for users who are:

  • Customer-facing workers.
  • External contractors.

The maximum number of active Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PC sessions in your organization is equal to the number of Windows 365 Frontline licenses that you set up for a specific group. For example, if you assign 10 Windows 365 Frontline shared licenses, 10 Cloud PCs can be provisioned for the group. Only a single user can connect to a shared Cloud PC at a given time. When a user signs out from the Cloud PC, all user data is deleted and the Cloud PC is released for another user to start using. Concurrency buffer doesn't exist for a Frontline Cloud PC in shared mode.

Note

During public preview, only data stored in User Profiles is deleted. Any data stored outside of user profiles persists and can be accessed by other users who connect to the Cloud PC.

Licensing

Windows 365 Frontline licenses can be purchased through the Microsoft 365 admin center. You can confirm your license quantities under Billing - Your Products.

Windows 365 Frontline licenses are pooled licenses applied at the tenant level, not assigned directly to users. The Microsoft 365 admin center shows Windows 365 Frontline licenses as assigned to zero users. To see how many licenses are being used, use the Windows 365 utilization report.

Windows 365 Frontline is a separate product and isn't governed by the Microsoft 365 F1/F3 license eligibility conditions.

Windows 365 Frontline licensing

To use Windows 365 Frontline, each user must be licensed for:

  • Windows 11 Enterprise or Windows 10 Enterprise
  • Microsoft Intune
  • Microsoft Entra ID P1.

In addition to being available independently, Windows Enterprise, Intune, and Microsoft Entra ID licenses are included in:

  • Microsoft 365 E3
  • Microsoft 365 E5
  • Microsoft 365 F3
  • Microsoft 365 A3
  • Microsoft 365 A5
  • Microsoft 365 Business Premium
  • Microsoft 365 Education Student Use Benefit subscriptions

Managing Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PCs

Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PCs can be managed using Microsoft Intune, alongside other Cloud PCs and devices in your tenant. Windows 365 Frontline supports:

  • Provisioning Cloud PCs after licenses are purchased.
  • Managing Cloud PCs.
  • Configuring and applying policies.
  • Deploying applications.
  • Performing remote actions on Cloud PCs.
  • Reporting.

You can view your Cloud PCs on two pages:

  • All devices: Turn on the Model column to differentiate between Frontline Cloud PCs and others.
  • All Cloud PCs: This list can be filtered to show only Frontline Cloud PCs using the PC type filter.

When inactive, Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PCs in dedicated mode are in a powered off state. You can confirm the power state of the Cloud PC in Overview page for a device.

For the best user experience, make sure to:

  • Configure the Windows Update Ring profiles.
  • Set a time limit for idle Remote Desktop Sessions.

Exceeding the maximum concurrency limit

Windows 365 Frontline in dedicated mode includes a concurrency buffer to let a tenant temporarily exceed the maximum concurrency limit for Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PCs.

For example, when workers overlap during a shift change, a previous worker might need to finish up something before signing off. Or, an incoming worker might need to start a few minutes early. The concurrency buffer is intended to allow for such rare and brief over usage to make sure workers aren’t impacted by unforeseen lockouts.

The concurrency buffer can be used up to four times per day with maximum of one hour in each instance. This hour starts from the moment the tenant exceeded the max concurrency limit.

Temporary blocks

Excessive use of the concurrency buffer temporarily blocks its further use for the next 48 hours. A temporary block is imposed when:

  • On four or more occasions within a 24-hour period, the concurrency buffer is used for more than one hour.

While temporarily blocked, you can still use your Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PCs in dedicated mode up to the maximum concurrency limit.

Permanent blocks

If the tenant is temporarily blocked more than two times in a seven day period, the tenant is permanently blocked from using the concurrency buffer.

While permanently blocked, you can still use your Frontline Cloud PCs up to the maximum concurrency limit.

To unblock your tenant, open a ticket with support from the Intune portal.

Monitor the concurrency buffer

You can monitor the use of concurrency buffer with the Frontline connection hourly report. You can use the Frontline concurrency alert to receive alerts each time the concurrency buffer is activated. The concurrency buffer doesn't apply to GPU-enabled Cloud PCs and Frontline Cloud PCs in shared mode.

Features not yet supported Windows 365 Frontline

The following features aren't yet supported for Windows 365 Frontline.

  • Resize a Cloud PC remote action
  • Move a Cloud PC
  • Cross region disaster recovery

Windows 365 Frontline in shared mode is only available in the following regions:

  • Australia East
  • Canada Central
  • North Europe
  • Central India
  • Japan East
  • UK South
  • Central US
  • East US
  • East US 2

Next steps

To learn more about Windows 365, see What is Windows 365?