Windows 365 license options for Cloud PCs

Windows 365 is a Microsoft cloud service for the automatic provisioning of fully managed Windows virtual machines, known as Cloud PCs. Each Cloud PC effectively renders the experience of a personal desktop.

Windows 365 is available in multiple editions including:

  • Windows 365 Business edition: For smaller companies (up to 300 seats) who want ready-to-use Cloud PCs with simple management options.
  • Windows 365 Enterprise edition: For larger companies who want unlimited seats for creating Cloud PCs.

Windows 365 is made available through the following licensing options:

  • Windows 365 Business: After you buy a subscription for Windows 365 Business, you can use the Microsoft 365 admin center to assign licenses for your users. As soon as you assign a license to a user, Windows 365 creates a Cloud PC for that user.
  • Windows 365 Enterprise: Provisioning Cloud PCs requires a provisioning policy to build, configure, and render Cloud PCs available to users. Cloud PCs are rendered through two licensing options:

Windows 365 Enterprise licenses

Windows 365 Enterprise licenses are user-based licenses assigned to users either directly, or indirectly through an Entra ID group assignment.

You can purchase Windows 365 Enterprise licenses through the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Windows 365 Frontline licenses

Windows 365 Frontline licenses are pooled licenses, applied at the tenant level, not assigned directly to users. Windows 365 Frontline is a version of the Windows 365 Enterprise edition. It helps organizations save costs by providing a single license to provision three Cloud PC virtual machines.

Windows 365 Frontline is designed for workers who don't need 24/7 access to their Cloud PCs. For example, Frontline Cloud PCs can be helpful for users who are on a rotation schedule or for part-time workers.

When a Frontline Cloud PC is created, a provisioning policy specifies an Entra ID user group that is eligible to start the Frontline Cloud PC if there are available licenses.

If a user is targeted by multiple provisioning policies, that user can start multiple Frontline Cloud PCs and consume multiple licenses if available. For information about overlapping groups/users and provisioning policy conflict resolution, see Provisioning policy conflict resolution | Microsoft Learn.

You can purchase Windows 365 Frontline licenses through the Microsoft 365 admin center. It is a separate product not governed by the Microsoft 365 F1/F3 license eligibility conditions.

To use Windows 365 Frontline, you must be licensed for:

  • Windows E3
  • Microsoft Intune
  • Microsoft Entra ID P1

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Updated: Aug 09, 2024