In the ever-evolving landscape of remote work and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) has emerged as a critical tool for consultants working at customer sites. As more professionals leverage AVD to access their work environments seamlessly, ensuring a smooth connection on new devices becomes paramount. One such challenge arises when using AVD on the new Copilot+ ARM64 systems. This blog post delves into the specific issues faced and provides a solution to ensure optimal performance, especially for audio and video functionalities.

The Growing Trend of BYOD and AVD

BYOD scenarios are becoming increasingly prevalent in many industries. Consultants and remote workers often need access to secure, high-performance virtual desktops, making AVD a preferred solution. However, the diversity in hardware and software configurations can introduce challenges, particularly when new architectures like ARM64 come into play.

The Copilot+ ARM64 System: A Game-Changer for Consultants

The Copilot+ ARM64 system is designed to provide a powerful, efficient, and lightweight computing experience. It offers several advantages that make it an ideal choice for consultants:

1. Extended Battery Life:
   • The ARM64 architecture is known for its energy efficiency, which translates to longer battery life. Consultants can work for extended periods without needing to recharge, enhancing productivity during long meetings or travel.
2. Extreme Portability:
   • Copilot+ PCs are designed to be lightweight and compact, making them easy to carry around. This portability ensures that consultants can move seamlessly between client sites and their own workspaces without being bogged down by heavy equipment.
3. Enhanced Performance:
   • Despite their compact size, Copilot+ ARM64 systems offer robust performance, capable of handling demanding applications and multitasking with ease.

However, when connecting to AVD, users can face issues, particularly with the store versions of the Remote Desktop App and Windows App, which are ARM64 native. These versions fail to support audio and video properly, leading to a suboptimal user experience.

Common symptoms include:

• Audio and video features not functioning as expected.
• Microsoft Teams indicating that AVD media is not connected.

Identifying the Core Issue

The root cause of these issues lies in the ARM64 native versions of the Remote Desktop App and Windows App, that are at writing of this blogpost available in the Microsoft Store. While these versions are optimized for ARM64 architecture, they lack the necessary support for AVD media optimization, crucial for applications like Microsoft Teams.

The Solution: Installing the MSI Version of the Remote Desktop Client

To overcome this challenge, users need to install the MSI version of the Remote Desktop Client for Windows, which includes a crucial x86 component. This component ensures that AVD media is properly optimized, thereby enabling full functionality for audio and video.

Step-by-Step Guide to Install the MSI Version:

1. Download the MSI Version:
   • Visit the official Microsoft website to download the MSI version of the Remote Desktop Client for ARM64.
2. Run the Installer:
   • Execute the downloaded MSI file to start the installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
3. Verify Installation:
   • Once installed, open the Remote Desktop Client and connect to your AVD environment. Check the audio and video functionalities to ensure they are working correctly.
4. Check Microsoft Teams:
   • Launch Microsoft Teams within your AVD session and confirm that the AVD media is connected. You should now have full audio and video capabilities.
   • 

Conclusion

Connecting to Azure Virtual Desktop on a new Copilot+ ARM64 system can present challenges, particularly with audio and video functionalities. However, the advantages of using a Copilot+ PC for consultants—extended battery life, extreme portability, and enhanced performance—make these devices highly beneficial for BYOD scenarios. By understanding the limitations of the store versions of the Remote Desktop App and Windows App and opting for the MSI version of the Remote Desktop Client, users can ensure a seamless and fully functional AVD experience. As BYOD scenarios continue to rise, being equipped with this knowledge will empower consultants and remote workers to maintain productivity and connectivity, regardless of their device architecture.