App-V Extended Support—The Saga Continues

Exciting news here from Microsoft Ignite in beautiful Chicago: Microsoft has announced that App-V won’t be going completely end-of-life (EOL) in April 2026 as previously suggested. It turns out that things aren’t as dire as they seemed. There’s a Dutch saying that captures this perfectly: “De soep wordt niet zo heet gegeten als ze wordt opgediend,” which translates to “Things are not as bad as they look.” 

Many large organizations rely heavily on App-V and have expressed their concerns; it seems Microsoft has listened. So, what does this mean moving forward? Here’s what you can expect: 

• The App-V client will remain available as standard from Windows 10 build 1607 and Windows 11, including the Enterprise and Education editions. It will need to be enabled via a Group Policy Object (GPO) or a PowerShell command, which can easily be managed within the Application Workspace. You can continue to receive security updates, non-security updates, and fixes, but there won’t be any new features or functionality updates. 
• You can still use the App-V Sequencer to update your App-V packages as needed. 

App-V support in Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) will be enhanced through App Attach. By uploading your App-V packages to Azure Files, you can assign them as App Attach packages to host pools, groups, and users. This explains why Microsoft announced the new App Attach functionality earlier this year. It’s designed to improve the dynamic invocation of applications in AVD, which is essential for using App-V within App Attach. 

• The infrastructure of Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) servers consists of several components that work together to create a virtual application environment. This technology is set to reach its end of life (EOL) in 2026! 

Recast Software’s Role in Navigating App-V Changes 

This is where Application Workspace comes into play, a platform known for bridging gaps in application management. From a technical point of view, what exactly is possible? 

Option 1 

While Microsoft encourages a move to AVD with App Attach for your App-V packages, we’ve been able to do this with Application Workspace for quite some time. Bring your App-V packages into our platform, and we’ll ensure they launch seamlessly from Windows 10, 11, or even Server 2022 or 2025 if needed. With Microsoft continuing support for the App-V client, this is a very valid option.  

My previous blog on App-V couldn’t be more relevant following Microsoft’s announcement at Ignite! Application Workspace enhances the benefits of App-V by providing a comprehensive platform for application delivery and management, including features like contextual delivery via Smart Icon Technology. Today it might be an App-V package, but tomorrow it could just as easily be an MSIX package or a native installer. 

Option 2 

With Application Workspace, we can also serve as the bridge with our connectors, including the Microsoft AVD connector. This connector allows you to establish a connection with Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop to import defined applications as ready-to-use applications within Application Workspace for distribution. So, what’s in it for you? 

Facilitating a Seamless Transition with Application Workspace 

One of the standout features of the Application Workspace AVD Connector is its ability to create a seamless bridge for transitioning applications into a modern workspace. Imagine your organization decides to consolidate all App-V packages within AVD using App Attach, making it the central hub for managing and maintaining these packages.  

Your organization has the choice to offer this in a complete desktop or as a RemoteApp, which is a more common scenario for the Modern Workplace. This means that employees won’t have to log into a full desktop environment in AVD just to launch specific App-V applications. Application Workspace is here to save the day with the AVD Connector. It enables you to easily deploy these App-V packages to modern workspaces, ensuring that users have quick access without the hassle of a full desktop login. 

Extending Support Across Multiple Platforms 

But we don’t stop there with Application Workspace. We can take it a step further by offering these applications in other on-premises environments, like Citrix and Omnissa. Thanks to our AVD Connector, we can integrate those App-V packages into Application Workspace, making them readily available across various platforms. 

Does this spark your interest? If so, we’d love to chat about it! Feel free to reach out to me, Nico Zieck, or Ben Ward.