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Issue Subscribing via URL in Remote Desktop (MSI) App — RDS On-Prem, No Azure

Vince 0 Reputation points
2025-04-10T17:50:47.8266667+00:00

Starting May 27, 2025, the Remote Desktop app for Windows from the Microsoft Store will no longer be supported or available for download and installation.

We have an on-premises RDS farm (no Azure integration), and I’m currently testing the Remote Desktop (MSI) version as a replacement. However, I'm running into an issue when trying to Subscribe using a Workspace URL.

When I enter the subscription URL, I receive the following error:

"We couldn't find any Workspaces. Please check that the email or URL provided is correct."

The URL is correct — it works perfectly with:

The current Remote Desktop app from the Microsoft Store

RemoteApp and Desktop Connections via Control Panel

I also checked the logs located at:

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.RemoteDesktop_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\Logs

However, these logs are unhelpful — all events have ID 0, and the event bodies don't contain any information.

Has anyone successfully subscribed using a Workspace URL in the Remote Desktop (MSI) version? Is there an additional configuration needed for non-Azure/on-prem RDS environments?

Any guidance or shared experience would be appreciated! User's image

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | User experience | Remote desktop services and terminal services

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  1. Domic Vo 10 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-08-10T06:37:50.1833333+00:00

    Dear Vince,

    Thank you for reaching out and providing a clear summary of the issue you're encountering with the Remote Desktop (MSI) client and Workspace URL subscription.

    You're absolutely right — as of May 27, 2025, the Microsoft Store version of the Remote Desktop app is no longer supported, and many organizations are transitioning to the MSI-based client. However, the MSI version is primarily designed for Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) scenarios and does not currently support subscription to on-premises RDS Workspaces via a Workspace URL.

    Why the MSI Client Fails with On-Prem Workspaces

    The error message:

    "We couldn't find any Workspaces. Please check that the email or URL provided is correct."

    …is expected behavior when using the MSI client with a non-Azure environment. Unlike the Microsoft Store app or RemoteApp and Desktop Connections via Control Panel, the MSI client lacks support for Remote Desktop Web Access (RDWA)-based workspace feeds — which is what traditional RDS farms rely on.

     Recommended Alternatives

    Since your RDS farm is fully on-premises and not integrated with Azure, here are your best options:

    Continue Using RemoteApp and Desktop Connections via Control Panel

    This method remains supported and works reliably with RDWA feeds.

    Deploy RDP Files via RD Web Access or Group Policy

      You can distribute .rdp files directly to users or configure them via GPO for seamless access.

  
  **Consider Third-Party RDP Clients**

  
     If you're looking for a modern UI or additional features, clients like **Remote Desktop Manager by Devolutions** or **FreeRDP-based tools** may offer better compatibility with on-prem RDS.
```3) **Additional Notes**

The logs you referenced (LocalState\Logs) are specific to the Microsoft Store app and won’t reflect MSI client behavior.

There is currently **no workaround** to enable Workspace URL subscription in the MSI client for non-Azure environments.

Microsoft has not announced plans to extend MSI client support to traditional RDWA feeds, but we recommend keeping an eye on future updates.

I hope this helps.

Best regards, 

Domic Vo
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