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How to run Windows 11 on an iPad
These days, the gap between high-end iPads and the best Windows tablets is smaller than ever. Apple has slowly made tweaks to iPadOS by introducing features like Stage Manager that make it more of a laptop replacement. A few more have arrived with iPadOS 18, which is finally here. However, it's still not quite there, especially because it doesn't have a desktop environment like Windows 11 tablets do.
But what if we told you that you could get the best of both worlds and run Windows on your iPad? You're not going to be replacing iPadOS with Windows 11 or running the Microsoft operating system natively, but as long as you have an active internet connection, you can get all the benefits of Windows on an iPad, and without having to take a big performance hit, either. It's all thanks to the magic of Remote Desktop or Windows 365, both of which are great solutions for this.
Windows 11: Everything you need to know
Windows 11 is the latest and greatest operating system from Microsoft, and it packs a ton of changes. Here's what you need to know.
How to run Windows 11 on an iPad with Microsoft Remote Desktop
For most people, the easiest way to run Windows 11 on an iPad is to use Microsoft Remote Desktop. This used to be available through the Microsoft Remote Desktop app, but Microsoft recently rebranded that app to be called Windows App Mobile. With this method, you can stream an existing PC that you already own through your internet connection, and then use it on your iPad. You'll have to ensure that you're running Windows 11 Pro, though, as this feature is not available in Windows 11 Home.
- Download the Windows App Mobile app on your iPad.
- Turn on the Windows 11 PC you want to stream to your iPad. Connect it to the internet.
- Open the Windows 11 Settings app.
- Go to System in the sidebar.
- Choose Remote Desktop.
- Turn the switch for Remote Desktop to On and note down your PC name. You'll need it later.
- On your iPad, open the Windows App Mobile app. Make sure it's connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your PC.
- Click on the + icon at the bottom and choose Add PC.
- In the PC Name field, type the name of your PC as noted earlier.
- Under User Account, choose Add User Account and then enter your account information from your primary PC.
- Give your PC a friendly name if you want, and press the Save button.
- Press the back button.
- Select Sound and set it to Play on this device.
- Turn the toggles for Microphone, Camera, Clipboard, and Storage to the On position.
- Press Save.
- Select your icon from your PC from the list.
- The remote session will begin.
At any time, you can end the remote session by tapping on the Microsoft Remote Desktop icon on the left of your screen and choosing the Disconnect all PC sessions option.
Keep in mind that this is a remote session, so you might experience input lag depending on your internet connectivity. You will be able to accomplish common tasks, though, like web browsing, writing documents, and even video editing if your PC has powerful enough hardware.
How to run Windows 11 on an iPad with Windows 365
If you don't already have a Windows PC and want to run Windows 11 on your iPad, your other option is to use Windows 365. This is a subscription service aimed at businesses, though anyone can subscribe by creating a business account. Windows 365 basically creates a computer for you in the cloud, which you can then access and use as your own from any device, whether that's an iPad, phone, or anything else.
- On another device, visit the Windows 365 sign-up page and pick a plan that suits you.
- Choose the Buy Now option.
- Create a new Microsoft 365 business account by following the steps on your screen.
- When complete, add a payment method. You won't be charged for the first month.
- On another device, go to windows365.microsoft.com
- Click the download icon in the sidebar.
- Select Get Subscription URL next to Microsoft Remote Desktop for iOS.
- Note the URL.
- Download the Windows App Mobile app.
- Once the app is downloaded, click the + icon and choose Add Workspace.
- Enter the URL you were provided earlier.
Once done, you should see the cloud PC you added earlier under the Workspaces section. Click it to launch. As long as you have an active internet connection, you'll be able to keep using this cloud PC. It works just like a regular Windows PC might, and it even adapts to your iPad's screen resolution. Since it's fully cloud-based, you don't need to make sure your computer is on or do any other setup steps. Whenever you want to run Windows, just launch Remote Desktop and you can log right into your PC.
What's the difference between Windows 11 and Windows 365?
Microsoft recently announced both Windows 11 and Windows 365. They're radically different products, though, and meant for different people.
It's not perfect, but it works and there are more options for Mac users
These methods may seem a little convoluted, but that's just how things are when you want to run one operating system on a device that doesn't support it. If you have a Mac, you can use virtualization to run Windows 11, which removes the dependency on the internet. But this isn't possible on an iPad.
