Microsoft Teams (classic) has been synonymous with Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) ever since it was fully integrated into earlier versions of Windows 10. With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting many companies that may not have had a fully fleshed cloud presence unaware, there was suddenly a considerable drive to deploy solutions such as Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), which can be deployed briefly.
The urgent requirement for remote work (work from home) functionality, AVD was able to get customers up and running again with its ability to connect to on-premises Line of Business applications (LOB) using solutions such as Azure site-to-site VPNs or Express Route as examples.
Classic Teams is now being phased out, but unlike single-usage Teams, such as those you use on your personal computing environment, it will not automatically upgrade to Teams 2.0 (or new Teams, as it is commonly known). Initially, the end of availability was earmarked for June 30, 2024, as is the case with single-usage Classic Teams.
Recently, however, Microsoft extended the end of availability to July 1, 2025; however, it should be noted that support will end on October 1, 2024.
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Since the Windows 10 multi-session (Build 2004) image was released, classic Teams was built into the base Azure Gallery image, where no additional configuration was required. However, several steps were needed to manually install classic Teams into a multi-session environment before this version.
With the release of Microsoft Teams 2.0, we once again have to reinstall and configure multiple components to complete the migration from Classic Teams to the new Teams 2.0 in a VDI environment.
Note: At the time of writing, the latest Windows 11 multi-session with M365 Apps 23H2 image only has the classic Teams installed. This means an update to the newest version of the AVD Master Image (sometimes referred to as the Golden Image) will be required. This, in turn, results in the need to redeploy all the production AVD session hosts with this updated image version, presumably from the Azure Compute Gallery, the standard for image creation and management.
For more information on the steps required to complete this process, please see here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/teams-on-avd.
It should be noted that this would also be an opportunity for customers who are still running Windows 10 in their AVD environments to rebuild their master images with the latest Windows 11 and install and configure the latest Teams 2.0 at the same time, as there is no upgrade path available for Azure Virtual Machines from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
Written by Jacques Theron, Netsurit Cloud Solutions Architect
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is happening to classic Microsoft Teams in Azure Virtual Desktop?
Microsoft is phasing out classic Microsoft Teams in Azure Virtual Desktop environments. Support for classic Teams ends on 1 October 2024, while end of availability is scheduled for 1 July 2025. Organisations using AVD must migrate to the new Teams experience to remain supported and secure.
2. Does Microsoft Teams automatically upgrade to new Teams in AVD?
No. Unlike personal Windows devices, Azure Virtual Desktop environments do not automatically upgrade from classic Teams to the new Teams. Administrators must manually deploy and configure Microsoft Teams 2.0 in the AVD environment.
3. Why is the new Teams important for Azure Virtual Desktop?
The new Teams provides improved performance, better optimisation for virtual desktop infrastructure, enhanced collaboration features, and ongoing Microsoft support. It is designed to deliver a more stable and efficient experience in AVD environments.
4. What changes are required to migrate to new Teams in AVD?
Migrating to new Teams in Azure Virtual Desktop requires updating the master image, configuring the golden image, redeploying session hosts, and installing the required Teams 2.0 components and optimisations.
5. Does Windows 11 support the new Teams better in AVD?
Yes. Windows 11 multi session environments are recommended for the latest Microsoft Teams experience in Azure Virtual Desktop. Organisations still running Windows 10 AVD should consider rebuilding their environments with Windows 11.
6. Can Azure Virtual Machines be upgraded directly from Windows 10 to Windows 11?
No. There is currently no direct upgrade path from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for Azure Virtual Machines used in Azure Virtual Desktop environments. A rebuild of the master image is typically required.
7. What is a golden image in Azure Virtual Desktop?
A golden image, also known as a master image, is a preconfigured virtual machine image used to deploy multiple Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts consistently across an organisation.
8. How can organisations prepare for the new Teams on Azure Virtual Desktop?
Organisations should review their existing AVD infrastructure, update their master images, deploy Windows 11 where appropriate, configure Teams 2.0 correctly, and test all Line of Business applications before production rollout.