Unveiling the Windows 365 Link: A Cloud-Based Mini-PC for Businesses

Imagine having a PC for your employees that would fit in the palm of your hand and allow them to connect to work from anywhere. That’s the promise of the Windows 365 Link cloud-based mini PC shared at Microsoft Ignite.

The new mini PC will be more of a cloud appliance than what you think of as a PC. Still, you will be able to connect it to the peripherals that you need—monitors, mouse, keyboard, webcam—. It will have its own Windows-based operating system (though no full-blown Windows), with the goal being that whoever is using it is connected to Windows 365.

The 365 Link mini PC supports dual 4K monitors and has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity, along with four USB ports, a Display port, and an HDMI port. There’s also an ethernet port for wired connectivity.

The Windows 365 Link does not have any form of local storage (meaning everything will be stored in the cloud), which also helps reduce security risks tied to physical data loss. To add to the security of the device, it will have passwordless logins, which require users to sign in with the Microsoft Authenticator app, a passkey, or a SUB security key. And, of course, it connects to all the Microsoft 365 apps so you can access your Word, Outlook, and Excel documents with ease.

You don’t have to work remotely to use the Windows 365 Link, either. It works well in in-office environments, too, reducing the cost of outfitting employees with PCs while also providing a centralized location for storing and securing company data. It also releases employees from the chains of a single desk and allows them to work from any location with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

The 365 Link mini PC will be available starting in April 2025 in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. It will cost $349, making it an affordable solution for businesses making the move to cloud-based computing. If you wish to join the preview for the 365 Link, you’ll need to notify your Microsoft account team with the request before December 15.

It’s unclear yet whether Microsoft plans to make something like this device for consumers, but if the initial launch for businesses go well, it could be a possiblity.