Updated: October 13, 2026 (February 18, 2024)

Service Provides Hosted Windows Dev Boxes

Before joining Directions on Microsoft, Rob worked at Microsoft for 14 years where he designed technologies for Microsoft products and... more

Microsoft Dev Box is a service that provides hosted Windows hardware and software tailored for development tasks.

Dev Box enables quick provisioning of tools, platform software, and project source code for developers; however, using it requires Internet connectivity.

Administrators can manage some aspects of Dev Box with standard Microsoft tools.

Customers considering Dev Box should compare it with GitHub Codespaces, Azure DevTest Labs, and custom processes.

Update: Dev Box is being discontinued and will not be available after Sept. 18, 2028. See the Directions report, “Dev Box Merges into Windows 365.”

Microsoft Dev Box, generally available, helps organizations provide developers with hosted hardware and software development tools. It reduces the time to install and configure development software so developers can get started working with code on new teams, projects, and work items quickly. Management using Intune and Endpoint Manager helps update, secure, and track Dev Box instances. Dev Box is one of several options for providing development teams with hosted environments.

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