Microsoft Dev Box

What Microsoft Dev Box is

Microsoft Dev Box gives developers self-service access to cloud workstations configured for coding. Organizations can define environments with YAML image definitions, custom Azure Compute Gallery images, or Azure Marketplace images. Developers can create and manage multiple dev boxes for separate projects or tasks through a self-service portal. Platform engineers and project administrators can use autostop schedules and hibernation to manage costs. Provisioned boxes automatically enroll in Microsoft Intune, while identity uses Microsoft Entra ID, with optional on-premises Active Directory Domain Services support. Disks are encrypted by default with a platform-managed key, and organizations can use Microsoft-hosted or customer-managed Azure network connections. Dev Box supports Windows Subsystem for Linux for Linux development scenarios. It is in maintenance mode, with no additional features planned, and Microsoft recommends Windows 365 for virtualized developer environments. The service fully retires at 17:00 UTC on September 18, 2028; its closing-down period begins at 16:00 UTC on September 14, 2026. It requires work or school accounts and specified Windows Enterprise, Intune, and Entra ID P1 licenses.