How to quickly create a Windows 10 computer on AWS

May 12, 2022

Learn how to quickly create a Windows 10 machine in the cloud with AWS WorkSpaces and connect to it remotely from your Mac using the WorkSpaces client app.

~~~

I recently had the need to “spin up” a Windows 10 computer and access it remotely without actually having to go buy and set up a PC.

The goal was to have a freshly installed Windows 10 machine, use it from my Mac, try running some commands to test installing npm Git all that stuff so I could test the instructions in my course were running, and then destroy it after 1 hour.

I reviewed various options and saw AWS WorkSpaces.

They allow far more complicated workflows, but it also worked for my simple use case.

I assume you have an AWS account already.

Once you’re in the AWS Console search for the WorkSpaces service in AWS:

AWS WorkSpaces homepage showing Get Started Now button and setup steps

Click Get Started Now and choose the Quick Setup:

AWS WorkSpaces setup page with Quick Setup and Advanced Setup options

Now pick a machine. I chose Standard with Windows 10:

AWS WorkSpaces bundle selection showing various Windows configurations and user details form

The protocol changes how you can connect to it. I picked WSP (Amazon’s WorkSpaces Streaming Protocol).

Enter the user’s details and press Launch WorkSpaces:

AWS WorkSpaces user details form filled out with username, first name, last name and email

AWS WorkSpaces launch confirmation page showing workspace creation in progress

Next you’ll get an email with instructions on how to set the user’s password and how to download the AWS WorkSpaces client.

AWS WorkSpaces client download page with various platform options including macOS

Install the app, then once you got the email (it can take 20 minutes) enter the registration code you got via email:

AWS WorkSpaces desktop client registration screen asking for registration code

and enter your user password:

AWS WorkSpaces credentials form for setting up user password and account details

And you’re ready to go!

Windows desktop showing Astro welcome page in a browser, demonstrating successful WorkSpaces connection

Tagged: Computer · All topics

~~~