Microsoft announced at Build 2026 that OpenClaw now runs natively on Windows. The same announcement introduced Microsoft Scout, an enterprise AI agent built on top of OpenClaw and integrated into Microsoft 365. They share the same foundation but they are built for completely different people.

OpenClaw on Windows

The Windows integration runs through MXC, Microsoft Execution Containers, a new sandboxing layer that isolates what an agent can access on your system while it works. Microsoft framed OpenClaw as the ultimate test for the containment system. If OpenClaw can run securely within MXC’s boundaries, the reasoning goes, then the containment is robust enough for any agent.

Windows desktop users can install the native Windows Hub companion app, which includes setup, tray status, chat, node mode, and local MCP mode. This is available now, open source, and does not require a Microsoft subscription.

What is Microsoft Scout

Scout is a separate product aimed at organisations already inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It is a desktop AI application for Windows and macOS that reads and writes files, runs shell commands, controls a browser, queries your Microsoft 365 data, and works autonomously in the background. It asks you to approve sensitive actions before they execute, such as sending email or writing files.

Unlike Copilot, Scout does not wait for prompts. It is powered by Work IQ, an intelligence layer that reads signals from emails, files, meetings, and calendar data to build a personalised picture of how you work. It also carries its own Entra ID, so every action it takes is tied to a verified identity your IT department can monitor and control.

Who can use Scout right now

Not most people. Access currently requires Intune policy configuration, an opt-in attestation, and a GitHub Copilot licence. A broader preview follows in late June, with general availability targeted for October 2026 as an add-on for M365 E3 and E5 subscribers.

The actual difference

OpenClaw on Windows is open source, self-managed, and available today. Scout is a governed enterprise product you access through your organisation’s Microsoft licence. As OpenClaw’s creator Peter Steinberger put it, Scout is “not OpenClaw-like, it is the OpenClaw gateway.”

One is for people who want to build. The other is for organisations that want things managed for them.

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FAQ

What is the difference between OpenClaw on Windows and Microsoft Scout? OpenClaw on Windows is the open-source runtime you install and control yourself. Scout is Microsoft’s enterprise product built on top of it, governed through Microsoft 365 and managed by IT.

When is Microsoft Scout available? Private preview is live for Frontier program customers now. Broader access comes in late June, with general availability around October 2026.

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