---
title: About App-V 5.0
description: About App-V 5.0
author: dansimp
ms.assetid: 5799141b-44bc-4033-afcc-212235e15f00
ms.reviewer: 
manager: dansimp
ms.author: dansimp
ms.pagetype: mdop, appcompat, virtualization
ms.mktglfcycl: deploy
ms.sitesec: library
ms.prod: w10
ms.date: 08/30/2016
---


# About App-V 5.0


App-V 5.0 provides an improved integrated platform, more flexible virtualization, and powerful management for virtualized applications. For more information see the [App-V 5.0 Overview](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=325265) (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=325265).

## <a href="" id="what-s-new-"></a>What’s new?


The following list displays what is new with App-V 5.0:

-   **IT Diagnostics and Monitoring** - App-V 5.0 enhances the ability to generate reporting information about computers running the App-V 5.0 client and virtualized packages.

-   **End-to-End Programmability** - Leveraging PowerShell 3.0, App-V 5.0 offers a complete programmability solution for packaging, client and server operations.

-   **Simple and Effective Client Console** - App-V 5.0 offers a modern client console designed to simplify the top end user and Tier 1 support engineer scenarios.

-   **Virtual Application Extensions** - App-V 5.0 virtual application extensions enable virtual packages to run as if they are installed locally.

-   **Local Drive Creation** - App-V 5.0 no longer requires a dedicated local drive letter for virtual application deployment.

-   **Shared Content Store** – The App-V 5.0 shared content store offers similar functionality to the streaming server available in previous versions of App-V. It also requires less disk space and updates to virtual applications are available as soon as the new version is ready.

-   **Connection Groups** - App-V 5.0 connection groups allow you to connect and run virtual applications interactively.

## <a href="" id="bkmk-diff-46-50"></a>Differences between App-V 4.6 and App-V 5.0


The following table displays some of the differences between App-V 4.6 and App-V 5.0:

<table>
<colgroup>
<col width="50%" />
<col width="50%" />
</colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="header">
<th align="left">App-V 4.6</th>
<th align="left">App-V 5.0</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td align="left"><p>Must Use a dedicated drive letter (<strong>Q:&lt;/strong&gt;).</p></td>
<td align="left"><p>No dedicated drive letter required.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td align="left"><p>4 GB package size limit requirement.</p></td>
<td align="left"><p>No 4 GB package size limit requirement.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td align="left"><p>Virtual applications are isolated from locally installed applications.</p></td>
<td align="left"><p>Virtual applications can be extended to support local application interaction.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td align="left"><p>Dynamic Suite Composition enabled interaction with middleware applications.</p></td>
<td align="left"><p>Peer applications are shared using connection groups. For more information about connection groups see, <a href="managing-connection-groups.md" data-raw-source="[Managing Connection Groups](managing-connection-groups.md)">Managing Connection Groups</a>.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td align="left"><p>VDI/RDS environments required a read-only shared cache.</p></td>
<td align="left"><p>You can update the <strong>shared content store</strong> using the standard workflow.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td align="left"><p>Limited command-line scripting.</p></td>
<td align="left"><p>Supports robust PowerShell scripting for the sequencer, client, and server components.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td align="left"><p></p></td>
<td align="left"><p>Provides web-based management capabilities.</p></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

 

## How to Get MDOP Technologies


App-V 5.0 is a part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP). MDOP is part of Microsoft Software Assurance. For more information about Microsoft Software Assurance and acquiring MDOP, see [How Do I Get MDOP](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=322049) (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=322049).






## Related topics


[Getting Started with App-V 5.0](getting-started-with-app-v-50--rtm.md)