Microsoft and Samsung bringing Android apps on Windows

Microsoft and Samsung are teaming up to let users tap into the power of Your Phone app with Link to Windows integration on select Samsung devices to instantly access your phone’s mobile apps directly from your Windows 10 PC.

Samsung’s Link to Windows, combined with Microsoft’s Your Phone application, already lets users mirror a phone to the desktop OS so you can operate it with keyboard and mouse. There is also cross-device copy and paste.

At yesterday’s virtual Unpacked event, the two companies announced the app-streaming extension to this integration, which gives a look and feel of running the apps on Windows as opposed to controlling the phone remotely.

When you launch an app, it opens in a separate window outside of the Your Phone app enabling you to multitask. So, whether you need to quickly reply to a conversation, respond to your social posts, or order food, you can do it fast using your PC’s large screen, keyboard, mouse, pen and touch screen alongside your other PC apps.

Android apps can also be pinned to the Windows taskbar. This is on top of the usual Your Phone capabilities (which work with any Android device): access to photos, messages, notifications and calls.

Later in the year, Samsung Galaxy Note20 users will experience the power and convenience of running multiple apps side by side and Microsoft says it will continue to work with Samsung to bring this feature to additional devices. 

Starting today, Android phones supporting Your Phone app’s Phone screen feature will be able to preview the Apps feature.

The apps experience in Your Phone is gradually rolling out only to Windows Insiders on a PC that is configured to be in the Dev, Beta, or Release Preview Channels and is a server-side change that takes time propagate out.

Key Features:

• See a list of your installed Android apps directly within the Your Phone app.
• Add your frequently used apps to the favorites section or search among your apps for even quicker access.
• Launch any mobile app directly from your PC.
• Apps and your mirrored phone screen launch in a separate window on your PC.
• Pin your mobile apps to Windows Task bar or Start menu.
• Stay in the know by keeping an eye on the app notification badging (unread notifications) in the All apps list or your Favorites.