In short: Though Home windows will seemingly by no means sync with smartphones as seamlessly as Macs interface with iPhones, Microsoft has lengthy sought to emulate points of Apple’s linked ecosystem. In keeping with this purpose, an upcoming characteristic in Home windows 11 will permit customers with Android telephones to entry performance much like Apple’s Handoff.
Lately, Microsoft briefly revealed – after which deleted – an indication of a deliberate Home windows 11 characteristic that lets customers proceed app exercise between their Android gadgets and PCs. Whereas it is nonetheless unclear when and if this characteristic turns into broadly out there, third-party builders are presently testing it.
Aakash Varshney, Microsoft’s Senior Product Supervisor of Cross Gadgets and Experiences, detailed the brand new characteristic, known as Cross Gadget Resume, throughout the firm’s Construct 2025 session. When utilizing supported Android apps, a badge might seem subsequent to the app’s icon on the Home windows PC taskbar. Clicking the badge resumes the exercise from the cellular model of the app.
On X, consumer “phantomofearth” shared a screenshot from an earlier model of the Construct stream, displaying the desktop Spotify app resuming a music that was paused on the Android app.
It is unclear why Microsoft later eliminated this visible demonstration from the video. Based on Phantom, Microsoft plans to start rolling out Cross Gadget Resume by way of OneDrive later this month, with taskbar integration to comply with. Spotify and WhatsApp will reportedly be among the many first supported apps.
The characteristic mirrors Apple’s Handoff, which permits customers to seamlessly proceed songs, paperwork, browser periods, and different actions throughout iPhone, iPad, Macs, and the Apple Watch. Handoff is not the primary cross-device characteristic Microsoft has tried to duplicate from Apple both.
Taskbar hover card UI used for the upcoming taskbar suggestions characteristic + Resume on taskbar, w/ Spotify assist, in Home windows 11 (taken from a pre-recorded Construct session*) pic.twitter.com/C8eUTyjTan
– phantomofearth 🌳 (@phantomofearth) Could 20, 2025
In January, Microsoft upgraded its Telephone Hyperlink app to enhance connectivity between Home windows 11, Android telephones, and iPhones. By syncing gadgets over Bluetooth, customers can switch recordsdata, deal with calls, and ship textual content messages from their PCs.
Whereas nonetheless removed from attaining the extent of integration provided by Apple’s Continuity, which permits a Mac to remotely entry just about all the things on a close-by iPhone, Microsoft is working to shut the hole. Apple’s tight vertical integration throughout its gadgets stays a serious aggressive benefit in this type of eventualities.
The Construct presentation additionally touched on Microsoft’s plans to streamline file and hyperlink sharing throughout apps and gadgets. Quickly, customers will be capable of share content material with contacts throughout a number of platforms with simply a few clicks. Microsoft will proceed internet hosting extra Construct periods aimed toward builders via Thursday, Could 22.
