Briefly: Though Home windows will probably by no means sync with smartphones as seamlessly as Macs interface with iPhones, Microsoft has lengthy sought to emulate points of Apple’s related ecosystem. According to this aim, an upcoming function in Home windows 11 will enable customers with Android telephones to entry performance much like Apple’s Handoff.
Just lately, Microsoft briefly revealed – after which deleted – an illustration of a deliberate Home windows 11 function that lets customers proceed app exercise between their Android units and PCs. Whereas it is nonetheless unclear when and if this function turns into broadly obtainable, third-party builders are at the moment testing it.
Aakash Varshney, Microsoft’s Senior Product Supervisor of Cross Gadgets and Experiences, detailed the brand new function, known as Cross Gadget Resume, through the firm’s Construct 2025 session. When utilizing supported Android apps, a badge could 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, person “phantomofearth” shared a screenshot from an earlier model of the Construct stream, exhibiting 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. In response to Phantom, Microsoft plans to start rolling out Cross Gadget Resume through OneDrive later this month, with taskbar integration to observe. Spotify and WhatsApp will reportedly be among the many first supported apps.
The function 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 function Microsoft has tried to duplicate from Apple both.
Taskbar hover card UI used for the upcoming taskbar suggestions function + Resume on taskbar, w/ Spotify help, in Home windows 11 (taken from a pre-recorded Construct session*) pic.twitter.com/C8eUTyjTan
– phantomofearth 🌳 (@phantomofearth) Might 20, 2025
In January, Microsoft upgraded its Telephone Hyperlink app to enhance connectivity between Home windows 11, Android telephones, and iPhones. By syncing units over Bluetooth, customers can switch information, 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 nearly the whole lot on a close-by iPhone, Microsoft is working to shut the hole. Apple’s tight vertical integration throughout its units stays a significant aggressive benefit in this sort of eventualities.
The Construct presentation additionally touched on Microsoft’s plans to streamline file and hyperlink sharing throughout apps and units. Quickly, customers will have the ability to 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, Might 22.
