It’s been three years since Microsoft first introduced the Your Phone app, as a way to link your Windows PC with your Android or iOS phones. Today, in a new step of that cross-device synergy, Microsoft is rebranding the app as Phone Link, and also announcing a new interface, and some fresh changes to the setup experience.
According to Microsoft, this rebranding is a way of bringing your Android phone and your Windows PC closer together. That’s because, soon for all Windows users, the newly renamed Phone Link app will sport the fresh design that Windows Insiders have been testing for the past few months. It brings rounded corners, a new notification area and controls for your Android device, a new color palette, and updated iconography and fresh illustrations. The new interface also has a new tabbed layout, too.
Note that the icon for Phone Link is also changed, and on Android, the Your Phone mobile companion app has been renamed to Link to Windows for all users. In addition, Microsoft says that the next Windows 11 update will show a set-up screen during the out-of-box experience, with a QR code, so you can scan the code and quickly link a mobile device with Windows 11.
For those who live in China, Microsoft is partnering with HONOR. This means that the “Apps” experiences that Surface Duo and Samsung Galaxy owners have been enjoying are coming to HONOR Magic V, Magic 4 series, and Magic 3 series Android devices, too.
“We want to express how excited we are to share the evolution of our Phone Link and Link to Windows experiences and thank all our customers for joining us on this journey thus far,” said Microsoft.
As for what’s next for Your Phone, Microsoft is promising more ahead. It says that it will bring more cross-device experiences to Windows through Phone Link. You can get started with Phone Link today by clicking here.
