On stage at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event, Microsoft and Samsung announced Your Phone Apps, a seamless way to access Android apps on Windows 10. Just a few hours later, Microsoft has followed up to announce that Windows Insiders can now preview parts of the feature in Windows 10.
To preview Your Phone Apps you must be using an Android Phone which is compatible with Phone Screen and Samsung’s Link to Windows features. This means the feature isn’t exclusive to the newly Announced Galaxy Note 20 series phones. As a reminder, that list includes a number of Samsung Android devices, ranging from the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 all the way up to Samsung Galaxy Fold. You also must have a PC running one of the latest Windows Insider builds, from one of the channels. It also recommended to have the latest version of the Your Phone app, and Link to Windows, as well.
If your devices clear that checklist, then you should be good to go. However, please be aware that the ability to run multiple Android apps simultaneously on Windows is currently not available and will be introduced later this year. A list of some of the other features can be seen below.
- 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.
Keep in mind that this is a beta, and there are still some known issues with this experience. Some apps might block the ability to cast to other screens and you might see a black screen instead. Some games and apps might also not respond to interactions from your PC mouse or keyboard. You will need to use a touch-enabled PC to interact with them. Finally, audio from apps will play from your mobile device only.
It’s been a good day to have a Samsung device. Microsoft also announced Samsung will be offering the Xbox Game Pass with cloud gaming on its Galaxy App Store. Samsung is also planning on offering a Galaxy Note20 Gaming Bundle, too. It will include three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a new controller which is compatible with cloud gaming (Project xCloud).
Update: There was a sense of confusion if Your Phone Apps were available in retail versions or Insider versions of Windows 10. We’ve updated our post to clarify the features are for Windows Insiders only, as pointed out by Brandon LeBlanc on Twitter.
