Briefly: Though Home windows will possible by no means sync with smartphones as seamlessly as Macs interface with iPhones, Microsoft has lengthy sought to emulate elements of Apple’s related ecosystem. In step with this objective, an upcoming characteristic in Home windows 11 will enable customers with Android telephones to entry performance just like Apple’s Handoff.
Just 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 units and PCs. Whereas it is nonetheless unclear when and if this characteristic turns into broadly obtainable, third-party builders are at present testing it.
Aakash Varshney, Microsoft’s Senior Product Supervisor of Cross Units and Experiences, detailed the brand new characteristic, known as Cross Machine 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. In line with Phantom, Microsoft plans to start rolling out Cross Machine Resume through OneDrive later this month, with taskbar integration to observe. 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 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 reaching the extent of integration supplied by Apple’s Continuity, which permits a Mac to remotely entry nearly all the pieces on a close-by iPhone, Microsoft is working to shut the hole. Apple’s tight vertical integration throughout its units stays a serious aggressive benefit in this type of situations.
The Construct presentation additionally touched on Microsoft’s plans to streamline file and hyperlink sharing throughout apps and units. 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, Might 22.
