Microsoft tests a new way to carry Android apps over to Windows 11, starting with Spotify. The feature is in early stages, but it hints at tighter integration between phones and PCs.
Microsoft tests Android app handoff with Spotify
The first app in this experiment is Spotify. Users in the Windows Insider Dev and Beta Channels can link their Android phones to their PCs. Once a song starts playing on mobile, Windows 11 pushes a “Resume from your phone” notification, showing Spotify’s icon and a quick “Continue on this PC” option.
Hit that, and Spotify opens on your desktop or installs if it’s missing. Your song picks up right where it left off. This lets the activity move smoothly from phone to PC without breaking the flow.
What Microsoft tests now may expand later
There’s no official word on which Android apps will be next. But the potential is obvious. Swapping from reading an article to finishing it on your computer, or continuing a message on a bigger keyboard, could make for a much smoother routine.
Here’s what the current version offers:
- Spotify handoff between Android and Windows 11
- Desktop app launch or install via notification
- Full playback sync from mobile to PC
- Available only to Insiders (for now)
Windows 11’s sync features move closer to Apple
The idea draws parallels to Apple’s Handoff, but Microsoft’s approach is still simpler. Instead of syncing entire app sessions, it starts with a lightweight resume feature: no iCloud, no sign-ins across devices, just native continuity through your Microsoft account and phone link.
Microsoft tests the waters with low stakes
Right now, this isn’t a system-wide sync; it’s a test. The rollout is slow, the support is limited, and most users won’t see it for a while. But it’s a signal. Microsoft wants Android and Windows to talk more fluently, even if the conversation starts small.
Don’t blink, this could grow fast
Microsoft tests these kinds of features often, but this one has legs. If it expands beyond Spotify, Android users on Windows may finally get a taste of that instant switch Apple fans take for granted. The handoff race just got real.
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