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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Windows 11 can now bring substantially more of your phone onto the desktop. Through the Start-menu mobile-device companion and Phone Link, compatible phones can expose messages, calls, photos, battery and connectivity status, recent activity, and file transfers. A separate Cross-device Resume feature can place a supported Android activity on the Windows taskbar so you can continue it on the PC.
The important limitation is compatibility: Cross-device Resume currently requires Android 10 or later, while copy-and-paste, drag-and-drop and some file features work only on listed manufacturers and models. iPhone integration covers fewer functions, and several newer capabilities remain in gradual or Insider rollouts.
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What Windows 11 phone integration includes
Microsoft’s October 15, 2026 Windows Experience Blog describes the goal plainly: “When you’re in the middle of something on your PC, your phone’s messages, apps and files should be within reach too.” In practice, the experience is divided among three Windows surfaces.
- Start-menu mobile-device companion: provides at-a-glance phone information and shortcuts.
- Phone Link: manages messages, calls, photos, notifications and other phone features.
- Cross-device Resume: adds a phone-badged taskbar icon for continuing certain Android activities on the PC.
Windows 11, connectivity, a Microsoft Account and Phone Link version 1.25032.82.0 are among the listed requirements for the current Start-menu integration. The phone must also be paired through Microsoft’s Link to Windows service.
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Android and iPhone capabilities compared
| Capability | Android | iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Messages and calls | Available through the supported Start-menu and Phone Link experience | Available through the supported Start-menu and Phone Link experience |
| Photos | Available | Not listed for the Start-menu companion |
| Battery and connectivity status | Available | Available |
| Recent activities | Available | Available |
| File sending | Available | Available |
| Cross-device Resume | Documented requirement is Android 10 or later | Not included in Microsoft’s documented requirements |
| Connection detail | Link to Windows pairing; feature behavior depends on device and network settings | Bluetooth Low Energy is used for the PC connection |
This means an iPhone can still be useful with Phone Link for communication, status and file sending, but the documented Android app-continuation workflow does not extend to iPhone.
How Cross-device Resume works
Cross-device Resume is designed for switching from a phone activity to the Windows taskbar rather than reopening an app from scratch. Microsoft requires a Windows 11-or-later PC, an Android 10-or-later phone, internet access on both devices, Link to Windows pairing and a phone listed under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices (the exact wording can vary as Windows updates roll out).
- Pair the Android phone and PC in Phone Link, completing the QR-code or manual pairing flow.
- Sign in to Phone Link and Windows with the same Microsoft Account.
- Confirm that the phone appears under Mobile devices in Windows Settings.
- Use a supported app on the phone. When Windows detects a resumable activity, a phone-badged icon appears on the taskbar.
- Select the icon to open the same activity on the PC, normally in the appropriate Windows or browser experience.
As of January 2026, Microsoft listed three examples: Spotify for continuing music tracks and podcast episodes, vivo Browser for continuing browsing in the PC’s default browser, and WhatsApp for continuing a chat conversation. The list is app-specific and can change as developers add support.
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Rollout status
Microsoft’s August 22, 2025 Insider announcement described the initial Resume rollout as gradual to Dev and Beta channels. Its Spotify demonstration also showed a one-click Microsoft Store installation prompt when Spotify was not already installed on the PC. That behavior is evidence of an evolving feature, not a guarantee that every Windows 11 installation will display the same prompt.
Sending files between a phone and Windows 11
File sending is available from both the Start-menu companion and Phone Link. Files received on the PC are stored in DownloadsPhone Link by default; Phone Link includes a setting for changing that directory.
Drag-and-drop transfer is more restricted than basic file sending. Microsoft documents it only for selected device families, and touch or pen dragging is not supported. If drag-and-drop is unavailable, use the file-sending command in Start or Phone Link instead.
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Copy and paste across devices
Cross-device clipboard support is not universal across Android phones. Microsoft documents it for Surface Duo and selected Samsung, HONOR, OPPO, ASUS, vivo and Xiaomi devices. Named Samsung examples include Galaxy S21 5G, Galaxy Note20 5G and Note20 Ultra, Galaxy S21+ 5G and S21 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip models. Microsoft also lists HONOR Magic4 Pro and Magic6 and selected OPPO, OnePlus and Realme families.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe documented clipboard payload is text and images. Images larger than 1 MB are resized. Copy and paste can use mobile data if that option is enabled; otherwise both devices need Wi-Fi. A phone outside the documented model families may still pair with Phone Link while lacking this particular clipboard function.
Set up Phone Link and control what syncs
- Open Phone Link on the Windows 11 PC.
- Choose the Android or iPhone pairing option and follow the QR-code or manual instructions.
- Install or open Link to Windows on the phone when prompted.
- Sign in with the same Microsoft Account on both devices and approve the requested permissions.
- In Phone Link, open Settings > Features.
- Turn on only the features you want, including Notifications, Messages, Calls, Photos, cross-device copy and paste, wallpaper, audio player, hotspot and mobile-data sync.
Turning a feature off stops that content from syncing until you enable it again. Permissions on the phone, app versions and network conditions can also affect what appears.
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What is still in preview
A July 24, 2025 Insider post described a refreshed Android Link to Windows hub with recent PC files and clipboard items, PC battery and Wi-Fi status, file sending, remote PC lock and phone-screen mirroring. Microsoft warned that the experience was rolling out and that not all Insiders would see it immediately. These capabilities should therefore be treated as preview features unless Microsoft later moves them into the standard release.
What app developers need to know
Cross-device Resume exposes task-continuation icons on the Windows taskbar. Microsoft identifies Phone Link task continuity as a Limited Access Feature: developers must request approval and provide a user-experience description, a screenshot, a package ID and a Google Play link. Microsoft recommends its Continuity SDK for new taskbar integrations, so broad app coverage depends on developers adopting the system rather than on Phone Link alone.
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Common limitations and fixes
- No Resume icon: check that the PC runs Windows 11, the phone runs Android 10 or later, both devices have internet access, pairing is complete and the phone is listed under Mobile devices.
- Clipboard does not work: verify that the exact phone model is in Microsoft’s supported families, enable cross-device copy and paste in Phone Link and check the Wi-Fi or mobile-data setting.
- Files do not appear where expected: check
DownloadsPhone Linkand review the download-directory setting in Phone Link. - Start-menu information is missing: confirm Phone Link version 1.25032.82.0 or later where offered, reconnect the phone and recheck permissions.
- Drag-and-drop fails: use the built-in file-sending control; drag-and-drop is limited to selected devices and does not accept touch or pen input.
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