Android apps can now run on Windows 10 through the Your Phone program

Since last Wednesday (5), the ecosystem started testing a feature long awaited by Windows 10 users: the ability to run apps for Android along with computer programs. This access to Android applications will be possible through a new function of the Your phone (also known as Your Phone), a Microsoft app that already allows Android and iOS smartphones to connect to Windows 10.

Currently, the Your phone allows Windows users to “mirror” their smartphone screen on the computer, in addition to allowing them to make calls and send SMS directly from the PC. The new function of the app will allow the user to run some Android applications outside of this mirrored screen, as if it were any other program developed directly for Windows.

This makes it possible for the user to be able to use these Android apps with some “perks” that are currently exclusive to Windows programs, such as the possibility of placing these apps in the Alt+Tab “queue” (currently, which is on this list). it's just the Your Phone app, which prevents you from having more than one Android app running for quick access) or pinning that app's shortcut to the taskbar for easy access at any time.

Another important part of this new experience with the Your phone is the possibility of running several Android applications on the PC at the same time, something that was shown for the first time during the Galaxy Note 20 launch.

Despite this, Microsoft makes it clear that not all Android apps will work on Windows without any problem, and some of the errors that can happen is the function of sending smartphone content to other screens does not work when accessed from Windows (sending just a black screen), some Android games don't recognize a keyboard and mouse command configuration, or even apps that can't send their audio to the PC, and any sound from that app will continue to come out of the phone's speakers.

How to test new Your Phone in Windows 10

As it is still in the testing phase, this new function of the Your phone It's not yet available to all Windows 10 users, but you can test the feature before it's generally available to everyone if you meet some specific criteria.

The first one is owning a Samsung smartphone. Microsoft makes available on its website a list of all new smartphones supported by the new function, and for now all of them are South Korean devices. So, if your smartphone is not from Samsung, there is no point in trying because your device is no longer compatible. 

Now, if you have a branded smartphone, you need to take a look at the list of compatible models to see if yours is in it: although the new feature of Your Phone only supports Samsung cell phones, not all models of the brand will work with the application.

Now, if you have a Samsung smartphone that can use this new version of Your phone, the next step is to have a Windows Insider subscription so that you can access the beta version of the Microsoft program and be able to test this new function of running Android applications. You can register at Official Site from Microsoft.

After that, just look for the new version of Your phone from the Windows Insider Programs list, download and use your mobile apps as if they were programs made for Windows.

As for the final version of the app (the one that will be made available to the general public), Microsoft has promised that it will make the new Your phone for models in the Galaxy Note 20 line, but there is still no forecast for when this function will be available on other devices.

Source: The Verge