Tech how-to: Use your favorite Android apps on your PC

August 18, 2020

By Kim Komando

You love your Android phone. You have access to texting, your pictures and all those amazing apps that offer entertainment and convenience in the palm of your hand. Tap or click here to find great Android apps to install. But wouldn’t it be nice if some of those apps were available on your PC?

Good news! There’s an exciting update from Microsoft which allows some Android users to access their favorite apps right on their computer. Using screen mirroring Windows will now run Android apps directly on PC. But: there’s a catch.

At the moment this function is only available for certain Android phones. Keep reading to find out if your device is eligible and how to take advantage of this cool new feature.

Windows 10 Insider

To find out if your Android phone is one of the devices able to utilize this feature check the list on the Microsoft site here. Additionally, users must be running Windows 10 Insider Program.

Windows 10 Insider is a program allowing active Windows users to preview and test new features as Microsoft releases them. You can then offer feedback to help shape future Windows offerings. You can sign up for the Windows Insider program here.

Make sure you are running the most current version of Windows 10 in order to register for the program. Sign in using your Microsoft account. If you do not have a Microsoft account you can sign up for one here.

After you have registered for Windows 10 Insider you can begin Flighting, which is the term Microsoft uses for running new programs on your device. You will then have the opportunity to offer notes on your experience via the Feedback Hub.

How to access Android apps on your PC

Once you have registered for Windows 10 Insider, and have one of the Galaxy devices able to access this feature, you can do the following to add your favorite Android phone apps to your PC:

1. Download the Your Phone App to your PC.
2. On your phone, select Link to Windows in notifications.
3. Sign in to your Microsoft account if prompted.
4. Go to Settings and toggle Display My Phone Screen to the On position.
5. Select an app from your phone to run right on your desktop.

Not all Android apps may be available for screen sharing at this time, but chances are you will be able to run many of your favorites. Microsoft is also working to broaden the range of mobile devices able to link to this mirroring feature to make it available to more people.

Now you can access phone apps on your PC conveniently, with the benefits of a big screen and standard keyboard, and be part of a community of Windows 10 users on the cutting edge of tech.

Phones have become so versatile they have taken over many of the roles computers used to play. Computers can now offer features that only phones did. Taking advantage of these crossovers will give you the most complete experience technology can provide.