Microsoft is currently in the process of testing innovative features aimed at enhancing the synergy between Android devices and Windows PCs. The company’s Phone Link application is at the forefront of this integration, allowing users to seamlessly interact with their Windows systems from their Android phones. This includes accessing notifications, texts, and photos, but the upcoming updates promise to take this functionality a step further.
New Features on the Horizon
Among the exciting new capabilities being introduced are the options to remotely lock a PC and access its clipboard directly from an Android device. These enhancements are designed to streamline user experience and improve productivity for those who rely on both platforms.
To get started with Phone Link, users must first activate specific features within their Windows settings. For example, utilizing an Android phone as a webcam for the PC or accessing files through Windows File Explorer requires enabling certain toggles. Users can navigate to Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices > Manage devices to turn on options such as “Use as a connected camera” and “Show mobile device in File Explorer.” Additionally, this menu allows users to manage notifications and customize device names for sharing purposes.
Recent observations from users participating in Windows Insider Preview Builds reveal additional functionalities in the mobile devices menu. A Telegram user, Lance Adams, noted the introduction of a new toggle for “access PC’s clipboard.” This feature permits a connected Android phone to retrieve text and images copied on the PC, although it currently operates in a unidirectional manner, transferring information from PC to phone.
For those seeking full two-way clipboard synchronization, options like SwiftKey’s “sync across devices” or Phone Link’s “cross-device copy and paste” are available. However, it’s important to note that the latter is exclusive to phones that come pre-installed with Phone Link, leaving out Google Pixel devices. This makes the new PC-to-phone clipboard sync particularly advantageous for Pixel users, who have historically missed out on the native clipboard integration enjoyed by users of brands like Samsung, OnePlus, HONOR, and Xiaomi.
In addition to these features, the Link to Windows app is also receiving enhancements on the mobile side. Another Telegram user, Legofan, reported that the updated app now showcases a history of items copied to the PC’s clipboard, rather than just displaying the most recent entry. Furthermore, Legofan highlighted the presence of a “lock PC” button within the app, which allows users to remotely lock their Windows PC from their phone. This functionality becomes accessible once the “Remote PC controls” toggle is enabled in the mobile devices menu of Windows.
Featured image credit
