Table of Contents
- Is Windows 11’s Resume-from-Phone Feature Worth Trying If You’re Not Using Samsung? (Critical Look)
- Why Isn’t My Android Phone Syncing with Windows for Resume?
- What Does This Update Let Me Do?
- How Do I Try Windows 11’s Resume-from-Phone?
- Why Doesn’t It Support All Apps and Brands?
- Challenges and Missed Expectations
Is Windows 11’s Resume-from-Phone Feature Worth Trying If You’re Not Using Samsung? (Critical Look)
Microsoft is testing a feature letting some Android users continue phone activities on Windows 11. This update makes it simple for supported phones to resume browsing, Office files, or Spotify music on a PC. The feature is limited, doesn’t support iPhones, and only covers select Android devices, highlighting both the promise and the current frustration for broader users.
Why Isn’t My Android Phone Syncing with Windows for Resume?
- Only some brands work (Samsung, Honor, Huawei, Oppo, Vivo).
- Xiaomi, Motorola, and Google Pixel are not supported yet.
- Both your phone and PC need special apps and updated software.
- You need to join the Windows Insider Dev or Beta channel.
What Does This Update Let Me Do?
- Resume working on Word, Excel, or PowerPoint online files started in the M365 Copilot app on your phone, right on your PC.
- Pick up your last Vivo Browser tab on your computer’s browser with a click.
- Resume Spotify playlists started on your phone.
- When you get a resume alert on the Windows 11 taskbar, click it to continue that task where you left off.
How Do I Try Windows 11’s Resume-from-Phone?
- Update your PC to Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (Dev/Beta).
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices.
- Enable “Allow this PC to access your mobile devices.”
- Pair a supported Android phone using Bluetooth.
- Open the Link to Windows app, allow it to run in the background.
- Make sure the “Resume” feature is turned on for your device.
- Start a supported activity (online document, browser, or Spotify) on your phone, and look for the resume notification alert on your PC taskbar.
Why Doesn’t It Support All Apps and Brands?
- Only apps using Microsoft’s Continuity SDK and approved by Microsoft work for resume.
- The feature needs deep integration with phone software—most OEMs haven’t joined yet.
- Offline files can’t be resumed (only cloud documents and web sessions).
- iPhones are not supported, as Apple doesn’t allow this level of integration with Windows.
Challenges and Missed Expectations
- The feature is inconsistent and fails to work reliably.
- Microsoft’s system is harder to set up than Apple’s Handoff.
- The experience feels piecemeal due to Android’s fragmented device market.
- Microsoft restricts cross-device resume to a limited set of partner apps and manufacturers.
- Users with unsupported phones, or working offline, can’t use the resume feature.
Microsoft’s cross-device resume is exciting for a few users but frustrating for most, reflecting Android’s fragmentation and the challenge of matching Apple’s seamless experience between devices. As more Android manufacturers adopt Microsoft’s system, expect the feature to grow—until then, only some will benefit.