Setting up Apps in the Your Phone app

With Your Phone apps, you can instantly access the Android apps installed on your mobile device right on your PC. Using a Wi-Fi connection, Apps allows you to browse, play, order, chat, and more – all while using your PC’s larger screen and keyboard. You can add your Android apps as favorites on your PC, pin them to your Start menu and taskbar, and open them in separate windows to use side-by-side with apps on your PC – helping you stay productive.

What do I need to use Apps?

To use Apps, you will need:

A PC running the Windows 10 May 2019 Update or later. To check and update your version of Windows, on your PC go to Settings > Updates & Security > Check for update.

Your PC also needs to be using a graphics card (GPU) that supports DirectX11. Learn how to check your version of DirectX

An Android device running Android 9.0 or greater, with Link to Windows. See the full list of supported devices here.

Your Android device and PC to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Apps works for Your Phone app versions 1.20082.141.0 or higher. Older versions of the Your Phone app will show the previous phone screen experience.

What do I need to run multiple apps on my PC at a time?

A PC running the Windows 10 May 2020 Update or later. For best performance, we recommend having at least 8GB of RAM.

An Android device running Android 11.0.

On your Android device, you need Link to Windows version 2.1.05.6 or higher, or Your Phone Companion version 1.20104.15.0 or higher.

Multiple apps works for Your Phone versions 1.20104.20.0 or higher.

How do I set up Apps?

On your PC, open the Your Phone app and select Apps. Follow the setup instructions. If you encounter issues, here are some troubleshooting tips.

What devices are supported?

Apps is available on select Samsung devices that have Link to Windows, and a few recent ones are listed below. If your Android device is running Android 11¹ or higher, you may be eligible for the multiple apps experience. Those devices have an asterisk* next to them.

Samsung Galaxy Fold*

Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G*

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G*

Samsung Galaxy S20*

Samsung Galaxy S20+*

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE*

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra*

Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip*

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G*

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G*

The full list of supported devices can be found here.

¹ Android 11 availability depends on your mobile device, market availability, and your mobile provider.

Supported devices for Your Phone app experiences

As we share new features for the Your Phone app, some of them are dependent on the operating system or type of device you have. Please check the list below to determine if your device is eligible for these experiences.

Currently Link to Windows is only available on the following Android devices in select markets:

Recently released devices:

Samsung Galaxy Fold

Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G

Other eligible devices:

Samsung Galaxy S10e

Samsung Galaxy A8s

Samsung Galaxy A30s

Samsung Galaxy A31

Samsung Galaxy A32

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G

Samsung Galaxy A40

Samsung Galaxy A41

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

Samsung Galaxy A50

Samsung Galaxy A50s

Samsung Galaxy A51

Samsung Galaxy A51 5G

Samsung Galaxy A52

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

Samsung Galaxy A60

Samsung Galaxy A70

Samsung Galaxy A70s

Samsung Galaxy A71

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G

Samsung Galaxy A72

Samsung Galaxy A80

Samsung Galaxy A90s

Samsung Galaxy A90 5G

Samsung Galaxy Note9

Samsung Galaxy Note10

Samsung Galaxy Note10+

Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite

Samsung Galaxy S9

Samsung Galaxy S9+

Samsung Galaxy S10

Samsung Galaxy S10+

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite

Samsung Galaxy S20

Samsung Galaxy S20+

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5

Phone screen is available on Android devices in select markets running Android 9.0 or greater that have Link to Windows installed (for some devices, it may be preinstalled). These phones include:

Recently released devices:

Samsung Galaxy Fold

Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G

Other eligible devices:

Samsung Galaxy A8s

Samsung Galaxy A30s

Samsung Galaxy A31

Samsung Galaxy A32

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G

Samsung Galaxy A40

Samsung Galaxy A41

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

Samsung Galaxy A50

Samsung Galaxy A50s

Samsung Galaxy A51

Samsung Galaxy A51 5G

Samsung Galaxy A52

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

Samsung Galaxy A60

Samsung Galaxy A70

Samsung Galaxy A70s

Samsung Galaxy A71

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G

Samsung Galaxy A72

Samsung Galaxy A80

Samsung Galaxy A90s

Samsung Galaxy A90 5G

Samsung Galaxy Note9

Samsung Galaxy Note10

Samsung Galaxy Note10+

Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite

Samsung Galaxy S9

Samsung Galaxy S9+

Samsung Galaxy S10

Samsung Galaxy S10+

Samsung Galaxy S10e

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite

Samsung Galaxy S20

Samsung Galaxy S20+

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy A72

Apps is available on Android devices in select markets running Android 9.0 or greater that have Link to Windows installed. If your Android device is running Android 11.0¹ or higher, you may be eligible for the multiple apps experience. Those devices have an asterisk* next to them.

Recently released devices:

Samsung Galaxy Fold*

Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G*

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G*

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G*

Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G*

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G*

Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip*

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G*

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G*

Other eligible devices:

Samsung Galaxy A8s

Samsung Galaxy A30s

Samsung Galaxy A31

Samsung Galaxy A40

Samsung Galaxy A41

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

Samsung Galaxy A50

Samsung Galaxy A50s

Samsung Galaxy A51

Samsung Galaxy A51 5G

Samsung Galaxy A60

Samsung Galaxy A70

Samsung Galaxy A70s

Samsung Galaxy A71

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G

Samsung Galaxy A80

Samsung Galaxy A90s

Samsung Galaxy A90 5G

Samsung Galaxy Note9

Samsung Galaxy Note10*

Samsung Galaxy Note10+*

Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite*

Samsung Galaxy S9

Samsung Galaxy S9+

Samsung Galaxy S10

Samsung Galaxy S10+

Samsung Galaxy S10e

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite

Samsung Galaxy S20*

Samsung Galaxy S20+*

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE*

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra*

¹ Android 11 availability depends on your mobile device, market availability, and your mobile provider.

Samsung Note10 series

Samsung Galaxy Note20 series

Samsung Galaxy S10 series

Samsung Galaxy S20 series

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

RCS messaging availability is varied

Whether RCS messaging is available to you also depends on the mobile operator network that you use and the country you live in.

What Windows Phone 7 Apps Are Available?

How Many Windows Phone 7 Apps Will Be Available??

1000, 2000… the figure keeps going up and up. Just how many launch day apps will be available for Windows Phone 7?

It is certainly expected to be more than the 60 games that will be available to play standalone on the devices, connected to an Xbox Live account.

However many it is, you can guarantee that all of the usual suspects will be lining up to provide Windows Phone 7 apps for searching, communicating with friends, shopping, visiting the cinema and so on.

We’re pretty sure the figure is over 1000. While we don’t have space to feature them all right now, let’s take a look at some of those must-have Windows Phone 7 apps that we know are going to be available at launch.

Onboard Apps

The Windows Phone 7 apps will be accessible via one of the Hubs, the Windows Marketplace; but you might find yourself never visiting this Hub as there are so many cool apps already on board.

For instance, accessible via the Search button is Bing in both text and voice search guises. This app will deliver the answers you are looking for via a superb Windows Phone 7-styled UI – and the same is true of almost all apps. Web browsing is available via Internet Explorer, while Office apps to blow away those supplied on the iPhone and Android devices come as standard.

As you may already have read, social networking is a key element of Windows Phone 7, with Facebook and Windows Live apps shipping with the phone, all configured to display updates on the Home screen.

(Image from microsoft.com)

Windows Phone 7 Third Party Apps

Along with 60+ games – including launch day releases from EA including The Sims 3 – there are believed to be over 1000 apps available to users of the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace on the day of launch.

Details of the majority of apps are non-existent but Microsoft have enticed some big-name partners to develop apps for their new wonderphone:

EBay – bid on the go with the Windows Phone 7 eBay app – or just browse auctions and add items to your watch list.

Twitter – this is likely to be one of the most popular downloads on launch day, an official Windows Phone 7 app from Twitter that looks absolutely superb, not to mention just “right” with the UI.

Tesco — UK shopping giant Tesco has already jumped in to allow you to prepare shopping lists and buy favourites with their app (pictured).

More Windows Phone 7 Apps

IMDb – demoed at the launch event, this is IMDb as you have never seen it before – slick, attractive, usable and not littered with adverts.

Netflix – the T-Mobile HTC HD7 will come with this installed, allowing you to not only order videos but also watch them!

Amazon – seen on Joe Belfiore’s demo device at the launch, little is known about this app as he didn’t click on it! Expect the usual mobile Amazon fare, all tied into the Windows Phone 7 styling.

Fandango – find movies, watch trailers and book seats with this theatre indexing app.

**U-verse Mobile ** – available in the USA to AT&T customers is U-verse Mobile, a version of the subscription TV streaming service that even non-subscribers can access for just $9.99 per month via Windows Phone 7.

Slacker – again packaged on the T-Mobile HTC HD7, this is an alternative to paying the monthly Zune Pass subscription. Slacker slots into the Music hub on Windows Phone 7 to offer online radio.

T-Mobile TV – finally, T-Mobile are offering their own streamed TV solution with news, kids and movie channels live and on demand available.

More Apps to Come!

There is a big buzz around Windows Phone 7, comparable to that of the iPhone at launch in 2007. Where the biggest names in online services have already tread, others are likely to soon follow.

Clearly a major element of Windows Phone 7’s third party app market will be drawn to the Xbox Live integration, but there is plenty of scope for apps that create PDFs, apply filters to your photos, allowing you to make VoIP calls (I’m looking at you, Skype) and all the usual music and online shopping apps.

With Microsoft rumoured to be planning the launch of a small form tablet device running Windows Phone 7, there is set to be a whole new market opening up…

Windows Phone 8.1 End of Support: FAQ

General Windows Phone 8.1

As of July 11, 2017, Windows Phone 8.1 users were no longer eligible to receive new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free assisted support options, or online technical content updates from Microsoft for free. Third parties or paid support programs may provide ongoing support, but it is important to recognize that Microsoft support will not publicly provide updates or patches for Windows Phone 8.1.

Based on our Support Lifecycle Policy, product and security updates were no longer available as of July 11, 2017. As of October 11, 2017, users were no longer able to automatically or manually create new device backups for setting and some applications.

After December 16, 2019, the Store in Windows Phone 8.1 will no longer be available for downloading new apps or reinstalling previously downloaded apps. Users who reset or reimage their phones will not be able to recover previously downloaded apps after this date.

After December 31, 2019, the anti-theft features will no longer be enabled. This means that if a Windows Phone 8.1 device is lost or stolen, the owner will not be able to remotely track the phone, lock the phone, reset the phone to factory settings, and/or erase the stored data. Also Reset Protection will no longer function. Resetting the phone with Reset Protection enabled will permanently lock the device. Please disable Reset Protection in Settings before attempting to reset your device. If your device is locked, you can contact support for help.

While some services such as photo uploads and restoring a device from an existing device backup may continue to function, all services will be discontinued over time.

Microsoft has no plans to push the Windows 10 Mobile upgrade proactively to Windows Phone 8.1 handsets that are eligible for the upgrade.

Customers can upgrade eligible Windows Phone 8.1 devices to Windows 10 Mobile, but should note that support for all versions of Windows 10 Mobile will end after December 2019. Devices upgraded to Windows 10 Mobile will receive security and servicing updates while it is still supported.

If users want to upgrade their eligible Windows Phone 8.1 to Windows 10 Mobile, they can initiate the update via the Upgrade Advisor app or an MDM system of their choice.

Information on which Windows Phone 8.1 devices can be upgraded to Windows 10 Mobile can be found on theWindows 10 Mobile Specifications & Systems Requirements page.

No, Microsoft recommends that customers upgrade eligible Lumia devices to Windows 10 Mobile.

Additional Information can be found on the Lumia Troubleshooting and Repair page.

We have no current plans to remove historical Windows Phone 8.1 updates from Windows Update.

The Windows Device Recovery tool may continue to provide the recovery image for your Windows Phone 8.1 device . However, after December 16, 2019, you will not be able to recover any apps that were previously downloaded. As with all Windows Phone 8.1 services, the Windows Device Recovery tool for Windows Phone 8.1 will be discontinued over time. See Windows Device Recovery Tool FAQ for more details on how to use the tool.

Yes. Your Windows Phone 8.1 device should continue to work after July 11, 2017, but there will be no updates after July 11, 2017 (including security updates) and device backup functionality and other backend services will be phased out as described above.

To see which Windows Phone operating system (OS) version is installed on your phone, do the following:

In the App list, tap Settings.

More info.
The Software section indicates the general product name we use to describe the release (for example, «Windows Phone 8.1» or «Windows Phone 8»). The OS version section indicates the specific build number of the release (for example, «8.0.0000.0» or «8.0.10517.150»).