- Windows 11 is testing a new “Cross Device Resume” feature, starting with Spotify
- Users can pick up where they left off on Android apps directly from their PC
- WhatsApp and other major apps may join soon
- The feature works through Microsoft’s Link to Windows integration
After years of talk about tighter integration between smartphones and PCs, Microsoft is finally making a move that Windows users have been asking for: the ability to continue what they were doing on their phone right on their desktop.
The new feature, officially called Cross Device Resume, is now rolling out to testers in the Windows Insider Dev and Beta channels. In its earliest form, the tool only supports Spotify, but Microsoft has hinted that more popular apps will be included in the near future.
It’s a small step, but one that brings Windows 11 closer to matching Apple’s polished Handoff feature, which has allowed iPhone and Mac users to fluidly pass activities between devices for nearly a decade.
How the Feature Works
The premise is simple: start something on your Android device, stop it, and pick it up on your PC without missing a beat.
Imagine this scenario. You are listening to your favorite podcast or playlist on Spotify while out for a walk. Later, you sit down at your desk, open your Windows 11 PC, and a small Resume alert pops up in your taskbar. With one click, the Spotify app on your computer launches and continues playback from the exact moment you left off on your phone.
Microsoft says there are a few requirements to make this magic happen:
- You need the Spotify app installed on both your phone and PC, and both must be logged into the same account.
- Your phone must be running Microsoft’s Link to Windows app, which is the backbone of Android-to-Windows communication.
- Your PC must be connected and allowed to access your phone through the Windows 11 Phone Link integration.
If you don’t already have Spotify installed on your computer, the alert includes a convenient button that takes you straight to the Microsoft Store for a quick download. Once installed, logging in will sync everything automatically.
A Long-Awaited Answer to Apple’s Handoff
This is not the first time Microsoft has teased this capability. Earlier this year, at its Build developer conference, the company briefly showcased the function in a recorded session. The demo used Spotify as the example, just as in the current Insider preview, but Microsoft swiftly edited the footage afterward, suggesting the feature wasn’t quite ready for prime time.
Now, months later, the testing phase makes it official.
For longtime Windows users, the obvious comparison is Apple’s Handoff. Apple’s ecosystem allows users to start reading an article on Safari on their iPhone and instantly pick it up on their Mac, or copy text on an iPad and paste it directly into a MacBook document. That level of seamless cross-device integration has always been an area where Microsoft has lagged behind.
While Cross Device Resume is more limited in scope for now, beginning with Spotify, it represents the first serious attempt by Microsoft to match that kind of continuity experience.
What Apps Could Be Next
The initial rollout is intentionally small, with Spotify as the lone partner. But industry watchers expect Microsoft to expand support quickly. WhatsApp has been tipped as one of the next major apps to adopt the feature, and it makes sense: millions of users already switch between phone and desktop when messaging. Being able to pick up a chat thread in real time would be a natural fit.
Other cross-platform heavyweights like Netflix, Audible, Kindle, and YouTube Music could also benefit. The feature is designed for apps that exist both on Android and Windows, making the transition between devices meaningful.
Microsoft is also likely to use this as a way to push adoption of the Microsoft Store. Each time a user clicks on a resume notification, if the app is missing on their PC, Windows will route them straight to the Store for installation. This strategy aligns with Microsoft’s broader push to revitalize the Store and make it the central hub for both Windows and Android-compatible apps.
Why It Took So Long
One lingering question is: why has it taken Microsoft so long to bring this kind of feature to Windows? After all, the company has invested heavily in Android integration for years, ever since announcing the Link to Windows app.
The answer likely comes down to the complexity of building reliable cross-platform communication, the need for buy-in from app developers, and Microsoft’s own shifting priorities. Unlike Apple, which controls both iOS and macOS, Microsoft has to work with Android manufacturers, Google’s services, and third-party app developers to make such a system work.
Still, the delay has been frustrating for users who have watched Apple’s ecosystem enjoy these perks since 2014. Now that Microsoft is finally catching up, the expectation is that it won’t stop at media apps. Productivity tools, messaging platforms, and even gaming apps could all benefit from seamless resuming across devices.
The Bigger Picture
Cross Device Resume may feel like a small quality-of-life improvement, but it could be the start of a much larger shift. Microsoft wants Windows 11 to be the hub of your digital life, whether you are on your phone, tablet, or desktop.
By reducing friction between devices, users spend less time switching contexts and more time actually using their apps. It also strengthens the case for Android users, who make up the vast majority of smartphone owners, to see Windows PCs as their natural desktop companion, rather than Apple’s MacBooks.
If Microsoft can expand the roster of supported apps quickly, the feature could become one of Windows 11’s standout selling points.
Final Thoughts
At its core, Cross Device Resume is a simple idea: continue what you started on your phone, on your PC. But the implications go much deeper. It shows Microsoft is serious about catching up to Apple’s ecosystem polish, while also giving Android users a more seamless computing experience.
The rollout may be slow, starting with Spotify and Insider builds, but it is a feature that has the potential to change how people use their devices every day.
It might have taken too long, but for Windows 11 users, it is better late than never.
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