How to Utilize Mobile Apps on Your Desktop

Windows 10 has played nice with the Android platform for a while now, but did you know that there is a way that you can actually utilize the same apps you would find on your mobile device on your PC? Listed below is how you can enable this capability.

In order to use this function, you need to be sure of a few factors:

• You have a Samsung Galaxy device (more should be compatible soon, though) running Android 9.0 or later with the Link to Windows tool.
• Your computer is running the Windows 10 October 2019 Update or later (it probably should be later at this point).
• You're connected to the same Wi-Fi network on both devices.

It is also critical to keep in mind that this feature is not compatible with accounts designated as work or school accounts.

What Does This Allow Me to Do?

This compatibility allows you to use your Android device's applications alongside the applications on your laptop or desktop, thus minimizing the time you waste switching back and forth between devices as you go about your day.

Interacting with your applications on-screen is simple.

• A single click works the same as a single tap.
• Right clicking works similarly to the Back button.
• Clicking and holding is the same as touching and holding.
• Clicking and dragging works to select content.
• Scrolling allows you to move vertically and horizontally between apps.

There are a few limitations to this capability: notably, some apps may not permit casting to your computer's display, some will require the use of a touch-input PC, and the fact that sounds are not also cast to your PC. On the other hand, if you're someone who relies on both your PC and your mobile device throughout the day, this function will probably be of some use.

Is this something you could see yourself using? Leave a comment to tell us why or why not, and don't forget to subscribe to our Macro Systems' blog!