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Take complete control of your phone from your computer system..
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Apple users are fast to boast about how perfectly their iPhone, iPad and Mac all interact. And for the longest time, theyve admittedly had bragging rights. Microsofts Your Phone app on Windows 10 ($ 158 at Amazon) is rapidly capturing up and, in some ways, surpassing Apple..
Google has tried filling the space with Messages for Web, providing Android owners the capability to send and get text messages from any computer system. Thats where the service stops..
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If you want to see notifications, make phone calls or even access your electronic camera roll, well, youll need to turn to an app from Microsoft called Your Phone. Listed below, Ill stroll you through getting it established and discuss what each tab in the app permits you to do. If youre utilizing a more recent Samsung Galaxy phone, like the Note 20 Ultra, you can even run Android apps on your computer system– its quite cool..
In general, its pretty terrific, and something Ive been utilizing for the past week. After my time utilizing it, one thing is clear: Googles Messages choice is good however has absolutely nothing on the total plan that Microsoft has developed into Windows 10..
Your Phone deals with any Android phone running Android 7 or newer..
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Establish the Your Phone app on your PC and Android gadget.
The Your Phone app is already installed on your computer, as long as you have the Windows 10 October 2018 Update installed. Its not a bad concept to ensure your PC is running the latest version of Windows by clicking Start > > Settings > > Update & & Security > Check for updates and installing any pending updates..
Open the Your Phone app on your PC and sign in to your Microsoft account..
Your Android phone will require to be on Android 7.0 or later on, which if your phone was made in the last couple of years, you must be great to go. You can double-check which variation of Android its running in the Settings app, normally under System or About phone..
Open the browser on your Android phone and enter www.aka.ms/yourpc into the address bar. Your phone will then take you to either the Your Phone app listing in the Play Store, or if you have a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone, youll be taken to the Link to Windows app in the Play Store..
Setup on your Android phone needs you to simply follow the triggers, and grant authorization to your gadget when asked for..
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET.
Download and set up the app, then sign into it using the exact same Microsoft account linked to your Windows 10 computer..
Follow the prompts in the Your Phone app on your computer system and on your phone itself. There will be a series of authorizations youll need to approve, varying from access to notifications to giving Your Phone access to your text messages and telephone call.
As soon as the app is installed, youre checked in and all approvals are approved, youre prepared to totally control your phone from your computer..
Triage your Android notifications.
Instead of glancing over at your phone to see if you have any new notifications, utilize the Notifications tab to triage informs on your phone. The very first time you open the tab youll require to go through some extra setup, however as long as you follow the prompts on your computer system and your phone, its a breeze..
You can control which app notices are allowed to reveal up on your computer, and which will remain on your phone in the Settings panel of the app on your computer..
You can get and send text and picture messages utilizing your computer system..
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET.
Keep that text conversation going.
By far my preferred function of using Your Phone is the capability to get and send text messages on my computer system. It works likewise to Googles Messages for Web, however instead of needing to use a website, you access your messages directly in the Your Phone app..
Youll get alerts for new messages, total with a text field for quick replies, and you have the choice to send out GIFs and photos and videos, whether they originate from your phone or your computer..
You can even see any pictures that someone sends to you, however youll have to utilize your phone to view videos..
The best part? It does not matter which text messaging app you use on your Android phone. Google Messages for Web needs you to utilize that particular app, but Your Phone will work no matter what..
If you do utilize Googles Messages app, any archived discussions still reveal up in the Your Phone app as an active conversation. And, randomly, my phone and PC will get out of sync, causing messages not to reveal up on my computer.
Photos and screenshots are easily offered..
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET.
Gain access to your screenshots and photos.
Select the Photos tab to see the screenshots and photos saved on your phone. You can drag and drop anything from this tab to your computers desktop, or open it in another app on your computer..
Your phone limitations what it shows to the last 2,000 items, however that need to be more than enough for most circumstances. If you recently took a photo or screenshot and its disappointing up, click the refresh button at the top of the window..
Receive and make telephone call, through your Android phone, on your computer..
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET.
Make, receive telephone call.
Rather of selecting up your phone to location or address a call, use your PC. Prior to you can receive a call or place, click the phone tab in the Your Phone app on your computer, and follow the prompts. Youll need to have Bluetooth enabled on both your phone and computer system for telephone call to work, also..
When the extra setup is done, any incoming calls will show up as alerts on your computer system. Likewise, you can put a call by dialing a number or selecting from your contacts in the phone tab..
The Duo will likewise permit you to run Android apps on your desktop. Run Android apps on Windows 10.
Probably the most significant benefit of using Your Phone is that you can utilize apps installed on your Android phone, straight on your computer system. So if you desire to fanatically scroll through TikTok, or access an app to manage your lights, you wont have to select up your phone..
Now, the feature is restricted to Samsung phones, but we know the Microsoft Surface Duo will likewise support the function when it launches Sept. 10.
For those with a Samsung Galaxy phone, you can access your Android apps by clicking the App tab in the Your Phone app on your computer. To learn more about the function, ensure to take a look at our complete guide to utilizing Your Phone to run Android apps on your PC..
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If you want to see notifications, make phone calls or even access your video camera roll, well, youll have to turn to an app from Microsoft called Your Phone. It does not matter which text messaging app you utilize on your Android phone. If you do utilize Googles Messages app, any archived discussions still show up in the Your Phone app as an active conversation. Prior to you can get a call or put, click the phone tab in the Your Phone app on your computer system, and follow the prompts. Now that you have complete control over your Android phone on your Windows 10 PC, take a few minutes to tweak your computer to guarantee its running smoothly.
Change your settings as required.
Finally, click around the Settings tab. There youll discover alternatives to manage which app alerts reveal up on your computer system, turn photo access on or off, disable call if its just excessive for you, in addition to control when alerts are marked as read..
If youre using a Samsung phone, youll likewise have the choice to permit copying and pasting of information between your phone and computer..
Now that you have complete control over your Android phone on your Windows 10 PC, take a couple of minutes to fine-tune your computer system to ensure its running smoothly. We likewise have some suggestions and tricks for Windows 10 that deserve taking a look at. And make certain to inspect out our top features of Android 11, the next huge upgrade from Google.
