Table of Contents
Key takeaways
- Follow the main steps in How to Enable Windows 11 Cross-Device Resume on Android in order; skipping prerequisites is the most common source of errors.
- Prioritize official packages, backups, and rollback paths when the guide touches servers, security, or production tools.
- Use the Next Read links at the end to continue with related setup, performance, or protection tasks.
Nearly 1.6 billion Windows devices are in active use worldwide — and the majority of those users also carry an Android phone. Yet switching between the two has always meant manual effort: emailing yourself links, uploading files to OneDrive, or hunting for what you were just reading on your phone. Windows 11 Cross-Device Resume finally changes that equation.
Released as part of the February 2026 cumulative update (KB5074105), it lets you continue Spotify playback, Microsoft Office documents, and Edge browsing sessions from your Android phone to your PC with a single click on the taskbar. It is Microsoft’s direct answer to Apple’s Handoff — and for users with a compatible Samsung, Oppo, or Huawei device, the feature is available right now.
This guide covers everything you need: how the technology works under the hood, which phones and apps are supported, and the exact steps to get it running on your system.
What Is Windows 11 Cross-Device Resume?
Cross-Device Resume — sometimes called “Hand Off” in early build notes — is a continuity feature that bridges your Android phone and your Windows 11 PC. When you are active in a supported app on your phone, an icon appears on your PC taskbar with a small phone badge. One click opens the same content in the corresponding Windows app, picking up exactly where you left off.
The feature first appeared in a limited form in the May 2025 Windows update (KB5058499). At that point, it only worked with OneDrive documents and had a narrow timing window. The February 2026 update expanded it significantly to include media playback, Office files, and browser sessions — transforming it from a niche convenience into a genuine productivity tool.
How the Technology Works
Microsoft did not build a screen-streaming or app-emulation system. Instead, your Android phone publishes a compact metadata packet called an AppContext. This packet includes the app name, content identifier, and instructions for the PC on how to continue the session. Windows 11 receives it through the Cross Device Experience Host — a background service already running on your system — and launches the appropriate native Windows app to resume the task.
This architecture keeps the feature lightweight. There is no constant Bluetooth or Wi-Fi stream running between your devices. The context packet is small, transfers quickly, and is discarded once you resume on the PC. The result is a near-instant handoff that feels smooth without taxing your battery or network.
Which Android Phones and Apps Are Supported
The feature relies on a Continuity SDK that phone manufacturers must integrate into their system software. Not every Android OEM has done this yet. As of Q1 2026, supported manufacturers are:
- Samsung (Galaxy series)
- Huawei
- Honor
- Oppo
- Vivo
- Xiaomi (partial support for select models)
Devices from Google (Pixel), Motorola, OnePlus, and most other brands are not supported. Apple iPhones are explicitly excluded — Microsoft’s documentation confirms that iOS is not supported for Continuity SDK integration at this time.
The apps you can resume from Android to your Windows 11 PC include:
- Spotify — playback session with current track and timestamp
- Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint — cloud-saved documents via OneDrive
- Microsoft Edge — active browsing sessions continue in Edge on your PC
- Vivo Browser — open tabs transfer to your default PC browser
- Microsoft 365 Copilot files — documents opened in the mobile Copilot app
One important constraint: offline files stored locally on your phone are not supported. The feature only works with content that has a cloud counterpart — typically through OneDrive or a streaming service’s backend. You also need a personal Microsoft account. Work and school accounts managed through Microsoft Entra ID do not qualify at this stage.
For more guides on squeezing more out of your Windows setup and everyday apps, browse the how-to guides on Hubkub.
How to Set Up Windows 11 Cross-Device Resume Step by Step
The setup process takes about five minutes. Both your PC and your Android phone need to be powered on, connected to the internet, and signed into the same personal Microsoft account before you begin.
Step 1: Check your Windows 11 build number.
Press Windows + R, type winver, and press Enter. You need build 26100.7701 or higher for Windows 11 24H2, or build 26200.7701 or higher for Windows 11 25H2. If your build is lower, move to Step 2.
Step 2: Install the February 2026 update.
Go to Settings → Windows Update and click “Check for updates.” Enable the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle. The update you need is KB5074105. Install it and restart your PC when prompted.
Step 3: Enable mobile device access on your PC.
Navigate to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mobile devices. Toggle on “Allow this PC to access your mobile devices.” This authorises the Cross Device Experience Host to receive context packets from your phone.
Step 4: Install Link to Windows on your Android phone.
On your Android device, install the Link to Windows app from the Google Play Store. If your manufacturer — Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, etc. — includes a built-in Phone Link variant, use that instead for tighter integration. Sign in with your personal Microsoft account.
Step 5: Pair your phone with your PC.
Open the Link to Windows app on your phone and follow the pairing instructions. Both devices should be on the same Wi-Fi network during initial setup. After pairing, verify on your PC under Settings → Personalization → Taskbar that the “Resume” toggle is switched on.
Step 6: Test the feature.
Open Spotify or a Word document saved to OneDrive on your Android phone. Within a few seconds, the app icon should appear on your Windows 11 taskbar with a small phone badge overlay. Click it to continue the session on your PC. The native app launches and picks up exactly where you left off on your phone.
If the phone badge does not appear, ensure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and that you are signed into identical Microsoft accounts on both. Microsoft notes that Cross-Device Resume uses a gradual rollout, so there may be a short delay before it activates on your specific device even after the update is installed.
For official troubleshooting steps, refer to the Cross-Device Resume support page on Microsoft.com.
Common Questions — Windows 11 Cross-Device Resume
Q: Which Windows 11 version do I need for Cross-Device Resume?
A: You need Windows 11 24H2 at build 26100.7701 or higher, or Windows 11 25H2 at build 26200.7701 or higher. These builds were delivered with the February 2026 cumulative update KB5074105. To check your build, press Windows + R, type winver, and press Enter.
Q: Does Cross-Device Resume work with all Android phones?
A: No. As of Q1 2026, only phones from Samsung, Huawei, Honor, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi are supported. The feature requires OEM-level integration of Microsoft’s Continuity SDK. Google Pixel devices and most other Android brands are not yet supported, and iPhones are explicitly excluded.
Q: Can I use Cross-Device Resume with a work or school Microsoft account?
A: Not currently. The feature only works with personal Microsoft accounts — Outlook.com, Hotmail, or Live.com addresses. Work and school accounts managed through Microsoft Entra ID are not supported in the current release. Microsoft may extend support in a future update.
Q: Why does the phone badge not appear on my taskbar after setup?
A: The most common cause is a mismatched Microsoft account — confirm both your PC and phone use the same personal account in Link to Windows. Also check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and that the Resume toggle is enabled under Settings → Personalization → Taskbar. The rollout is gradual, so a short activation delay is normal.
Conclusion
Windows 11 Cross-Device Resume delivers the kind of Android-to-PC continuity that Apple users have taken for granted for years — and it requires no third-party software beyond Link to Windows. The three things to have in place: the February 2026 update (KB5074105), a personal Microsoft account on both devices, and a supported Android brand. Once running, Spotify, Office documents, and Edge sessions transfer to your PC in a single click.
The current OEM limitation is the main caveat. If your phone is not from Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, or another Continuity SDK partner, you will need to wait for broader rollout. Microsoft’s track record with gradual feature expansions suggests more brands will be added through 2026.
Stay on top of the latest Windows announcements and software releases in our tech news section on Hubkub.
Last Updated: April 13, 2026
