At the MS Build 2025 event, Microsoft showcased new cross-device features between Windows and Android, echoing Apple’s Handoff functionality in macOS. In a session called “Create Seamless Cross-Device Experiences with Windows for your app,” Microsoft PM Aakash Varshney explained, “When you open the app on your mobile device or tablet, Windows can display a subtle badge on the app’s taskbar icon.”
Windows enthusiast @phantomofearth on X managed to capture a screenshot of the demo, which Microsoft later removed from the session recording. According to The Verge, Varshney described it as “a visual nudge that, when clicked, launches your app directly into the task, providing a smooth and intuitive handoff from PC to phone.”
The demo revealed that hovering over an app like Spotify on the Taskbar brings up a “Continue where you left” option, while a “Resume” option appears for apps recently used on your mobile device. Reports indicate that WhatsApp will soon support this cross-device experience on Windows 11.
Last year, a “Hand Off” system toggle appeared in a Windows 11 Insider build, designed to stream phone apps to your PC. Since then, no updates surfaced until now. The recent demo suggests Microsoft is likely gearing up to launch this cross-device experience through the Phone Link app on Windows 11.
