Windows 10 will get Android apps via the Your Phone app – but will it be exclusive to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20?

(Image credit: Microsoft)

At Samsung's Unpacked event, it was announced that the Windows 10 Your Phone app will allow owners of Samsung handsets to run Android apps within Windows 10 itself – making the already very useful Your Phone app even better.

Your Phone is one of the best apps in Windows 10, and allows you to connect any Android phone wirelessly to your Windows PC and see notifications and photos, as well as send and receive text messages and phone calls, all from within the app on your PC.

It’s a great tool that means you don’t have to take your phone out of your pocket when using your PC. Being able to run Android apps inside Windows 10 is an exciting prospect that makes the app even more useful. 

The apps won’t be installed in Windows 10 – instead they’ll be streamed from your smartphone, which means all your settings should be present and correct.

It seems the integration will also allow you to pin Android apps to the Start menu and taskbar of Windows 10, so you won’t need to open the Your Phone app – and it means they’ll be as easy to access as any program you have installed in Windows 10.

A Note 20-shaped worry

This is all very exciting, but at the moment it seems like the feature will be limited to Samsung handsets.

Also, as the features were revealed alongside the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, there’s a worry that these features could be exclusive to those two high-end (and very expensive) handsets.

Hopefully that’s not the case, as being able to access your Android apps in Windows 10 would be a fantastic feature, and it would be a shame if it was limited to such expensive phones. Hopefully we’ll find out more about the new feature soon.

TOPICS
Matt Hanson
Managing Editor, Core Tech

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he's reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.

Latest in Windows
Man having Windows 11 problems with his laptop
Fed up of adverts creeping into Windows 11? You won’t like Microsoft’s latest update, then, although it does provide some important bug fixes
Acer Aspire 14 AI laptop display showing the Windows 11 login screen
Shock, horror – I’m not going to argue with Microsoft’s latest bit of nagging in Windows 11, as this pop-up is justified
A laptop on a desk with the Windows 11 background on its screen.
Microsoft is adding image editing and compression to its Windows Share feature - and I couldn't be happier
AOC Agon Pro AG276FK gaming monitor tilted slightly to the side, showing the Windows desktop screen
Windows 11 users get ready for more ‘recommendations’ from Microsoft – but I’m relieved to say these suggestions might actually be useful
Microsoft Store logo on a blurred background
There's finally a fix for an annoying Microsoft Store bug that's older than Windows 11
Portrait of African-American teenage boy studying at home or in college dorm and using laptop, copy space
Windows 11’s Notepad gets AI-powered ‘Rewrite’ feature, but not everyone’s going to be happy about it
Latest in News
Google Gemini Robotics
Gemini just got physical and you should prepare for a robot revolution
Lilo & Stitch Official Trailer
Stitch crashes into earth and steals our hearts with the first trailer for the live-action Lilo & Stitch
GTA 5
GTA Online publisher Take-Two is gunning for a black market that’s basically heaven for cheaters
Y2K cast looking shocked
Y2K has a streaming release date on Max, so you can witness the technology uprising at home
The Discovery+ homepage
Discovery+ just got a big update to its streaming app that makes it more like Max – here are 5 great new features to try
Two Android phones on a green and blue background showing Google Messages
Struggling with slow Google Messages photo transfers? Google says new update will make 'noticeable difference'