Microsoft is expanding its Cross-Device Resume feature in Windows 11, making it easier for users to pick up where they left off on Android apps when switching from a phone to a PC. The update brings support for services such as Spotify, Microsoft’s Office apps, and web browsing sessions, marking the most meaningful evolution of the feature since it first appeared last year.
Microsoft originally introduced Cross-Device Resume in May with a narrow focus. At launch, the feature worked primarily with OneDrive, allowing users to reopen recently accessed files such as Word documents on their PC via a notification, provided the file had been used on a phone within the previous few minutes. While the system technically supported both Android and iOS, its practical usefulness was limited, and adoption remained modest.
That is now changing, at least for Android users. With Windows 11 builds 26100.7701 and 26200.7701, currently rolling out to the Release Preview Channel, Cross-Device Resume is gaining support for a wider range of real-world use cases. Users can now resume playback in Spotify, continue working in Microsoft’s Office apps, and reopen browsing sessions from Edge that were active on their Android phone. The update also supports Vivo’s in-house browser and files opened via Copilot on phones from manufacturers including Samsung, Honor, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi.
The expansion underlines Microsoft’s continued interest in cross-platform continuity, even after it moved away from running Android apps natively inside Windows 11. That earlier effort, which relied on Amazon’s Appstore, was quietly phased out, but the broader goal of making Windows work better alongside mobile devices has not gone away. Instead of emulating apps, Microsoft is focusing on session handoff and contextual continuity.
That said, the experience still falls short of the seamless integration offered by Apple across its ecosystem. Apple’s tightly controlled hardware and software stack allows features like Handoff to work across virtually all first-party apps with minimal friction. Microsoft’s approach is more selective and depends heavily on partnerships and platform cooperation.
Even so, the inclusion of Spotify is a practical improvement, albeit one that feels slightly underwhelming given the strength of Spotify Connect, which already allows users to shift playback between devices with ease. The real value of Cross-Device Resume may lie in productivity and browsing workflows, where resuming context rather than simply media playback makes a tangible difference.
There is also a broader strategic angle. Microsoft and Google have collaborated in the past, and deeper integration between Android and Windows could eventually bring support for first-party Google apps. A future where Chrome sessions resume cleanly across devices would significantly enhance the appeal of the feature, though there is no indication yet that such support is on the roadmap.
For now, access to the expanded Cross-Device Resume experience is limited. Users need to be enrolled in the Windows Insider programme, and even then, the feature is part of a gradual rollout. This means not all eligible devices will see the functionality immediately. Microsoft has indicated that a wider public release should arrive in the coming weeks.
The update may not be revolutionary, but it represents steady progress. By incrementally broadening app support, Microsoft is laying the groundwork for a more cohesive Windows and Android experience, one that prioritises continuity without attempting to replicate a closed ecosystem.
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