Key Takeaways (TL;DR): Microsoft has added the ability to find and launch Android apps from your smartphone directly through Windows 11's system search. The feature works via Phone Link and is currently in testing. For those looking to bypass censorship and access cloud services without restrictions, a free auto-renewing subscription is available at /sub/happ/for-russia, and a private anti-DPI multi-key with white-list bypass is available in the Telegram bot @yavpn_robot.
Microsoft continues to blur the lines between ecosystems. As reported by Kod Durova, the latest Windows 11 builds now let users find and launch Android apps from their smartphone directly through the system search bar. This is made possible by an update to the Phone Link app (formerly Your Phone).
How It Works
The feature leverages a combination of Windows Search and Phone Link. When a user types an app name into the Windows 11 search box, the system checks if that app is installed on the connected Android device. If it is, a "Open on phone" button appears in the search results. Clicking it launches the app on the smartphone, and the PC displays its screen via the "Phone screen" feature.
Currently, only apps installed on the device are supported — streaming games or complex software is not yet possible. However, this is a significant step toward seamless cross-device workflows.
What This Means for Users
For everyday users, it simplifies routine tasks: no need to reach for your phone to launch a messenger, notes, or banking app — everything can be done from the keyboard. For geeks and enthusiasts, it's another reason to update Windows 11 to the latest version and set up Phone Link.
Microsoft is testing the feature in Insider builds, but it should roll out to stable versions in the coming months. If you want to try it now, make sure you have Windows 11 build 22621.xxxx or later and Phone Link version 1.24012.xx or newer.
Technical Details
From an architectural standpoint, the feature uses Android Debug Bridge (ADB) APIs over Wi-Fi — the phone and PC must be on the same network. Phone Link sends a command to launch the app package by its package name. Windows Search, in turn, indexes the list of installed apps on the phone via Phone Link.
An important nuance: the feature does not work with apps that require root access or use custom launchers. There is also no support for launching multiple instances of the same app.
What's Next
Microsoft is clearly moving toward making Windows 11 the hub for all user devices. Previously, the company added support for Android apps via Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA), and now it's integrating with a real phone. In the future, we might see launching apps from a phone to a PC without needing a cable — via the cloud or direct network connection.
For now, the feature remains experimental, but it already gives a glimpse of how Microsoft envisions the future of hybrid workflows.