Last month we looked at apps that allow you to connect iOS devices to your Windows 10 PC. But if you're on Android and Windows 10, you don't need to feel left out. There are a number of ways to connect your Android devices to your PC. In fact, due to the open nature of Android, there are even more options.
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While there are many Microsoft apps available for Android, this list is about apps that connect your phone and your PC, not just services that are available on both.
From mirroring your screen to connecting your devices through the web, these are the best apps to connect your Android phone to Windows 10.
AirDroid
AirDroid extends your Android phone experience to your PC. You can mirror the entire phone screen and control your phone through your PC or just sync specific aspects of the phone such as notifications. You can respond to messages from your PC through SMS, WhatsApp, Kik, and other messaging services and also have the option to send quick replies to someone who calls you on the phone.
You can also use it to transfer files between your phone and your PC and control your camera remotely.
Setting up AirDroid takes a little bit of work, you have to unlock developer options and turn on USB debugging, but the app and AirDroid's website walk you through this.
There's a basic free version of the app, or you can upgrade to pro for $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year. The pro version removes ads, allows you to transfer entire folders, and grants you access to more features broken down on their website.
I like the idea of AirDroid, and it worked fairly well in my testing, but screen mirroring did run into some glitches, as did notifications. This could be based on my hardware so it's worth trying it out on your setup to see how it performs.
Vysor
Vysor is another way to mirror your Android phone onto your PC. It also allows you to drag and drop files and take screenshots. You can also use Vysor to type into text boxes on your phone using your PCs keyboard.
One way it differs from AirDroid is that it allows you to use Vysor Share, though you need a Vysor Pro account, which lets you share your phone with people throughout your office.
There is a free version of Vysor but to unlock high quality mirroring, wireless connection, Vysor Share, and more features you'll need to upgrade to Vysor Pro which costs $2.50 per month, $10 per year or $40 for a lifetime.
Textto
Rather than mirroring your entire screen or all of your notifications, Textto specializes in allowing you to text from your PC. Setting it up is incredibly easy. You just need to sign up with a Gmail account on both the Android app and PC version of Textto. You can then text from your computer through Textto's PC program or the web. It works wirelessly so you can set it up and then just text from your phone or PC.
Textto doesn't replace your SMS app of choice on your phone, it just relays your text messages through your PC. I was incredibly impressed while using this and it's especially useful because Skype SMS relay still hasn't arrived on Android.
You can get the PC version from Textto's website and download the Android app through Google Play. Both of them are free.
Photos Companion
Photos Companion comes from the Microsoft Garage. It allows you to send your photos between your Android phone and your PC as long as you're on the same wireless network. The connection works almost instantaneously and only requires scanning a QR code to set up.
The Android version of the app is free, and the Windows 10 Photos app comes for free as part of Windows 10.
Cortana
There's no shortage of digital assistants on Android, but if you use a Windows 10 PC, it's worth checking out Cortana. The assistant can sync reminders, lists, notes on both your Android phone and PC. It can also sync notifications from your phone with your PC.
Cortana has become easier to access than ever on Android phones by its integration with Microsoft Launcher. Cortana is free on Android, as is Microsoft Launcher which can integrate with it, and is also built into Windows 10.
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge provides a nice browser experience as its own app on Android, but it's especially useful if you want to continue your browsing experience from your phone to your PC. You can select to continue viewing any webpage on your PC immediately or select to view it later.
Microsoft Edge also syncs with other aspects of the PC version of Edge including favorites so you can have a close to seamless browsing experience.
Edge is part of Windows 10, and the Android version is free.
Honorable mentions
There are two other apps that help you connect your phone to your PC, but they are restricted to specific hardware.
Dell Mobile Connect
Dell Mobile Connect allows you to make calls and texts through your PC and also lets you read and react to notifications. Our executive editor, Daniel Rubino, has called it amazing and it looks like a big draw to anyone considering new hardware. But the app is not only restricted to working with Dell PCs, it only works with specific Dell PCs. Hopefully, we'll see more hardware from Dell supporting this in the future and other OEMs making similar applications.
Dell Mobile Connect is amazing. Full mirroring of Android on Windows 10. Make/receive calls/sms. pic.twitter.com/70zY0ZcvtL
— Daniel Rubino (@Daniel_Rubino) March 1, 2018HP also has an app of their own, HP Orbit, which allows you to send photos, text, and links between your phone and your PC. As you'd expect, it requires an HP PC. It isn't as powerful as Dell Mobile Connect but is very fast.
Over to you
These are some of the best ways to connect Android phones to Windows 10 PCs, but they aren't the only ways. What are your favourite apps and services to connect your devices across platforms? Let us know in the comments below.
Double DutyWindows 10 20H1 build 19033 rolls out to Fast and Slow ring Insiders
Microsoft pushed another new Windows 10 20H1 build to Fast and Slow ring Insiders today. This latest release comes in at build 19033, and it sets the update's version number at 2004.
Want to try out the new Your Phone app on Windows 10? We've got you covered with a quick how-to showcasing all the steps you need to take to get things set up and ready to go.
How to use the Windows 10 Your Phone app
Right now, the Your Phone app only works on Android, and it allows you to see and share photos from your Android device directly on your PC. You must be a Windows Insider for this feature to function at this time. So, to begin, you need to open up the Your Phone app on your PC. You can either search for it or find it at the bottom of your Apps List in the Start menu!
- If you do not have the app installed, you can download it here.
- Open the Your Phone app on your PC.
- Select Get Started to begin the setup process.
- Select Link phone.
- Type your phone number and press Send to send a text message to your mobile phone.
- Select Close and wait for your mobile phone to receive a text message from Microsoft.
- Once received, tap the link sent to you in the text message to open the Google Play Store on your device.
- Tap Install to download the 'Microsoft Apps' app required for Your Phone to function.
- Launch the 'Microsoft Apps' app and select Get started to begin pairing your phone with the Your Phone app.
- Make sure you're already a member of the Windows Insider Program and then select I'm already an Insider.
- Tap sign-in and enter your Microsoft Account details. (Make sure you login with the same Microsoft Account used on your PC.)
- Tap allow to give the app permission to show your photos on your PC.
- Select return to Home Screen.
- On your PC, in the Your Phone app, select see photos.
How To Download Sms Messages From Windows Phone
You should now be able to see all the photos on your phone directly on your PC. From here, you can open them up, edit them, share them, and more! Let us know what you think in the comments!
Free Sms Windows
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Free Sms App For Windows
Double DutyWindows 10 20H1 build 19033 rolls out to Fast and Slow ring Insiders
Microsoft pushed another new Windows 10 20H1 build to Fast and Slow ring Insiders today. This latest release comes in at build 19033, and it sets the update's version number at 2004.