Windows 11 Finally Gets an Apple-Style ‘Handoff’ Feature for Android
Microsoft is taking a significant stride toward a seamless cross-device ecosystem, aiming to rival the fluidity long enjoyed by Apple users. The software giant has begun rolling out an update that drastically improves the ability to “resume” activities started on an Android device directly on a Windows 11 PC.
Seamless Continuity for Spotify and Office
While Microsoft initially introduced cross-device resume capabilities last year, the feature was largely limited to OneDrive sessions. The new update, which has now entered the Release Preview channel—the final stage of testing before a public launch—expands this functionality to some of the most popular daily applications.
According to the latest release notes, Windows 11 users will soon be able to:
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Pick up Spotify music playback on their PC exactly where they left off on their phone.
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Instantly resume Microsoft Edge browsing sessions across devices.
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Continue working on documents in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint without missing a beat.
This functionality mirrors Apple’s “Handoff” feature, which allows for effortless transitions between iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Microsoft previously attempted a similar concept with Windows 10 under the codename “Project Rome,” but it failed to gain widespread developer adoption. This latest iteration appears to be a more user-centric and integrated approach.
Imminent Launch and Additional Features
Since the feature has moved to the Release Preview ring (it has been in testing since August), a general rollout to all Windows 11 users is expected imminently.
Beyond the Android integration, this comprehensive update brings several under-the-hood improvements to the operating system:
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Enhanced MIDI 2.0 Support: A welcome upgrade for musicians and audio producers using Windows.
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Security Upgrades: New fingerprint sensor support for Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS).
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Voice Typing: Refinements to speech-to-text accuracy.
For early adopters of the new Copilot+ PCs, the update also expands the “Settings Agent” capabilities. The AI-driven tool now supports a broader range of languages, including Chinese (Simplified), German, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Korean, and Hindi.
