Windows 11 is quietly stitching Android and PC together: Spotify “resume” lands in Dev Channel, with broader app continuity in sight
Subhead: Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 Dev Channel builds begin testing a cross‑device “resume” experience that lets you pick up an Android app activity on your PC. Spotify is first, but the plumbing points to something much bigger.
If you’ve lived with Apple’s continuity for years, the idea of starting something on your phone and finishing on your computer feels ordinary. What’s new—and important—about what Microsoft is doing in Windows 11 is that it’s betting on Android, not a proprietary phone platform. That choice matters because Android is everywhere, and the groundwork Microsoft has been laying with Phone Link is now beginning to look less like convenience and more like a strategy.
Over the past few Windows 11 Insider Dev Channel flights in the 26200 series (part of the run‑up to version 25H2), Microsoft has started a controlled test of a feature that surfaces a resume prompt on your PC as soon as it detects relevant activity on your Android device. For the first wave, that “relevant activity” is Spotify playback. You walk away from your phone while listening to a song or podcast; within moments, Windows presents a small “Resume” notification on the taskbar. Click once, and the Spotify desktop app launches and continues exactly where your phone left off. If Spotify isn’t installed, Windows handles a one‑click install from Microsoft Store and then resumes playback.
It’s subtle, it’s useful, and it’s a glimpse into the next phase of Windows‑Android continuity—one that could expand from media handoff to messaging, reading, navigation, even productivity workflows.
Why start with Spotify?
- It’s the perfect low‑friction test bed. Playback state is simple, universal, and safe to resume, making it ideal for validating the plumbing.
- The ecosystem fit is right. Spotify already spans phone, desktop, and web, and its account‑based model makes cross‑device identity straightforward.
- The UX teaches the pattern. Once users learn that “Windows will help me pick up where I left off,” the same mental model can extend to other apps.
Windows has been able to talk to your Android phone for years via Phone Link (formerly Your Phone), handling notifications, calls, messages, and more. The new “resume” moment layers an app‑context signal on top of that relationship:
- Your Android phone sends a lightweight activity hint (for now, a Spotify session).
- Windows recognizes the app and intent, then maps it to the corresponding PC destination (the Spotify desktop app).
- If the destination app exists, Windows invokes it with the right context; if not, it streamlines install, then resumes.
Who can try this today
- Channel and build: Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel running a recent 26200 series build for version 25H2. As of mid‑August 2025, the Dev Channel has seen 26200.57xx flights; availability is rolling out gradually and may be A/B controlled, so not every Insider will see the feature at the same time.
- Phone requirements: An Android handset running the Link to Windows app (sometimes preinstalled on Samsung and Surface Duo; downloadable from Google Play for others).
- PC requirements: Windows 11 with Phone Link enabled; Microsoft Store available for one‑click app installs.
- Accounts: You must be signed in to the same Spotify account on both devices.
On your Windows 11 PC:
1) Open Settings and go to Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices.
2) Turn on “Allow this PC to access your mobile devices” and complete any pairing prompts.
On your Android phone:
3) Install or update the Link to Windows app.
4) Sign in with the same Microsoft account you use on your PC.
5) Grant the requested permissions, including background activity; this is essential so the resume hint can arrive reliably.
6) Make sure Spotify is installed and you’re signed in with the same account you use on your PC.
On your PC again:
7) Install Spotify from Microsoft Store if it isn’t already present.
8) Start playing something on your phone. Within a short time, you should see a “Resume” prompt on your Windows taskbar. Click it to continue on desktop.
Tip for browsers and video podcasts: If you end up resuming in the web experience rather than the desktop app, most modern browsers can place eligible videos into Picture‑in‑Picture. You’ll see a prompt the first time; choose “Allow” if you want easy PiP controls in the future.
A controlled feature rollout, not a flip‑of‑a‑switch
Windows Insider features often roll out gradually using controlled feature rollouts (CFRs). This is one of them. Even if you’ve got the right build and Phone Link set up, you might not see the resume prompt immediately:
- Keep both Windows and the Microsoft Store version of Spotify updated. The desktop app often receives feature switches independently via Store updates.
- Make sure Phone Link and Link to Windows aren’t battery‑restricted on your phone. If Android shuts down background activity, the handoff signal never reaches your PC.
- Re‑link your devices if the prompt never appears. In Phone Link on Windows, open Settings > Devices and remove/re‑add your phone.
- Try a clean install of Spotify on PC if one‑click resume launches the Store but doesn’t complete the flow.
Taken in isolation, a Spotify handoff is a nice quality‑of‑life upgrade. In context, it’s more meaningful:
- Identity‑centric continuity. The pattern here is account‑based handoff rather than full app mirroring. That’s more secure, privacy‑aware, and scalable than streaming your phone screen, and it works even when your phone is in a pocket or another room.
- Android first—by design. Microsoft’s phone strategy is to meet users where they already are. By embracing Android as the mobile half of Windows’ continuity, Microsoft can move faster and reach more people than any first‑party phone revival could.
- A path for third‑party apps. Today’s experiment suggests the mapping layer can expand beyond Spotify. Expect messaging, reading, and productivity apps to benefit: pick up a chat thread in your desktop client, continue a news article in your browser, or jump straight into a cloud document in your desktop editor.
Continuity features walk a fine line: they should be helpful without feeling nosy. In its current Insider form, the resume experience follows principles that should reassure most users:
- Consent and scope. You explicitly link your phone and PC via Phone Link; without this link and its permissions, no app context leaves your phone.
- Minimal payload. For Spotify‑style handoff, Windows needs to know just enough to land you on the right track in the right app—no full playback history is required on the Windows side to show the prompt.
- Easy opt‑out. You can disable Mobile devices access in Windows Settings or turn off background access for Link to Windows on Android if you decide the feature isn’t for you.
It’s not hard to imagine a steady expansion along a few fronts:
- More media partners: Audible, Pocket Casts, YouTube Music, and others with clear, resume‑friendly session context.
- Messaging handoff: Surface a “Resume in Teams/WhatsApp/Telegram” prompt when you switch to your PC, taking you to the precise thread you were just reading on your phone.
- Reading and research: Pick up a longform article in your desktop browser from the exact scroll position you left on your handset.
- Workflows: “Continue editing” in your desktop editor for the exact cloud file you just touched on mobile, or “Continue navigation” in your desktop Maps app before you hop in the car.
Other changes riding along in recent Dev Channel flights
The cross‑device resume preview joins a slate of small but meaningful refinements that Insiders will see lighting up across 26200 series builds rolling toward Windows 11 version 25H2. Because these features are on gradual rollout, the exact mix you see will vary by device and build, but watch for:
- Lock screen battery status tweaks: Cleaner, more legible icons make it faster to judge charge at a glance without unlocking your PC.
- Touch polish on Copilot+ PCs: Gesture smoothness and hit‑target improvements for “Click to Do” affordances and other touch‑first elements keep coming as Microsoft tunes its Copilot‑era experiences. If you’re on a Snapdragon X‑based device, these refinements are particularly noticeable.
- Settings that guide you: Agent‑style navigation hints inside Settings help you get to the right toggle faster, especially for multi‑step tasks like pairing devices or managing privacy. Think of it as a nudge in the right direction rather than a full chatbot.
- Auto Super Resolution improvements for Snapdragon: Microsoft’s Auto SR is steadily expanding game coverage and making smarter decisions about when to engage on Copilot+ PCs powered by Snapdragon X. For titles it supports, you’ll see sharper visuals with minimal setup.
- Typographic shortcuts: Windows is experimenting with direct keyboard shortcuts for inserting typographically correct en and em dashes. Many users rely on the emoji/clipboard panel today; native shortcuts lower friction for writers and developers.
- Windows Share favorites: The system Share window is getting a bit more “yours,” letting you pin favorite apps so the right target is always at the top of the list.
Hands‑on: how it feels to use
After a week of living with the Spotify resume preview on a Dev Channel machine, a few patterns emerge:
- It’s fast enough to be invisible. The handoff typically shows within seconds. Click, and the desktop app is already animating into place, picking up playback that feels uninterrupted.
- It’s smart about state. If you’ve already got Spotify open on the PC and you’re playing something else, Windows doesn’t bulldoze your current state. The prompt is just that—a prompt you can accept or ignore.
- It’s respectful of context. If you’re in the middle of a video call or presenting, the handoff remains quiet. You can always jump back via the notification center later.
If the prompt never appears, walk through this short triage:
- Confirm you’re actually on a supported Dev Channel build. Open Settings > System > About and check Windows specifications for a 26200.57xx build number.
- Verify the phone/PC link. In Phone Link (on Windows), your phone should show as connected with green status. If not, open the Link to Windows app on Android and re‑establish the connection.
- Check Android battery settings. On Samsung and many other Android phones, aggressive battery management can block background activity. In Android Settings > Apps > Link to Windows, set Battery to Unrestricted.
- Update the Spotify desktop app. Open Microsoft Store, click Library, and fetch app updates. Many desktop integrations toggle on when a specific minimum version is present.
- Try a clean reinstall. Uninstall Spotify on Windows, then accept the one‑click install when the resume prompt appears again.
Phone Link and cross‑device features are popular in managed environments but must be controllable. As this resume capability matures, expect policy handles that mirror today’s Phone Link management options. In the near term:
- Pilot with a small Insider ring. Use test groups enrolled in Dev Channel to evaluate the user benefit versus any support overhead.
- Document the opt‑out path. Ensure your help desk can walk users through disabling mobile device access on Windows or background access on Android if necessary.
- Watch for app‑specific behavior. Media apps are low‑risk; messaging and document‑oriented handoffs will deserve closer review in regulated environments when they appear.
Microsoft’s cross‑device history includes several approaches—from screen mirroring to timeline‑style activity sharing. What’s different this time is the focus on:
- Lightweight, intent‑based handoffs rather than heavy mirroring.
- The ubiquity of Android and the maturity of Phone Link’s device graph.
- A design that respects app identity, account state, and user consent.
How to get into the Dev Channel if you’re not there yet
- Join the Windows Insider Program in Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.
- Choose the Dev Channel. It’s intended for highly technical users comfortable with features that are under active development and may be rough around the edges.
- Reboot and update until you land on a 26200 series build.
- Open Microsoft Store, check for app updates, and then set up Phone Link as described above.
- More partners. If the initial wave goes well, media and messaging apps are the logical next additions.
- A clearer developer story. Even if the current prototype path is invitation‑only, expect documentation that explains how desktop destinations should register deep links and context claims so Windows can route handoffs confidently.
- Tighter UX across surfaces. Notification center, Start, and the new Widgets/Quick Actions surfaces are all candidates for “resume” entry points, not just taskbar alerts.
This Spotify handoff might look small, but it signals something foundational: Windows is becoming context‑aware about what you were doing on your phone and is willing to help you continue that task on the device that’s better suited for it. Starting with music and podcasts is a low‑risk way to teach the pattern, prove out the plumbing, and fine‑tune the privacy story.
If you’re an Insider on the Dev Channel, flip on Mobile devices, link your Android phone, and try it. It’s the kind of feature that fades into the background—until the first time you need it, and it’s just there.
Sidebar: Who can try this now?
- Windows build: Dev Channel, 26200.57xx series (version 25H2 under active development).
- Phone: Any reasonably recent Android device with Link to Windows installed; Samsung and Surface Duo devices tend to offer the smoothest first‑run experience, but others work via Google Play.
- Apps: Spotify on both devices, same account on both.
- Rollout: Controlled feature rollout; not all Insiders will see it on day one.
- Regions: Global, but some app behaviors may vary by market.
- Update Windows, Phone Link, and Spotify on PC.
- Update Link to Windows and Spotify on Android.
- Allow background activity for Link to Windows on Android.
- Turn on Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices on your PC.
- Sign in to matching accounts (Microsoft for Phone Link; Spotify for playback).
- Test with a simple scenario: start a podcast on your phone, lock the phone, and watch for the Windows “Resume” prompt.
- Your phone and PC must be explicitly linked.
- You can revoke access anytime on either device.
- The handoff uses minimal context to get you to the right spot.
- Notifications are prompts, not commands—you stay in control.
Windows’ most powerful advantage is its openness: it runs on millions of different devices and meets users in countless workflows. By leaning into Android for mobile continuity and making handoffs account‑ and intent‑based, Microsoft is setting up a model that can grow without forcing users into a single vendor’s walled garden. Spotify is an approachable first step. The most exciting part is everything that step makes possible next.
Source: The Eastleigh Voice Windows 11 to get Android App continuity feature