Microsoft has quietly begun threading tighter continuity between Android phones and Windows 11, shipped a handful of small but genuinely useful input and UI tweaks, and continued the long march of Copilot’s integration into the operating system — all surfaced this week in Insider builds and rolling Store updates. These changes are modest on the surface but meaningful in practice: a one‑click “resume” for phone-to‑PC Spotify playback, native keyboard shortcuts for en‑ and em‑dashes, battery icon improvements that now appear on the lock screen, Share menu pinning, Snipping Tool window recording, and a notable Copilot update that adds semantic file search for Copilot+ PCs. Together they show Microsoft focusing on daily ergonomics and cross‑device continuity while quietly shifting away from the earlier strategy of running Android apps locally on Windows. (blogs.windows.com)
Microsoft’s cross‑device story has been iterative for years, moving through Project Rome, Your Phone/Phone Link, and the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA). That trajectory is important context: WSA once promised local Android app execution on Windows, but Microsoft has signaled a strategic pivot toward lightweight, identity‑backed continuity that moves activity state rather than emulating Android on the desktop. The company deprecated mainstream support for WSA earlier in 2025, a decision that reframes how Windows and Android can integrate going forward. (theverge.com)
The items rolling out in the latest Insider preview and Store updates are largely staged, server‑gated experiences and app updates. That means not every Insider on the appropriate build will see the features immediately — Microsoft uses controlled feature rollouts to trial behaviors and tune integrations before a full public release. If you’re a power user or IT pro, treat these builds as previews and avoid installing them on mission‑critical machines.
This behavior mirrors Apple’s Handoff in spirit but is implemented differently: rather than mirroring the phone or running Android as a VM, Windows receives compact session metadata from the phone (a short-lived AppContext) and maps it to a corresponding on‑PC handler (native app, Store install, or web app). That architectural choice reduces complexity, avoids emulation overhead, and scales better across the heterogeneous Android ecosystem. (theverge.com)
For writers concerned about the em‑dash’s cultural baggage (it’s become a recognizable pattern in some AI‑generated text), the technical takeaway is simple: Microsoft gives typographers a native option, and its inclusion underscores the company’s focus on daily productivity nitty‑gritty. Use it, teach it to colleagues, and benefit from consistent typing across platforms.
Other small visual adjustments, such as File Explorer context menu icon backplate removal and Share menu pinning (described below), follow the same philosophy: tighten micro‑interactions to reduce clicks and cognitive load. These are classic quality‑of‑life updates that compound across a user’s day.
Practical point: if you need dynamic window tracking, third‑party screen recorders still offer more advanced behavior. Use Snipping Tool’s Window Mode for simple, reliable captures where the window will remain static.
Copilot’s semantic file search references the standard Windows Recent folder and other indexed locations; Microsoft emphasizes that Copilot won’t scan or upload everything automatically and only processes files when you explicitly attach or query them. Supported upload types are limited at preview launch (png, jpeg, svg, pdf, docx, xlsx, csv, json, txt). These privacy controls are central to Microsoft’s pitch: powerful local search without silent mass exfiltration. (blogs.windows.com)
That said, the Insider channel still surfaces hardware‑specific regressions. For example, a reported Xbox controller Bluetooth bugcheck (system crash) has been called out in release notes and community threads — a severe issue for those relying on Bluetooth controllers. Microsoft documents workarounds and advises caution when running these builds on daily‑driver machines. Always snapshot or image test PCs before installing Dev/Beta Insider builds.
If you test these features, use a spare machine or VM, and keep backups. Treat Insider flights as early access previews: exciting, useful, and inherently experimental. Taken together, these incremental changes point to a Windows that aims to be more connective, more helpful, and — increasingly — tuned to the hardware realities of on‑device AI. (blogs.windows.com)
Source: How-To Geek Windows 11's New Android Integration, Emdash Shortcut, and More: Windows Wednesday
Microsoft’s cross‑device story has been iterative for years, moving through Project Rome, Your Phone/Phone Link, and the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA). That trajectory is important context: WSA once promised local Android app execution on Windows, but Microsoft has signaled a strategic pivot toward lightweight, identity‑backed continuity that moves activity state rather than emulating Android on the desktop. The company deprecated mainstream support for WSA earlier in 2025, a decision that reframes how Windows and Android can integrate going forward. (theverge.com)The items rolling out in the latest Insider preview and Store updates are largely staged, server‑gated experiences and app updates. That means not every Insider on the appropriate build will see the features immediately — Microsoft uses controlled feature rollouts to trial behaviors and tune integrations before a full public release. If you’re a power user or IT pro, treat these builds as previews and avoid installing them on mission‑critical machines.
Cross‑Device Resume: Resume Apps From Your Android Phone on PC
What it does and why it matters
Microsoft has started rolling out a Cross‑Device Resume capability that lets you pick up certain activities from a linked Android phone and continue them on your Windows 11 PC. The headline example is Spotify: play a track on your phone, and Windows may surface a taskbar Resume alert that opens the Spotify desktop app and continues playback from the exact position you left on your phone. If Spotify isn’t installed, clicking the resume alert will trigger a one‑click Microsoft Store install and then resume after sign‑in. This is a deliberate, low‑friction first scenario to prove the concept. (blogs.windows.com)This behavior mirrors Apple’s Handoff in spirit but is implemented differently: rather than mirroring the phone or running Android as a VM, Windows receives compact session metadata from the phone (a short-lived AppContext) and maps it to a corresponding on‑PC handler (native app, Store install, or web app). That architectural choice reduces complexity, avoids emulation overhead, and scales better across the heterogeneous Android ecosystem. (theverge.com)
What you need to try it
- Be enrolled in the Windows Insider Program and running the Dev or Beta channel builds that include the rollout (the August flight appears under KB5064093 / Build 26200.5761 in Dev and 26120.5761 in Beta). (blogs.windows.com)
- Link your Android phone using Link to Windows / Phone Link: Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices > Allow this PC to access your mobile devices. On the phone, grant Link to Windows background permission.
- Use the same account on phone and PC (Spotify’s consistent account model makes it a perfect first test case).
For developers
Microsoft is inviting third‑party apps to adopt the Resume model by exposing developer APIs and integration patterns. The platform expects apps to publish compact context objects that Windows can match to desktop handlers and resume semantics. Starting with media (playback state is simple and privacy‑light) allows Microsoft to validate identity, session mapping, and reliability before more complex states like in‑progress documents or drafts are permitted. If your app spans mobile and desktop, evaluate the Resume SDK: early integration will create a frictionless cross‑device experience for users.Input: Native En‑ and Em‑Dash Shortcuts (Win+Minus)
A long‑requested convenience for writers and editors arrived in the Beta channel: Win + Minus (-) inserts an en‑dash (–), and Win + Shift + Minus inserts an em‑dash (—). This mirrors macOS behavior and saves repeated detours into character maps or emoji panels. There’s one important caveat: Magnifier still intercepts the Win + Minus shortcut when Magnifier is active — it remains the zoom‑out command in that context. If you rely on accessibility magnification, you’ll have to choose which behavior is primary for you. (windowscentral.com)For writers concerned about the em‑dash’s cultural baggage (it’s become a recognizable pattern in some AI‑generated text), the technical takeaway is simple: Microsoft gives typographers a native option, and its inclusion underscores the company’s focus on daily productivity nitty‑gritty. Use it, teach it to colleagues, and benefit from consistent typing across platforms.
Lock Screen Battery Icons and Other Visual Polishes
Microsoft is refining iconography across Windows 11 to improve glanceability. The new battery icons — color coded for charging and energy states, with an optional percentage — now appear on the lock screen in the recent Insider flights. That means you can get a clear power snapshot without unlocking the PC, useful for laptop and tablet users who check charge before resuming work. This change was folded into the KB5064093 flight and reflects a broader push to standardize visual signals across system surfaces. (blogs.windows.com)Other small visual adjustments, such as File Explorer context menu icon backplate removal and Share menu pinning (described below), follow the same philosophy: tighten micro‑interactions to reduce clicks and cognitive load. These are classic quality‑of‑life updates that compound across a user’s day.
Windows Share: Pin Your Most‑Used Targets
Windows 11 is experimenting with pinning items in the Share panel, allowing you to keep favorite targets at the front of the list. Hover over a share target and click the pin button to anchor it. This is a small change but meaningful for power sharers who frequently route content to a handful of apps (Teams, Slack, OneNote, etc.). Pinning reduces repeated hunting and makes the Share UX more predictable. The feature is present in the Dev and Beta Insider flights as a staged test.Snipping Tool: Window‑Pick Recording Mode
Snipping Tool’s record feature now includes Window Mode: instead of drawing a rectangle, you can choose a specific application window and have the recorder snap to that window’s dimensions when recording begins. This makes focused tutorials and app demos easier to capture. Important limitations remain: the capture region is fixed to the window’s geometry at the start of recording and does not dynamically follow the window if you move or resize it later. That behavior is intentional (predictability over dynamic tracking) and is clearly documented in the release notes. The update ships as Snipping Tool v11.2507.14.0 in Insider channels. (windowsreport.com)Practical point: if you need dynamic window tracking, third‑party screen recorders still offer more advanced behavior. Use Snipping Tool’s Window Mode for simple, reliable captures where the window will remain static.
Copilot on Windows: Semantic File Search, New Home, and Hardware Gating
What changed
Microsoft updated the Copilot app with a redesigned home surface that surfaces recent apps, files, and Copilot conversations, plus a semantic file search capability that lets you find files by natural‑language descriptions (for example, “find my CV” or “find images of bridges at sunset”). The feature is rolling out via the Microsoft Store to Copilot version 1.25082.132.0 and higher and is currently gated to Copilot+ PCs—machines equipped with on‑device NPU hardware able to run local models. (blogs.windows.com) (windowscentral.com)Copilot’s semantic file search references the standard Windows Recent folder and other indexed locations; Microsoft emphasizes that Copilot won’t scan or upload everything automatically and only processes files when you explicitly attach or query them. Supported upload types are limited at preview launch (png, jpeg, svg, pdf, docx, xlsx, csv, json, txt). These privacy controls are central to Microsoft’s pitch: powerful local search without silent mass exfiltration. (blogs.windows.com)
Hardware requirements and gating
Not all machines will get the full Copilot experience: Microsoft defines Copilot+ PC specs that include local NPU capability (hardware rated in the 40+ TOPS class), along with reasonable RAM and storage baselines. On‑device model acceleration unlocks features like instant Vision sessions, local inference for Recall, and semantic search. For enterprises and IT planners, this is a key buying consideration: Copilot+ experiences are hardware‑and‑software co‑designs, not purely cloud features. (blogs.windows.com)Practical and privacy considerations
- Copilot surfaces recent files from your device’s Recent folder; it does not scan your entire disk automatically.
- File uploads to Copilot happen only when you explicitly attach or request a file to be processed.
- Copilot’s natural‑language search is optimized for select languages and file formats at preview launch. (blogs.windows.com)
Performance and Reliability: Gaming, Taskbar Fixes, and Known Issues
Microsoft reports targeted performance work in recent Beta builds to improve gaming performance when overlays (Game Bar or other overlays) are present—particularly in multi‑monitor setups with differing refresh rates. The underlying work aims to reduce overlay‑related overhead that can cause stutter or frame drops. Complementing that, an issue causing the taskbar to be slow to load after unlocking from sleep was addressed in Canary/Beta updates; users who saw the symptom should notice faster unlock responsiveness in updated flights. (blogs.windows.com)That said, the Insider channel still surfaces hardware‑specific regressions. For example, a reported Xbox controller Bluetooth bugcheck (system crash) has been called out in release notes and community threads — a severe issue for those relying on Bluetooth controllers. Microsoft documents workarounds and advises caution when running these builds on daily‑driver machines. Always snapshot or image test PCs before installing Dev/Beta Insider builds.
Risks, Trade‑offs, and What to Watch
- Staged rollouts and server gating mean uneven availability. Don’t assume your device will immediately show every item in these builds; Microsoft flips feature flags over time. Be patient and avoid upgrading production machines without a recovery plan.
- Hardware gating for Copilot+ features creates a tiered experience. If your fleet lacks NPU hardware rated at the levels Microsoft expects, you’ll see reduced or cloud‑only behavior for some AI features. Budget and procurement decisions must reflect that if Copilot becomes a core productivity layer.
- Privacy and data control with Copilot’s semantic search. Microsoft’s documentation stresses explicit user actions for file uploads and outlines the Recent‑folder basis for results, but admins should verify settings and test how Copilot surfaces files in mixed‑use or regulated environments. Treat the feature as preview quality in sensitive deployments. (blogs.windows.com)
- WSA deprecation changes Android‑on‑Windows calculus. Microsoft’s move away from WSA means Android app strategies on Windows will favor context propagation (Resume) rather than local Android runtime execution. Developers and users who relied on WSA should plan alternatives for legacy workflows. Reports indicate WSA will be unsupported after March 5, 2025, and behavior may vary for already‑installed instances. That timeline affects migration plans for any critical Android‑on‑Windows flows. (theverge.com, learn.microsoft.com)
- Insider channel stability risks. Dev and Beta flights are iterative by design and can carry regressions like rollbacks, driver incompatibilities, and service‑specific bugs. Microsoft lists known issues in each flight — review them carefully before upgrading.
How to Try These Features Safely (Step‑by‑Step)
- Create a full backup or system image of the PC you plan to use for testing.
- Enroll in the Windows Insider Program and choose Beta (safer) or Dev (earlier, riskier) channels. Toggle “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” if you want earlier access to staged features.
- Update to the cumulative package that contains the feature (look for KB5064093 and the associated build numbers in the Windows Update details). (blogs.windows.com)
- For Cross‑Device Resume: link your Android phone via Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices, enable Link to Windows on the phone, grant background permissions, and sign into the same Spotify account on both devices. Play a track on the phone and watch for the taskbar Resume alert.
- For Copilot semantic search: update the Copilot app through the Microsoft Store to version 1.25082.132.0+, verify Copilot permissions, and test simple natural‑language file queries. If you’re on Copilot+ hardware, try Vision sessions and file attachments. (blogs.windows.com)
- Report feedback via Feedback Hub (WIN + F) for any regressions or behavior mismatches — Insider channels rely on that feedback to iterate.
The Bigger Picture: What This Week’s Flights Signal
These updates underscore two clear priorities for Microsoft:- A shift from emulation to contextual continuity — Microsoft is placing bets on moving session state and identity between devices rather than trying to run phone code inside Windows. The Cross‑Device Resume feature is the clearest manifestation of that pivot.
- An incremental, ergonomics‑first approach to daily productivity — the em‑dash shortcut, lock screen battery icon, Share pinning, and Snipping Tool window picks are small but compound into a smoother day‑to‑day experience. These changes are the kind product teams ship to reduce friction, not headline features that require new hardware.
Conclusion
This week’s Insider activity isn’t about sweeping UI overhauls or dramatic platform pivots — it’s about making common actions easier, seaming Android and Windows experiences together in practical ways, and continuing Copilot’s slow integration into the OS shell. The Cross‑Device Resume flow is the most strategic change here: it demonstrates a future where Windows acts as the natural hub for phone‑originated tasks without resurrecting the heavy‑weight Android subsystem approach. The Win+Minus dash shortcuts, lock screen battery icons, Share pinning, and Snipping Tool Window Mode are the small but tangible polish that improves productivity immediately for many users. And the Copilot update shows the company still thinks AI belongs in core OS surfaces — provided the hardware can support it.If you test these features, use a spare machine or VM, and keep backups. Treat Insider flights as early access previews: exciting, useful, and inherently experimental. Taken together, these incremental changes point to a Windows that aims to be more connective, more helpful, and — increasingly — tuned to the hardware realities of on‑device AI. (blogs.windows.com)
Source: How-To Geek Windows 11's New Android Integration, Emdash Shortcut, and More: Windows Wednesday