Users are spoilt for choice when it comes to Android apps. There’s about an app for anything. What if I told you that you could use these mobile apps on your Windows 10 PC? No, without using some Android emulator or virtual machine on your PC!
Windows and Android are the apex players of two different worlds. The former rules on the desktop space, while the latter rules the mobile space. In contrast, the mobile space has proven to be quite versatile and convenient for consuming content on the go. The desktop space remains the preferred workstation for creating content.
There is just something about a big screen, full keyboard, mouse, and these days pen and touchscreen. That makes creating content much convenient, especially content that puts to task your dexterity.
At the same time, there are just so many apps on your Android device that makes your life so much fun, connected, and convenient. Suppose you sit in front of a computer the whole day every day. Then you know the pain of finding yourself at crossroads.
Do you keep working on your computer and ignore all the notifications on your smartphone until you are done with work? Or do you keep juggling the two, moving your hands and attention between the smartphone and computer the entire day? If you do, will you get some work done?
Run Android Apps on Windows 10 PC
It is not lost to Microsoft that although Windows presents you a plethora of opportunities to work, communication, learning, and play on desktop. There are as equally-satisfying opportunities available for you on the mobile space. And, the Android ecosystem is currently leading in terms of the number of users across the world, and the number of available applications.
Microsoft, in an attempt to make you stick on its Windows 10 desktop platform as long as possible, has now made it possible for you to use Android apps on PC. Yes, that is something you could probably do all along, but through the use of an Android emulator. Sometimes, some of these emulators hog so much of your computer resources; it is simply not worth it. Especially if your PC is not beefy on the hardware strength, size, speed, and stamina spectrum, these emulators will make your computer slow and freezes up.
Android Apps on Windows without Emulators
Once upon a time, Microsoft tried a stint with the mobile space, with its Windows Mobile OS. That was a complete failure. Now the company is working on improving user experience on its competitor’s (Google’s & Apple’s) mobile platform.
With the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, Microsoft introduced new features to the Your Phone app. Before the update, the Your Phone app only showed you notifications on your phone and gave you the ability to read and reply to messages. The new update gives you the option of relaying apps from your Android devices right onto your PC screen.
As it works out
Your Phone app gives you the ability to use open, close, and use apps natively on your phone, with the same being relayed right on your Windows 10 PC. Think of it more along the lines or remote access to your Android phone, where your phone screen is mirrored on your PC screen.
That also comes with the added advantage of using a larger screen, keyboard, mouse, and pen & touchscreen.
How to get started
Well first, you need to own a Windows 10 PC running the latest update. To check if you are running the latest Windows 10 May 2019 Update, go to Settings > Update & Security > Check for update.
Having made sure you are running the latest version of Windows 10. You now need to link your Android device with the Your Phone app on the PC. Also, this feature requires you to use a device running Android 9.0 or later version. For a full list of supported Android devices, head on to this Microsoft page.