Microsoft is testing a faster way to open Android apps from Windows 11, allowing users to find applications installed on a connected smartphone through Windows Search instead of opening the Phone Link app first. The feature is included in Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26340.9843, according to Windows Latest.
When an installed Android application appears in search results, Windows identifies it with a “Mobile app” label. Choosing “Open” launches the application on the paired smartphone, while Phone Link mirrors the phone’s screen on the computer. Users can then interact with the app through the PC, but the software continues to run on the Android device.
This is not native Android support
The change does not bring back native Android applications on Windows. Instead, Microsoft is making an existing Phone Link capability easier to reach by placing it inside Windows Search. The distinction matters for users who expect an Android app to run independently on a Windows 11 computer: the phone must remain connected, and the PC displays a mirrored version of the mobile app.
For players, the feature could make supported mobile games easier to find from a Windows desktop or laptop, but it does not turn them into native PC releases. Any app compatibility, performance, controls and connection requirements remain tied to the Phone Link experience and the Android phone being used.
Supported phones remain limited
Microsoft’s Phone Link service covers more devices than its app-streaming function. The streaming capability is restricted to selected manufacturers and models, so owning an Android phone alone does not guarantee access to the Windows Search shortcut.
- Samsung, including newer Galaxy S26, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8 devices, as well as selected older Galaxy S, A and Z models
- HONOR, including the Magic4 and Magic6 families
- OnePlus and OPPO, including selected Find and Reno phones
- ASUS, including ROG Phone 8 models
- vivo, including selected X, V and T series phones
- iQOO, Xiaomi and Realme models included on Microsoft’s compatibility list
The reported supported families include Xiaomi’s 14T series, iQOO’s Digital and Z series, and selected Realme phones. Microsoft distinguishes between devices that support basic Phone Link functions and those that can stream mobile applications, so the specific model remains important for users in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
The feature is still being evaluated
Because the function is currently part of an Insider experimental build, it is being tested before any broader Windows 11 rollout. The report does not provide a public release date for the stable version or identify a separate Philippine availability schedule.
For supported Android phones, the change removes several steps from the current process: users no longer need to open Phone Link, enter its Apps section and choose an application there. Windows Search can instead act as the starting point, while the actual Android software remains on the smartphone and is mirrored to the PC.
