How To Connect Android To Windows 10

Final month we looked at apps that allow y'all to connect iOS devices to your Windows 10 PC. But if yous're on Android and Windows 10, you don't need to experience left out. There are a number of means to connect your Android devices to your PC. In fact, due to the open nature of Android, there are even more than options.

While at that place are many Microsoft apps available for Android, this list is about apps that connect your phone and your PC, not merely services that are bachelor on both.

How Microsoft is turning Android into the mobile Bone for Windows users

From mirroring your screen to connecting your devices through the web, these are the best apps to connect your Android phone to Windows 10.

AirDroid

AirDroid extends your Android phone experience to your PC. Yous can mirror the entire phone screen and control your phone through your PC or merely sync specific aspects of the phone such as notifications. You can respond to messages from your PC through SMS, WhatsApp, Kik, and other messaging services and also accept the option to transport quick replies to someone who calls y'all on the phone.

Yous tin can likewise apply it to transfer files between your phone and your PC and control your camera remotely.

Setting up AirDroid takes a niggling scrap of piece of work, you have to unlock developer options and turn on USB debugging, but the app and AirDroid'due south website walk yous through this.

There's a basic free version of the app, or you tin can upgrade to pro for $ane.99 per month or $xix.99 per twelvemonth. The pro version removes ads, allows yous to transfer entire folders, and grants you admission to more features broken down on their website.

I like the thought of AirDroid, and it worked fairly well in my testing, but screen mirroring did encounter some glitches, as did notifications. This could be based on my hardware so it's worth trying it out on your setup to see how it performs.

Come across in Google Play Store

Vysor

Vysor is another way to mirror your Android phone onto your PC. It also allows you to elevate and drop files and take screenshots. Yous can likewise apply Vysor to type into text boxes on your phone using your PCs keyboard.

I way it differs from AirDroid is that it allows you lot to use Vysor Share, though you lot need a Vysor Pro account, which lets you share your telephone with people throughout your part.

There is a gratis version of Vysor but to unlock high quality mirroring, wireless connexion, Vysor Share, and more features you'll need to upgrade to Vysor Pro which costs $2.50 per month, $ten per year or $40 for a lifetime.

See in Google Play Store

Textto

Rather than mirroring your unabridged screen or all of your notifications, Textto specializes in allowing you lot to text from your PC. Setting it upwardly is incredibly like shooting fish in a barrel. You only need to sign up with a Gmail account on both the Android app and PC version of Textto. Yous can so text from your computer through Textto's PC program or the spider web. It works wirelessly so you tin set up it up and so just text from your phone or PC.

Textto doesn't replace your SMS app of choice on your phone, it just relays your text letters through your PC. I was incredibly impressed while using this and it's especially useful because Skype SMS relay still hasn't arrived on Android.

You can get the PC version from Textto's website and download the Android app through Google Play. Both of them are free.

Run across in Google Play Store

Photos Companion

Photos Companion comes from the Microsoft Garage. It allows you to send your photos between your Android phone and your PC equally long equally you're on the same wireless network. The connection works almost instantaneously and merely requires scanning a QR code to gear up.

The Android version of the app is gratuitous, and the Windows x Photos app comes for free every bit office of Windows 10.

Encounter in Google Play Store

Cortana

There's no shortage of digital assistants on Android, but if you use a Windows 10 PC, it'southward worth checking out Cortana. The assistant can sync reminders, lists, notes on both your Android phone and PC. It tin likewise sync notifications from your telephone with your PC.

How to sync notifications between Android and Windows 10 using Cortana

Cortana has become easier to access than ever on Android phones by its integration with Microsoft Launcher. Cortana is free on Android, as is Microsoft Launcher which tin can integrate with information technology, and is also built into Windows 10.

See in Google Play Store

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge provides a prissy browser experience as its own app on Android, simply it'due south peculiarly useful if y'all want to continue your browsing experience from your telephone to your PC. You can select to continue viewing whatsoever webpage on your PC immediately or select to view it later.

Even in preview, Border on Android already shows promise

Microsoft Edge also syncs with other aspects of the PC version of Edge including favorites so you can have a close to seamless browsing experience.

Edge is function of Windows 10, and the Android version is free.

See in Google Play Shop

Honorable mentions

At that place are 2 other apps that aid you connect your phone to your PC, but they are restricted to specific hardware.

Dell Mobile Connect

Dell Mobile Connect allows you to brand calls and texts through your PC and besides lets you read and react to notifications. Our executive editor, Daniel Rubino, has called it astonishing and it looks like a big describe to anyone considering new hardware. But the app is non only restricted to working with Dell PCs, it merely works with specific Dell PCs. Hopefully, nosotros'll see more hardware from Dell supporting this in the future and other OEMs making similar applications.

Dell Mobile Connect is amazing. Full mirroring of Android on Windows 10. Make/receive calls/sms. pic.twitter.com/70zY0ZcvtL
— Daniel Rubino (@Daniel_Rubino) March i, 2018

See in Google Play Store

HP Orbit

HP also has an app of their own, HP Orbit, which allows you lot to send photos, text, and links betwixt your phone and your PC. Every bit yous'd await, it requires an HP PC. It isn't as powerful as Dell Mobile Connect but is very fast.

See in Google Play Store

Over to you

These are some of the all-time ways to connect Android phones to Windows 10 PCs, but they aren't the only ways. What are your favourite apps and services to connect your devices across platforms? Let us know in the comments below.

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