Microsoft has constantly been updating Windows 10 to operate better on mobile operating systems, the latest of which is an update to the Your Phone app that now allows Android users to mirror notifications on their PC. The company did keep its promise from August 2018 when it said notifications would be arriving.
The functionality of the app hasn't changed. Once you sync an Android device with the Your Phone app, it gives you the ability to text and read messages, drag and drop files, and view your photos in your library.
What's changed now is that you can now receive and manage new messages from apps directly connected on your PC, such as on Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Dismissing it on your PC will also do the same to your phone. The new update means that your Windows 10 PC will be a lot smarter, basically alerting you to whatever notification your phone receives.
Microsoft says that there are no restrictions to the type of notifications that can be mirrored to a PC. However, you cannot do quick replies yet. Although, support for quick replies are already being worked on and should be rolled out soon.
The new update was announced on Twitter, with Microsoft's director of program management for Microsoft Mobile and X-Device Experiences confirmed that the feature is now rolling out broadly, albeit gradually. Microsoft senior program manager Analy Otero Diaz responded to comments and wrote: "it may take a few days to show up for everyone."
As with most apps, the update will require users to grant some permissions to complete the setup. Once done, you can use the app from the desktop to perform several tasks remotely, including sending messages or viewing them, and copying photos from your Android device.
Microsoft has been testing several features through its Insider community with the goal of improving connectivity between mobile operating systems and Windows 10. As mentioned, it would probably take a while for the features to appear for everybody.
You should be running Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803 aka the fastest growing Windows 10 version) and Android 7.0 or later for this to work.
If you're interested in checking it out, make sure you've installed the Your Phone app on your Windows 10-powered PC (though it should be pre-installed if you're running the latest update), and linked it to your Android device with the Your Phone Companion app.
