Windows 11 Cross-Device: Open Phone Webpages on Your PC

Reached the office while reading an article on your phone, opened your laptop – and now have to Google again to find that page. You know how irritating this situation is. This problem has been solved with the arrival of Windows 11 cross-device resume for Android. This feature from Microsoft lets you continue any Chrome tab open on an Android phone directly on a Windows 11 PC – without copy-pasting links, without emailing, and without any extra apps. In this tutorial, we will fully understand how this feature works, how to set it up, and what to keep in mind.

What is Windows 11 Cross-Device Resume?

“Cross-Device Resume” is a feature that connects your Android phone and Windows 11 PC, allowing whatever you were viewing in your phone’s Chrome browser to appear automatically on your PC.

This feature is part of Microsoft’s Phone Link ecosystem and is integrated with the Edge browser.

When active, both the Windows 11 Taskbar and the Edge browser automatically detect which webpage is open in Chrome on your phone, offering you the option to resume viewing it on your PC with a single click.

Microsoft previously tested this feature in Windows Insider builds, and it is now rolling out to stable Windows 11 users.

Which devices is this feature for?

Before you begin the setup, find out which devices it works with:

Requirements:

• Windows 11 PC – This feature is not available on Windows 10.
• Android phone – This feature is not currently available on iOS (iPhone).
• Google Chrome must be installed on the Android phone.
• Microsoft Edge on Windows 11 PC (it comes pre-installed).
• Microsoft Account – You must be logged in with the same Microsoft account on both devices.
• Phone Link app – Must be installed on the Android phone.

For whom is this most useful in India?

• Students who conduct research on their phones and create notes on their PCs.
• Professionals who read articles while commuting and want to continue on their PCs at the office.
• Freelancers who frequently switch between both devices.

Step-by-Step Setup: Windows Cross-Device Resume (Android)

Step 1 – Install the Phone Link App on Android

The Phone Link app serves as the foundation for connectivity between your Android phone and Windows 11 PC.

On Android:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Search for “Link to Windows”.
3. Install Microsoft’s official “Link to Windows” app.

🔗 play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.appmanager

Note: This app may come pre-installed on Samsung phones. Check under Settings → Advanced features → Link to Windows.

Step 2 – Open Phone Link on your Windows 11 PC

The Phone Link app comes pre-installed on Windows 11.

Steps:

1. Search for “Phone Link” in the Start Menu and open it.
2. If you are opening it for the first time, select the “Android” option.
3. A QR code will appear on the screen.

Step 3 – Link the phone and PC.

1. Open the “Link to Windows” app on your Android phone.
2. Tap on “Link your phone and PC”.
3. The app will ask you to scan a QR code – scan the QR code displayed on your PC screen.
4. Log in to both devices using the same Microsoft account – this is essential.
5. Grant the requested permissions on your phone – such as Notifications, Contacts, and Phone calls.

Once the linking process is complete, the Phone Link app on your PC will show your phone as connected.

Step 4 – Enable “Continue on PC” in Chrome

This is the core step for cross-device resuming. You need to grant the Chrome browser permission to share data with Microsoft.

On Android Chrome:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner.
3. Go to “Settings”.
4. Tap on “Google Services” or “Sync and Google services”.
5. Turn on the “Allow Chrome sign-in” and “Make searches and browsing better” options.

Also, check this:

When a webpage is open in Chrome, tap the three dots → “Share”. You should see the “Send to your devices” or “Continue on PC” option here – this is what triggers the cross-device resume feature.

Step 5 – Sync your account in the Windows 11 Edge browser

You must be logged in to the Edge browser on your PC using the same Microsoft account.

Steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the profile icon in the top right corner.
3. If you aren’t logged in, sign in using the same Microsoft account you used on your phone.
4. In the sync settings, enable syncing for “Open tabs” and “History.”

How to open a webpage from your phone on your PC?

Once the setup is complete, actual usage is very simple.

Method #1 – Using the Chrome Share option:

1. Open a webpage in Chrome on Android.
2. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner → “Share”.
3. You will see “Send to devices” or “Continue on PC” among the share options.
4. Tap on it – if multiple PCs are linked, select your PC.
5. A notification will appear in Edge on your PC; click on it, and the page will open.

Method #2 – Via the Taskbar (New Windows 11 feature):

In the latest Windows 11 updates, an indicator appears directly on the taskbar when a webpage is active on the phone.

1. Check the PC’s taskbar – you might see a webpage indicator near the Phone Link icon.
2. Click on it, and the webpage open on your phone will open in Edge on your PC.

Method #3 – Edge’s “Tabs from other devices” feature:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Open a new tab → type edge://history/tabs-from-other-devices in the address bar.
3. Here, you will see a list of Chrome tabs recently opened on your phone.
4. Click on the tab you want to open.

What does Cross-Device Resume Notification look like in Windows 11?

When you send a webpage from your phone to your PC, a toast notification appears in Edge on Windows 11 that says “Continue browsing from your phone” and shows the webpage title and URL.

If Edge is in the background, a notification badge appears on the Edge icon in the taskbar.

This notification lasts for a few seconds – so be careful not to miss it. If you miss it, check Edge’s notification history.

Cross-Device Resume not working? Check these things

Issue #1 – “Continue on PC” option not visible in Chrome:

• Update Chrome to the latest version.
• Log in to your Google account in Chrome and turn on sync.
• Restart your phone and try again.

Problem #2 – Notification did not appear on the PC:

• Turn off Focus Assist in Windows 11 (it blocks notifications).
• Settings → System → Notifications → Turn on Edge notifications.
• Allow the Phone Link app to run in the background.

On Android:

• Settings → Apps → Link to Windows → Battery → select “Unrestricted”.
• Settings → Apps → Link to Windows → Background → “Allow”.

Problem #3 – Devices are not linking:

• Ensure both devices are on the same Microsoft account – this is the most common mistake.
• Make sure both the phone and PC are connected to the internet.
• Uninstall the Phone Link app and reinstall it.

Problem #4 – Tabs are not syncing in Edge:

• Edge Settings → Profiles → Sync → Turn on the “Open tabs” toggle.
• Completely close Edge and reopen it.

What else can you do with Cross-Device Resume?

The Phone Link ecosystem isn’t limited to just sharing webpages; it also offers the following features:

Mirror your phone screen to your PC (Samsung):
The “Screen mirroring” feature in Phone Link allows Samsung phone users to view their entire phone screen on their PC.

View and transfer photos:
You can view your phone’s latest photos on your PC via the “Photos” section of the Phone Link app and copy them to your PC using drag-and-drop.

View notifications on your PC:
Notifications from apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Gmail appear in Phone Link on your PC, so you don’t need to pick up your phone.

Make calls from your PC:
You can make and receive calls directly from your PC using Phone Link – simply use your headphones.

Reply to messages from your PC:
SMS and messages from certain messaging apps appear in Phone Link on your PC, allowing you to reply using your keyboard.

Is this feature safe from a privacy perspective?

People in India are rightly conscious about privacy. Therefore, it is important to know:

The data that is shared:

• Webpage URLs you send manually
• Phone notifications (if allowed)
• Photos (which you share yourself)

Data that is not shared:

• Your entire browsing history is not automatically transmitted.
• Passwords and banking details are not shared.
• Data is securely encrypted and transmitted via your Microsoft account.

Safety tips:

• Do not set up Phone Link on a shared or office PC.
• If you plan to sell your phone, unlink it from Phone Link first – Phone Link app → Settings → Remove device.
• Maintain a strong password and enable 2FA on your Microsoft account.

Samsung vs. Non-Samsung Android – What’s the difference?

Samsung phones are the best-selling phones in India. Samsung users enjoy certain extra advantages:

On Samsung phones:

• The “Link to Windows” app comes pre-installed.
• A screen mirroring feature is available.
• A “Link to Windows” shortcut may be available directly in the Quick Settings panel.
• Additional integration tools are available from the Samsung Galaxy Store.

On Non-Samsung Android (Redmi, Realme, OnePlus, etc.):

• You will need to manually install the ‘Link to Windows’ app from the Play Store.
• The screen mirroring feature will not be available.
• All other features – such as cross-device resume, notifications, and calls – work normally.

An extra step for Xiaomi / MIUI users:

• Settings → Battery → Select apps → Link to Windows → Set to “No restrictions”.
• This ensures the app runs properly in the background.

Alternative Methods – If Phone Link isn’t working

If, for some reason, Phone Link cannot be set up, these alternatives are also useful:

1. Google Chrome Sync (the easiest alternative):

If you use Chrome on your PC as well:

• Log in to the same Google account on both Android Chrome and PC Chrome.
• Click on the address bar in PC Chrome → scroll down → you will see “Tabs from other devices.”
• Here, you will see a list of all the tabs open on your phone.

🔗 Chrome: chrome.google.com

2. KDE Connect (Advanced, Open Source):

🔗 kdeconnect.kde.org

This is a free and open-source tool that allows you to share a lot between Windows and Android – including the clipboard, files, notifications, and even browser links.

The Windows version of KDE Connect is available for free download, and the Android app is also free on the Play Store.

3. Pushbullet (Free tier available):

🔗 pushbullet.com

Pushbullet shares links, files, and notifications between your phone and PC. The free plan offers basic features, while the Pro plan costs $4.99 per month.

4. Join by joaoapps:

🔗 joaoapps.com/join

A powerful automation tool that pushes links and notifications from your phone to your PC. Both the Android app and the Chrome extension are free.

If you encounter any technical issues during Phone Link setup – such as devices failing to link, Bluetooth connectivity problems, or Windows 11 notifications not working – visit fixtech.in. They offer professional troubleshooting services for Windows 11 configuration and Android-PC connectivity issues.

Phone Link Integration in the Taskbar – Windows 11’s New Look

In the latest Windows 11 updates, the integration between the Taskbar and Phone Link has become even deeper.

• The phone’s battery percentage and signal strength are displayed near the Phone Link icon on the taskbar.
• Phone notifications can be dismissed directly from the taskbar.
• Quick access to cross-device resume is available right from the taskbar.

This integration is part of Microsoft’s vision where phones and PCs operate as a connected ecosystem – similar to Apple’s iPhone-Mac ecosystem, but for Android and Windows.

FAQs – About Windows Cross-Device Resume for Android

Final Thoughts

The Windows cross-device resume feature for Android is genuinely useful, significantly bridging the gap between your phone and PC. In India, where people often browse on their phones while doing their actual work on a PC, this feature can make the daily workflow much smoother. Setting it up takes just 10 minutes; once done, you simply need to tap “Share → Continue on PC” on your phone. If you encounter any technical issues during the Phone Link setup, seek professional assistance from fixtech.in. And remember – the biggest advantage of this feature is that your phone and PC are no longer separate worlds; instead, they create a seamless, continuous experience.