10 Ways to Combine Android and Windows 10 (Part 1)

If you are using a Windows 10 PC and an Android mobile or tablet, several Android apps can help you seamlessly bridge the flow of information between the two environments. For example, you can start writing a quick note on your mobile, and finish writing it later on your Windows 10 PC, or you can get the same appointment reminder on both devices. The following Android apps, compatible with Windows 10, are all Microsoft apps, and they are all free. Note that pTo take advantage of interoperability between devices, you must use the same Microsoft online account to sign in with your Windows 10 computer and each of the apps installed on the Android device.

1. Cortana: Sync reminders between your Windows 10 PC and Android device

The Cortana app for Android lets you create reminders that will sync and send you notifications on your Windows 10 PC. To set a reminder in the Cortana app for Android, tap the three-dot icon at the top right of the main app screen, tap on “Reminders”, tap on “Remember to…” on the next screen, and give the reminder a name, to the right of the icon in the shape of a circle. Then you can tap on “Set a time” to set the time you want to receive notification for this reminder. You can also specify a destination (by pressing “Set a location”) to trigger the notification when you physically arrive at the location indicated with your mobile, or add an image to the reminder (“Add a photo”)

Reminders set in the Cortana Android app (left) will appear on your Windows 10 PC, including in the Start menu (right). (Credit: IDG)

Once set, this reminder will sync with your Windows 10 PC. For example, if you have pin Calendar app as a tile in the “Start” menu, the reminder will appear on the Calendar app tile. And when you click on the time/date icon in the Windows 10 notification area, the reminder will appear in a list, on a side panel, below the calendar. And, that works Both ways: You can set reminders on your Windows 10 PC (either in the Calendar app or via Cortana) that will show up on your Android device via the Cortana app.

2. OneDrive: Access files from your Windows 10 PC with your Android device

As you probably know, Windows 10 comes with Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage service. This service, very integrated in the operating system, is materialized by a folder in the File Explorer. Any documents, images, or other types of files dragged into this folder are automatically uploaded to the cloud. The OneDrive Android app allows you to view documents or pictures stored in this OneDrive folder. (If you tap on an image or PDF file in the OneDrive folder, the OneDrive app will load it in its own viewer. If you tap on a document – ​​text file or Word document – ​​it will be downloaded to your Android device and viewed there. default app you use to view this document format will load it). You can also have the OneDrive app automatically upload photos and videos you’ve taken with your Android device’s camera to your OneDrive folder. You can then access to those photos and videos on your Windows 10 PC.

The OneDrive Android app gives you access to documents and pictures stored in Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud space (left). You can also have the app automatically upload photos and videos from your Android device to your OneDrive cloud storage (to the right). (Credit: IDG)

To enable automatic downloading of photos and seefrom of your device, or check that it is already activated: in the Android app, tap on the “Me” icon at the bottom right of the main screen, tap on “Settings”, then on “Download camera” on the next screen. Other options allow also to limit the download only when a network WiFi is available, or only when the Android device is plugged into the mains to recharge its battery. It is also possible to include or exclude videos from automatic downloads.

3. Outlook: Sync calendar events between your Windows 10 PC and Android device

Obviously, the Android Outlook app is primarily intended to access your email from Microsoft services like Exchange, Office 365 or Outlook.com (the app can also be used with a Gmail or Yahoo Mail account.) But the Outlook app also has a calendar tool that syncs with the Calendar app on your Windows 10 PC. Using this calendar, you can remember appointments and to-do reminders. Your Android device and Windows 10 PC will send you alerts to remind you of these events.

The events createdand in Outlook on your Android device (left) will appear in the Calendar app on your Windows 10 PC (right). (Credit: IDG)

To access the Calendar tool on the Android app, tap the third icon at the bottom of the main screen. (The icon looks like a current calendar page, with today’s date.) Then tap the day you want to put an event reminder (by vertically scrolling a list of dates under a part of the calendar in top of the screen). Then tap on the “+” button at the bottom and on the right of the screen. On the next screen, you can choose the time, enter the place where the event will take place and define how long before the event you wish to receive this alert. You can also add a list of contacts to whom you can send notifications for this event. As for reminders synchronization from the Cortana app, the system works both ways. If you set appointments or events in the Calendar app on your Windows 10 PC, you will receive alerts on your Android mobile through the Outlook app.

4. OneNote: Sync Notes Between Your Android Device and Windows 10 PC

A Windows version of OneNote is included with Windows 10. Installing the OneNote Android app on your mobile can be useful for writing notes on the go, especially since you can edit them later on your Windows 10 PC. Android app, you can take notes or create to-do listseither by typing on the touch keyboard of your Android device, or with a digital pen, or by voice dictation. The app allows you to add sketches or drawings with your finger or a digital pen, and to add photos taken with the camera of your Android mobile to a note.

The OneNote Android app lets you add sketches or scribbled drawings with your finger or a digital pen to your notes. (Credit: IDG)

5. Your Phone Companion : Manage notifications, photos, SMS on Android mobile and make voice calls from Windows 10

By installing the app Your Phone Companion on your Android phone, you will be able to automatically forward notifications and text messages received on your Android mobile to your Windows 10 PC, and you will also be able to access the photos stored on your phone from your pc. On your mobile, launch the app and sign in with the same Microsoft user account that you use to sign in to your Windows 10 PC. On your PC, launch the app Your Phone Companion. By clicking the “Photos” button on the left navigation toolbar, you can see the photos and screenshots stored on your Android phone. You can save an image to your PC by right-clicking its thumbnail. Click “Messages” or “Notifications” in the navigation bar to read text messages or notifications received on your phone. You can reply to text messages or type new ones right in the app Your Phone from your PC. The messages will be transferred to your Android mobile to be sent. If the notification is for a message that arrived in a messaging app on your mobile, you can respond to the sender in the same way.

With the app Your Phone from your Windows 10 PC, you can view notifications and reply to received text messages on your Android mobile. (Credit: IDG)

To choose which apps on your Android phone you want to send notifications to from your Windows 10 PC, click the “Settings” icon in the bottom left corner of the app Your Phone from your PC. In the main panel, scroll down to the “Notifications” section and click on “Choose apps allowed to send notifications”. You will then see the list of all the applications on your Android mobile that can send notifications to your PC. By flipping the switch located next to the name of each application, you can allow or deny the sending of notifications to your Windows 10 PC. Finally, by clicking on the “Calls” button located at the bottom of the navigation bar, you can make a voice call. To use this feature, currently in beta, and allow the app Your Phone to route the voice call from your PC to your phone, your phone and your PC must be connected via Bluetooth.