Running Android apps on your Windows 11 PC is about to feel slightly better
A new Phone Link update makes Android apps less cramped with expanded view
Microsoft
Microsoft is working on a useful upgrade for Phone Link that fixes one of the most annoying parts of streaming Android apps on Windows 11. A new expanded view option lets you stretch Android apps beyond the cramped, phone-sized window that users have been stuck with for years. It is rolling out in the latest Phone Link update (version 1.25112.33.0) and is meant to make apps look more natural on larger monitors.
What expanded view actually does
Phone Link has always streamed Android apps in a narrow portrait layout that mimics your phone, no matter how big your PC display is. Some users have been rotating their phone screens and switching to the ‘Open Phone Screen’ option as a workaround, but that only helps with apps that support landscape mode. Apps like Uber do not, which leaves them stuck in an uncomfortable layout.
According to Windows Latest, the new expanded view adds a small icon next to the window controls. Tapping it widens the app, so it uses more of your desktop space. It works best with apps that already support larger screens. For example, VLC and Amazon scale cleanly and fill the window, while Uber still shows thick black bars on both sides because it is designed only for a vertical layout. WhatsApp performs better because its Android version already has tablet-style optimization.
The catch is that the expanded view does not increase the font resolution, so text can look slightly blurry when stretched, and the window still cannot be maximized. It even snaps to the left edge by default, which feels a bit odd. It is not perfect yet, but the update moves Phone Link closer to a better desktop-style Android experience and makes it something you can rely on more often.
In other Windows 11 related news, Microsoft is also rolling out a few handy upgrades to improve everyday use. App updates and removals are becoming less of a hassle, copy and paste is getting new privacy safeguards, and a new Themes section that makes personalizing your PC feel a little closer to customizing a phone.
Manisha likes to cover technology that is a part of everyday life, from smartphones & apps to gaming & streaming…
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