- Home
- Free App Analytics
- Microsoft Launcher
- Microsoft Launcher Vs. Link to Windows
Microsoft Launcher vs Link to Windows Usage & Stats
Microsoft Launcher provides a new home screen experience that empowers you to be more productive on your Android device. Microsoft Launcher is highly customizable, allowing you to organize everything on your phone. Your personalized feed makes it easy to view your calendar, to do lists, and more. Sticky Notes on the go. When you set up Microsoft Launcher as your new home screen, you can either start fresh with your favorite apps or import your current home screen layout. Need to switch back to your previous home screen? You can do that, too!
This version of Microsoft Launcher has been rebuilt on a new codebase to make new features possible, including dark mode, and personalized news.
MICROSOFT LAUNCHER FEATURES
Customizable icons:
· Give your phone a consistent look and feel with custom icon packs and adaptive icons.
Beautiful wallpapers:
· Enjoy a fresh new image from Bing every day or choose your own photos.
Dark theme:
· Comfortably use your phone at night or in low light environments with Microsoft Launcher’s new dark theme. This feature is compatible with Android’s dark mode settings.
Backup and Restore:
· Easily move between your phones or try Home Screen setups through Microsoft Launcher’s Backup and Restore feature. Backups can be stored locally or saved to the cloud for easy transfers.
Gestures:
· Swipe, pinch, double tap, and more on the home screen to easily navigate on the Microsoft Launcher surface.
This app uses Accessibility Service Permission for optional gesture of screen lock and recent apps view.
Microsoft Launcher asks for the following optional permissions:
· Microphone: Used for speech-to-text functionality for Launcher features, such as Bing Search, Bing Chat, To Do, and Sticky Notes.
· Photo and video: Used for getting features, such as your wallpaper, Blur Effect, and Bing Chat Visual Search, and to show recent activities and backups. On Android 13 and higher, these permissions are replaced with the ‘All file’ access permissions.
· Notifications: Needed to notify you of any update or app activity.
· Contacts: Used for searching contacts on Bing Search.
· Location: Used for the Weather widget.
· Phone: Allows you to call your contacts with a swipe in Launcher.
· Camera: Used to create image notes for the Sticky Notes card and to search for images in Bing Search.
· Calendar: Used to show calendar info for the Calendar card in your Launcher feed.
You can still use Microsoft Launcher even if you do not consent to these permissions, but some functions may be restricted.
TERM OF USE
By installing this app, you agree to the Terms of Use (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=246338) and Privacy Policy (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=248686).
Downloading Microsoft Launcher gives the option to replace the default launcher or to toggle between device launchers. Microsoft Launcher does not replicate the user’s PC home screen on the Android phone. Users must still purchase and/or download any new apps from Google Play. Requires Android 7.0+.
- Google Play Store
- Free
- Personalization
Usage Rank
#362
You love your phone. So does your PC. Get instant access to everything you love on your phone, right from your PC. To get started, install the Link to Windows app on your Android phone and connect it with the Phone Link on your Windows PC.
Link your Android phone and PC to view and reply to text messages, make and receive calls*, view your notifications, and more.
Make emailing yourself photos a thing of the past as you share your favorite images between your phone and PC. Copy, edit, and even drag and drop photos without ever touching your phone.
Phone Link features:
• Make and receive calls from your PC*
• Manage your Android phone's notifications on your PC
• Access your favorite mobile apps** on your PC
• Read and reply to text messages from your PC
• Drag files between your PC and phone**
• Copy and paste content between your PC and phone**
• Instantly access the photos on your phone from your PC
• Use your PC's bigger screen, keyboard, mouse, and touch screen to interact with your phone from your PC.
Integrated with select** Microsoft Duo, Samsung, and HONOR phones for an even better experience:
The Link to Windows app comes integrated so no additional apps need to be downloaded from the Play Store.
Link to Windows is easy to find in the Quick Access tray (swipe down from the top of your screen to access it).
Exclusive features like cross-device copy and paste, Phone screen, file drag-and-drop, and Apps.
Let us know what features you'd like to see next by selecting “Send feedback” in the Phone Link settings.
*Calls requires a Windows 10 PC with Bluetooth capability.
**Drag and drop, Phone screen and Apps all require a compatible Microsoft Duo, Samsung or HONOR device (full list and breakdown of capabilities: aka.ms/phonelinkdevices). The multiple apps experience requires a Windows 10 PC running the May 2020 Update or later and has at least 8GB of RAM, and your Android device must be running Android 11.0.
The Link to Windows accessibility service is for those using a screen reading tool on the PC. When the service is enabled, it lets you control all your phone’s apps from your PC using Android keyboard navigation while receiving spoken feedback from your PC speakers. No personal or sensitive data is collected via Accessibility Service.
By installing this app, you agree to the Microsoft Terms of Use https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=246338 and Privacy Statement https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=248686.
- Google Play Store
- Free
- Productivity
Usage Rank
#303
Microsoft Launcher vs. Link to Windows ranking comparison
Compare Microsoft Launcher ranking trend in the past 28 days vs. Link to Windows
Microsoft Launcher#362
Link to Windows#303
Rank
Microsoft Launcher vs. Link to Windows ranking by country comparison
Compare Microsoft Launcher ranking trend in the past 28 days vs. Link to Windows
All categories
No Data Available
Personalization
Compare to any site with our free trial
March 2, 2026