Microsoft is expanding this phone connectivity feature to many Android phones

Microsoft Phone Link – the company’s app that lets users link their Android smartphones to a Windows PC – has expanded its instant hotspot feature to more than just Samsung smartphones, according to a report. Users with Android smartphones from brands like OnePlus and Oppo will potentially be able to use their handsets as portable hotspots to quickly connect their PCs to the internet without having to manually configure the details. It builds on the Copilot chatbot-assisted features that were recently brought to Android smartphones via a Phone Link app.

Microsoft Phone Link Instant Hotspot feature rolling out

The Instant Hotspot feature was previously only available on Windows 11 PCs via Samsung smartphones connected to the Phone Link app. It reportedly works by using a Windows service bundled with the operating system (OS). According to an Android Authority reportOther smartphones, including models from OnePlus and Oppo, now also support this feature.

To access the feature, users will need to open the Link to Windows app and look for an option titled “Connect your PC to your mobile hotspot in an instant.” It has reportedly been rolled out as a server-side update. Handsets that have not yet received it can receive an over-the-air (OTA) update that can bring the Windows Service app to the latest version, the publication said.

Besides the introduction of the instant hotspot feature, Android smartphone users will reportedly also be able to take advantage of other features such as copy and paste between devices and app streaming.

In July, Microsoft reportedly rolled out a new update to Copilot that introduced the ability to manage certain tasks on a paired Android smartphone. Users can connect their Windows 11 PCs to their Android 14 smartphones via the Phone Link app to enable Copilot control over various handset functions, such as sending text messages, setting alarms, and receiving message digests. However, the feature is reportedly still in beta and may not be available to public users yet.