[Discussion] Samsung Shelves DeX on Windows, Embraces Microsoft Phone Link

[Uncrowned Guard]

Samsung Drops DeX App on Windows, Pushing for Microsoft Phone Link Compatibility

In a major strategy shift, Samsung recently announced that its One UI 7 update will no longer support the Samsung DeX app on Windows, urging users to adopt Microsoft Phone Link instead.

Samsung's DeX Service Replaced by Microsoft Phone Link

The announcement was quietly revealed in a footnote on the DeX landing page of Samsung's UK website. The popular DeX app, favored by many Galaxy users, enabled Android phone screens to be mirrored onto a Windows PC, facilitating file transfer between platforms. However, Samsung has realized a critical overlapping of features between DeX and Microsoft's Phone Link, leading to this decision.

What's crucial to note here is that Microsoft's service is substantially more accommodating of a broader range of Android phones. This factor, along with Android's upcoming Desktop Mode, has likely made the continuation of the DeX app for Windows unsustainable.

Transitioning From DeX to Phone Link

The cessation of DeX for Windows app, beginning with the launch of One UI 7, was confirmed in a message from Samsung. The company advised, "The DeX for PC on Windows OS will end support from One UI 7 version. We encourage customers to connect their mobile phone and PC through the Link to Windows feature."

To smoothen the transition for Samsung Galaxy users, all existing capabilities of the Samsung DeX app on Windows are replicated, and some even improved, by Microsoft Phone Link. Users will merely have to download the Link to Windows app on their Android device and configure it with the Phone Link app on their Windows 11 PC.

An Operational Reconfiguration for Samsung

The decision to terminate support for the Samsung DeX app on Windows appears logical given the forthcoming software update of One UI 7, touted as a significant one. Preempted delays signal the magnitude of this shift within Samsung's operating systems and seem suggestive that DeX for Windows does not align with the company's future vision. As a part of this pivotal change, Samsung's Connected Experience page highlights a plethora of services that integrate Galaxy devices, giving precedence to Phone Link.

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