Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Guides

Want to make Android notifications sync with Windows 10? Just install Cortana

Tyler Lacoma
By

How to record the screen on an Android device
Image used with permission by copyright holder
We love platform convergence, because it allows us to sync our devices in newer and more useful ways. Take the growing compatibility between mobile Android devices and Windows 10. Where once the two were barely on speaking terms, you can now make Android notifications and alerts sync.

In practical terms, this means that you can keep track of everything happening on your smartphone while you work on Windows 10 — without glancing down at your phone screen every time. The key is Cortana, the digital assistant on Windows 10 and Xbox One; her capabilities include syncing between devices, and we’ll run you through exactly how to do so.

Recommended Videos

Step 1: Download Cortana for Android

Sync Android notifications - Cortana Notification Layout
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While there are third party apps available that allow some Android-to-Windows communication, the easiest option is to let Cortana’s official app do that work. To do that, you need Cortana on your Android phone, so head over to the Google Play store on your phone and download the Cortana app. It’s free, and compatible with most modern Android mobile devices. However, if you are using your Android phone in a BYOD scenario, make sure that your company is okay with you downloading a voice assistant and linking accounts this way.

Related

Step 2: Sign in

Sync Android notifications Cortana greeting screenOnce Cortana is installed, you should transition over to a welcome screen. If not, try restarting the Cortana app to kick it into motion. You will see a friendly, “Hi!” from Cortana, and then she will ask you to sign into your Microsoft Account.

You will need your own Microsoft Account and password for this step. If you aren’t sure if you have a Microsoft account or not, remember that it will be the same sign-in you used for past Windows/Xbox services. If you haven’t started using Windows 10 yet and don’t have a history with Microsoft, creating a login is very easy.

After you sign in, you will see an option to allow Cortana to actively listen for her “Hey Cortana” activation line in case you want to give commands to your Android device. This depends on your current use of voice assistants. Most Android devices have an “Ok Google” command option these days, and if you are already used to that, then there isn’t much of a reason to adopt a new voice assistant. But if you prefer Cortana to Google’s voice assistant — and there are reasons to do so — then check away and move onto the next step.

Step 3: Sync basic notificationssync android notifications Cortana Basic Notifications screen

Cortana will now begin to access information on your Android device, getting up to speed on your data. Yes, this does mean that Microsoft will have access to your Android data. You can read more about what Cortana does with your data here, and what sort of privacy you can expect.

When this is finished, go to the top left of your screen and select the three-lined button there. Here, look for an option that says, “Sync notifications.” Choose it, and that will take you to a another settings menu that will show you the basic notifications you can enable. Any of these Android notifications that are enabled will also show up on Windows 10 in your little Cortana alert box. The basic phone stuff is all here — low battery warnings, text alerts, missed calls, and so on, so pick which alerts you want to receive.

Step 4: Choose specific syncing for app alertssync android notifications Cortana Apps Sync screen

If you continue down the Sync notifications list, you will notice an option for App Notifications Sync (or possibly Choose what apps to sync, depending on your setup). Choose this and you can sync the notifications for any compatible Android app from a list. Chances are good that you have a lot of these apps, so take some time to go through them all and make sure only the important apps are selected. You probably don’t want any random browser notifications or additional calendar alerts, but if there are apps you’d like Android notifications from, swipe right to activate them and you will receive those alerts too.

Step 5: Hop over to Windows and restart

sync android notifications Cortana Info screenHead to your Windows 10 computer and restart it: It’s not always necessary, but it’s a good idea to ensure smooth syncing. After you login again, make sure that Cortana is showing notifications from your Android phone. After that, you are all set! Note that you may be able to increase compatibility with features like the Microsoft Phone Companion.

Reminder: If it isn’t working, check your Windows 10 Cortana settings to make sure that Cortana can access information from other devices.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Tyler Lacoma
Tyler Lacoma
Former Digital Trends Contributor
If it can be streamed, voice-activated, made better with an app, or beaten by mashing buttons, Tyler's into it. When he's not…
Google might have just complicated running Android apps in Windows 11
Android Apps on Windows 11

Running Android apps via the Amazon App store is one of the biggest features of Microsoft's new Windows 11 operating system, but Google might have just complicated things a bit.

In a change of policy, Google is requiring app developers to embrace the new Android App Bundle standard, and move away from the APK file format that otherwise could have been used to sideload Android apps in Windows 11.

Read more
How to find your Windows 10 product key
Installing windows.

The Windows 10 product key -- a 25-digit code included with every copy -- acts as proof of an authorized purchase. You can download and use much of Windows 10 without one, but to fully unlock all Windows 10 features, you need your product key (Microsoft also accepts digital licenses in some versions of Windows 10). You can find this activation option at any time in the Update & Security section of your settings. Windows 10 also regularly reminds you of this.

If you’re ready to active your Windows 10 device and fully unlock everything that Windows 10 can do -- or you’re reinstalling Windows after some major hardware changes -- then you’ll need that product key on hand. Finding it can be a little tricky, however: If you aren’t sure where to look, here’s how to find the necessary key, and what to do if you think you may have permanently lost it.
Option 1: Consult your documentation

Read more
How to turn on Windows 10 Ransomware protection
A digital security lock.

Few malware attacks are as annoying or potentially costly as ransomware. Once your computer becomes infected, ransomware locks you out of valuable files and demands that you send payments in exchange for releasing them. Even major corporations have been attacked, with some actually making enormous payouts to get their digital property back.

Yep, that’s scary -- but there are ways you can protect your devices. One of the newer, easier-to-enable options offered by Windows 10 is enabling its innate ransomware protection with controlled file access. Let’s walk through how to turn it on and what this means for your Windows 10 security going forward.
Step 1: Head to Windows Security

Read more