One UI 6.1.1 makes screen mirroring on Windows PCs easier

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Samsung phones were among the first to support Microsoft's Windows Phone Link feature, which allows you to check your phone's notifications, reply to messages, view the phone's image gallery, and stream apps on your computer's screen. However, with the One UI 6.0 update, the company made screen mirroring harder, requiring unnecessary taps. Samsung has fixed that issue with the One UI 6.1.1 update.

One UI 6.1.1 makes app screen mirroring easier on Windows computers

The One UI 6.1.1 update, which debuted last month with the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6, has removed the necessity to tap the ‘Start Now' button every time you want to stream an app from your phone to your Windows computer. Prior to One UI 6.0, you needed to tap the ‘Start Now' button only once per boot, but One UI 6.0 mandated tapping the button every you open an app, which can quickly frustrate anyone.

This new requirement was enforced after Google closed a loophole (MediaProjection API) in Android that apps like Windows Phone Link were using for one-time permission. Google saw that as a security issue and closed it. Thankfully, that isn't the case anymore, as Microsoft has made changes to the Windows Phone Link app.

ChromeOS also features a way to stream apps from Android smartphones and tablets, and it doesn't require your permission every time you open an app. That is because it uses a combination of the Companion App Streaming APIs and the Cross-Device Services app. The Companion App Streaming API is purpose-built for app streaming. With the One UI 6.1.1, Microsoft has migrated from using The MediaProjection API to the Companion App Streaming API.

Some other Android smartphone brands use a modification in their firmware that allows Windows Phone Link to need the permission only once, but that could be a security issue and not a great solution in the long term.

With the One UI 6.1.1 update, other Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets may get the new feature, so it will be easier to stream apps on a computer running Windows 10 or Windows 11. However, you still need to unlock the device for security reasons.

Image Credits: Android Authority, Samsung

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Asif Iqbal Shaik - Senior Editor

[email protected]

First Samsung device: T100

Asif is a computer engineer turned technology journalist. He has been using Samsung phones since 2004, and his current smartphone is the Galaxy S21 Ultra. He loves headphones, mechanical keyboards, and PC hardware. When not writing about technology, he likes watching crime and science fiction movies and TV shows.

Firmware Phone Tablet Galaxy Z Flip 6 Galaxy Z Fold 6 Link to Windows Microsoft One UI 6.1.1 Windows 10 Windows 11 Windows Phone Link

samsung galaxy z flip 7 vs flip 7 fe cover screen

One UI 6.1.1 makes screen mirroring on Windows PCs easier

One UI 6.1.1 makes app screen mirroring easier on Windows computers

Asif Iqbal Shaik - Senior Editor

[email protected]

First Samsung device: T100

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