If Microsoft can make a Windows 11 shell for Xbox and gaming … why can’t we get a Windows 11 shell for phones? 🙏

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They called me mad, they called me crazy. But, what if it’s actually genius?

When the Xbox Full Screen Experience launched, it got me thinking about similar ideas. It reminded me of Windows Media Center, which used to let you turn your computer into a media center for your TV, designed for comfortable couch viewing. Those who remember Windows Media Center also recall it being discontinued about ten years ago.

Interestingly, Xbox is revisiting a familiar idea with its Full Screen Experience. Windows 11 is aiming to be more convenient for use with TVs and from the couch, mainly controlled by an Xbox controller or remote. It’s designed for effortless multitasking, easy app access, and a simpler way to enjoy games and other entertainment.

Because fewer people are using it, Windows Media Center won’t be included in Windows 10. This change was announced on May 4, 2015.

Currently, the apps section within the Xbox Full Screen Experience is limited. You’re restricted to whatever apps Xbox pre-selects and can’t customize it with your own choices. However, this is likely to improve. It seems reasonable to expect future updates will allow quick access to popular services like Netflix, or even any web app, directly within the Xbox interface, essentially making the Windows 11 desktop unnecessary for those apps. Plus, Microsoft is offering more web apps than ever through its Store, which supports this possibility.

But then … I got to thinking. Yes, I do that sometimes.

The Xbox’s Full Screen Experience (FSE) is basically an app running over the regular Windows operating system, letting you hide things like the desktop and tailor the experience for devices like the Xbox handheld. Someone wondered if we could… but the idea was quickly dismissed as unrealistic.

Unable to sleep due to a fever, I started imagining possibilities for Windows 11. I wondered what it would be like to have a Start Menu that filled the whole screen, similar to how apps are organized on a smartphone. I also thought it would be great if the Windows 11 widgets panel was expanded and made even better. And then I pictured a full-screen Windows 11 experience… on a phone!

Hear me out. It’s NOT that crazy.

Windows on Arm is half way there

While Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs haven’t been a massive hit, with Intel facing more and more problems, it seems likely that future Windows computers for everyday users will increasingly rely on Arm processors.

Microsoft has made significant progress in optimizing Windows to run on Arm-based processors over the last few years, and we’re now seeing the benefits. Windows on Arm is much improved since its initial release, and newer chips from Qualcomm, especially the Snapdragon X Elite series, have made it a more practical option. While Arm-based laptops currently represent around 12% of the market – a number that’s still growing – this positive trend suggests the platform is gaining traction.

For a long time, Windows on Arm struggled because of the extra work needed to translate apps designed for traditional processors. But things are really changing! We’re seeing more apps built natively for Arm processors, plus Microsoft has seriously improved how Windows 11 runs apps made for older systems with Prism emulation. And now, with better gaming support finally arriving, Windows on Arm is becoming a genuinely great option – I’m seriously impressed with how far it’s come!

But wasn’t this about phones, not laptops? Well, sure, but you have to start somewhere, right?

From my analysis, adapting this for phones shouldn’t be a massive undertaking. Windows on Arm laptops already utilize a lot of the necessary underlying technology, making the transition quite feasible. You can actually find numerous videos online – including the one linked below – demonstrating this potential.

Windows Phone struggled because it didn’t have enough apps, but that problem feels less significant now. Web apps are much better than they used to be, and having *fewer* apps might actually be a good thing. We’re constantly bombarded with distracting and addictive content on iPhones and Androids, and a phone focused on specific tasks could be a real advantage – a pocket computer, not just a source of endless scrolling. Of course, if you still want apps like TikTok and Instagram, they *are* available on the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft pioneered a feature called Continuum with Windows 10 Mobile, and Samsung’s DeX is essentially its successor. Continuum let you connect a Windows phone to a monitor, mouse, and keyboard to get a desktop-like computer experience. While Samsung DeX on Android is functional, it doesn’t offer the same level of power you’d get from a true Windows-powered device with Arm processing.

This phone could offer access to a huge library of games and powerful PC applications – everything from Adobe Creative Cloud and popular browsers like Chrome and Edge, to tools like Spotify, Blender, and Visual Studio Code. This expansive app selection could be a major advantage, effectively turning the phone into a fully functional PC when needed.

The Xbox Full Screen Experience fully proves the concept, too.

The Xbox Full Screen Experience proves the concept

I heard the Xbox Full Screen Experience came together remarkably quickly – in just over a year! What really struck me was how closely the Xbox and Windows teams worked together to make it happen; it was a level of collaboration I hadn’t seen before.

The goal was to develop an app that works with Windows 11 to improve the experience on devices like the Lenovo Legion Go and Xbox Ally, especially when using Xbox controllers.

It’s not flawless yet, but it’s a promising start. Pressing the Xbox button brings up a menu similar to a smartphone’s task switcher. The joysticks and buttons work surprisingly well with many apps, and you can always switch back to touch controls if needed.

The Xbox Ally handhelds have this feature turned on automatically, and it will soon be available for desktop PCs and other PC gaming handhelds. You’ll be able to set any application as a “launcher,” similar to Steam’s Big Picture Mode. This idea is similar to Windows Media Center, which was available with older versions of Windows.

The Xbox Full Screen Experience lets you easily switch back to the standard Windows desktop whenever you want. Similar to features on older devices, you can also connect your Xbox Ally to a monitor or TV, add a mouse and keyboard, and use it like a regular computer – you could work on documents, manage your finances, or even write articles.

It’s easy to imagine a Windows on Arm device, like a large phone or small tablet, with a simplified interface. This device could hide the traditional Windows desktop and use the Start Menu as its main app screen. A simple swipe from the right could even bring up the Windows 11 widgets.

Considering Microsoft developed the Xbox Full Screen Experience in just over a year for a relatively small market – handheld PC gaming – it makes you wonder what they could achieve with a larger investment.

Bringing the cancelled Surface Phone to life with this OS would only require a few things: basic phone functionality, refined software and touch controls, resources for developers, and some manufacturers willing to take a risk. Imagine how different it would be compared to today’s smartphones, which often feel restrictive and uninspired.

This is a bit of a simplified view of what it would take, of course, but it’s good to be optimistic.

Alas, it would (probably) never happen

Back to reality … it would likely never happen.

Microsoft often seems to hinder its own progress, prioritizing profits and shareholder demands over innovation. The company has moved away from pursuing interesting projects simply for the sake of advancement, now focusing almost entirely on boosting its stock price.

Currently, everyone is focused on artificial intelligence, but I believe mobile devices will be crucial to its success. I predicted back in 2023 that Microsoft would struggle with AI because it lacks a strong presence on mobile platforms like Android and iOS, where the built-in defaults heavily influence user experience. Google’s Gemini is poised to become the leading AI on both Android and iOS, leaving Microsoft’s Copilot with virtually no chance to compete on mobile. In fact, Samsung’s AI currently appears to be offering a more user-friendly experience.

Once the current hype dies down, Microsoft will still be a major player, offering cloud computing services while Google and its AI models likely regain dominance.

Things could have turned out differently for Microsoft. They were early innovators with ideas like Cortana and had several devices – including the Microsoft Band, Cortana-powered speaker, and Xbox Kinect – that could have really taken off with the help of artificial intelligence.

The Surface Duo and Surface Neo would have been more successful if they had run the complete version of Windows and tried a unique approach, instead of being limited by the incomplete support they received from Google’s Android operating system.

It’s time to let go of Windows phone, Jez. It’s no longer available, and the most you can hope for is that WOW eventually makes a mount for it. (November 21, 2025)

No Cyllis! I refuse!

It’s nice to daydream sometimes, isn’t it? But honestly, all we have left these days are dreams…and a lot of coffee. Seriously, *a lot* of coffee. Also, if you happen to see any good deals on Windows on Arm laptops, please send them my way – I need to keep working!

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2025-11-21 19:42