Here’s how to turn your Android Phone into a ‘Windows Phone’ in 2024

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Here's how to turn your Android Phone into a 'Windows Phone' in 2024

  • Windows Phone and all of Microsoft’s Windows-based smartphone efforts reached their end in 2019.
  • Many people miss the look and feel of Windows Phone and have tried to replicate it with Android launchers.
  • MrMobile recently showed off Launcher 10, which is one of the more popular Android launchers that replicates the look of Windows Phone.

As a seasoned tech enthusiast with roots deeply entrenched in the Windows Phone era, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia when I see Windows Phone making a comeback—albeit in a different form—on Android devices. It’s like stepping into a time machine and finding myself back in 2015, all over again.

Coincidentally, two articles about Windows Phone popped up on the same day during my research for an article on running Windows 11 on a phone. While delving into the subject, I stumbled upon the latest video from my colleague, MrMobile (a.k.a Michael Fisher). In this video titled “Breathing New Life Into My Device,” MrMobile managed to transform his Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra into a Windows Phone-like experience.

10Launcher has been a staple for some time now, but MrMobile’s video offers a refreshing insight into the wide range of customization possibilities offered by Android launchers. This app gives you the ability to tailor your smartphone interface with incredible precision, even allowing you to adjust columns and finer details. If you’re aiming to give your Android device a Windows Phone-like appearance, 10Launcher is an excellent choice – it’s one of the top options for achieving this look, as well as being one of the few reliable launchers that can help you accomplish this goal.

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Before he shows how Launcher 10 can customize an Android phone to look like a Windows Phone, MrMobile discussed Windows (Launcher 95), which replicates the look of a classic Windows PC. But if you’re just interested in the Windows Phone-esque experience provided by Launcher 10, jump to the 2:40 mark of his video.

Windows Phone lives on… sort of

Due to Microsoft’s decision to abandon both Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile, enthusiasts of these operating systems have been compelled to explore other options. Although iOS offers reliability and Android boasts versatility, neither fully recaptures the unique charm that characterized Windows Phone.

As a tech enthusiast, I must admit that, looking back, Microsoft’s decision to abandon Windows Phone feels like a strategic misstep, according to Satya Nadella himself. However, considering Microsoft’s recent moves, it appears they are not planning on resurrecting a standalone mobile operating system. In fact, they’ve ceased their endeavors in the mobile device market by discontinuing the Surface Duo. Furthermore, with the arrival of Windows 11, Microsoft has moved away from Live Tiles – a feature that was once synonymous with their mobile experience. Interestingly enough, Microsoft Launcher on Android, a product they offer, does not include Live Tiles either.

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I admit I have nostalgia for Windows Phone. I have a box of old Lumia devices I can’t make myself recycle even though I never use them. Heck, the reason I work here is because I used to read Windows Phone Central articles to get the best experience from my Lumia 930 (known as the Lumia Icon in the United States). Finding third-party apps for my Windows Phone helped me form relationships with developers, which springboarded into reviewing apps for Windows 11 after Microsoft closed its doors on Windows 10 Mobile and our site became Windows Central.

I’ve used Launcher 10 in the past and similar apps, such as Square Home. I even wrote a guide on how to make your Android phone look like a Windows phone back in 2019.

I appreciate the aesthetic appeal of Live Tiles, as displayed on both Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile. Admittedly, I find interactive widgets more practical, but the design of the Windows Phone’s home screen is in a league of its own. It’s quite charming to see MrMobile emphasize the distinctiveness of Windows Phone and demonstrate methods for replicating it in 2024.

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2024-12-09 20:39