Samsung is killing DeX for Windows — suggests Microsoft Phone Link as a replacement

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What you need to know

  • The Samsung DeX Windows app will no longer be supported on Samsung phones with the upcoming OneUI 7 update.
  • DeX for Windows enabled the ability to turn any Windows PC into a DeX device, powered by your Samsung smartphone.
  • Now, Samsung recommends users switch to Microsoft Phone Link in place of Samsung DeX.

As a long-time Samsung user who has relied heavily on the DeX environment for productivity and multitasking, I find myself at a crossroads with the upcoming OneUI 7 update. The news that Samsung is discontinuing support for DeX for Windows has left me feeling a bit like a fish out of water.

Samsung is discontinuing support for the DeX app on Windows, which allowed any Windows computer to mimic a Samsung DeX environment via your phone. However, Samsung DeX as a platform will continue to exist. Starting from OneUI 7 next year, Samsung users won’t be able to use their Windows PCs to access DeX.

Interestingly, Samsung suggests that Windows users of DeX consider using Microsoft’s Phone Link instead, as it provides comparable (though not exactly the same) features. This information can be found in a footnote on the Samsung DeX webpage.

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Starting with the One UI 7 update, we’ll no longer provide support for the DeX mode for PC on Windows operating systems. Instead, we recommend connecting your mobile phone and computer using the Link to Windows feature.

The Microsoft Phone Link feature enables you to synchronize your smartphone’s alerts and text messages with your computer, and it also allows you to operate specific mobile apps straight from your Windows 11 desktop.

While the app doesn’t provide immediate access to the DeX environment, it’s important to note that for those who require this feature, additional DeX-specific accessories will be necessary. Microsoft and Samsung have collaborated closely on the development of Phone Link, meaning Samsung users frequently get early previews of new features.

The Phone Link application for Windows is truly impressive, but it doesn’t measure up to DeX as it lacks the feature to directly access the DeX desktop environment. However, considering that the user base of individuals employing a Windows PC to access Samsung DeX was likely small to start with, it seems reasonable that Samsung would discontinue support for DeX on Windows.

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It appears Samsung DeX isn’t being phased out. You can continue to use it by connecting your phone to a larger TV or monitor, or devices like the NextDock which are tailored for phones that provide a DeX-like workspace. Essentially, DeX resembles Microsoft’s Continuum from the Windows Phone era, where your phone functioned as a personal computer.

(via Android Authority, The Verge)

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2024-12-03 19:39