ISSUE 73 • ANDROID ADVISOR 69always. The set-up process will also probably pair both
devices for you, but when I switched test phones I
had to perform these steps manually. Make sure both
devices are on the same Wi-Fi network for easier
communication. And when it’s finally up and running,
you’ll probably need to approve separate Your Phone
Companion permissions for texting, then calls,
then notifications, and so on; It’s a hassle, but the
permissions are there to make sure apps don’t abuse
your privacy.
Don’t be turned off by the apparent complexity.
We’ve detailed a lot of the steps that Windows should
take care of behind the scenes, and some of this is just
stepping through the normal privacy approvals.
How to use Your Phone
Once set-up is completed, it’s time to actually use
Your Phone. Here’s a quick guide to the ins and outs
of each of the apps.
One potential pitfall has to do with your
smartphone’s on-screen keyboard. Your Phone is
designed to let you access your phone from your PC,
using your physical keyboard to connect to it and
respond to messages. I was shocked to discover that
when I picked up my phone (by habit) to respond to
a text, that the on-screen keyboard had disappeared.
If that happens, try searching for the ‘keyboard’ in the
Android Settings menu on your phone, and then be
sure that there’s an option to enable the on-screen
keyboard even if your PC is doing the typing. That will
allow you the freedom to use your phone as you’d
like, even when it’s connected to the PC.