When you open Task Manager and click on the Startup tab, an entry named “Mobile Devices” may be seen. You wonder what this startup entry means and if it is safe to disable this entry.
What is “Mobile Devices” in Task Manager Startup tab
The Cross Device Experience Host software adds the “Mobile devices” (CrossDeviceServices.exe) startup entry. It’s not related to PhoneLink.
Cross Device Experience Host links your mobile device and PC. It lets you use your Android phone or tablet camera in any video application on your Windows 11 PC. This software is installed when you enable the “Allow this PC to access your mobile devices” option in Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mobile devices.
The above option prompts you to install “Cross Device Experience Host” from the Microsoft Store.
How to uninstall Cross Device Experience Host
If you don’t plan to access your mobile devices from your PC, you can uninstall Cross Device Experience Host using PowerShell.
From admin PowerShell, run:
get-appxpackage -allusers *crossdevice* | remove-appxpackage
To uninstall the package for all user accounts, run the following:
get-appxpackage -allusers *crossdevice* | remove-appxpackage -allusers
That’s it! It uninstalls Cross Device Experience Host and removes the “Mobile devices” startup entry in Task Manager.
How to reinstall Cross Device Experience Host
If you wish to reinstall the software in the future, you can do so by running the following command from admin Command Prompt:
winget install 9NTXGKQ8P7N0
Alternatively, you can reinstall the package by reenabling the “Allow this PC to access your mobile devices” option in Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mobile devices. Click Install when prompted (see screenshot 3 above).
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Thank you for your article. I have questions about: “It lets you use your Android phone or tablet camera in any video application on your Windows 11 PC.”:
1. Is iPhone also addressed by this “Cross Device Experience Host”?
2. Could you explain/reformulate the sentence? I don’t understand if it’s only about video application and what is actually doing the phone or the tablet
Thank you for the clear, direct guidance. I found several more confusing sources before happening across yours.
GRacias por la guía sobre la aplicación.