Users can now browse their Android smartphones wirelessly on Windows 11
Microsoft is rolling out a new feature to Windows 11 File Explorer via its Insider channels, the company announced on July 25. With the introduction, users will now be able to see their Android smartphones in File Explorer when wirelessly connected via the Link to Windows app. This development builds on an earlier server-side feature addition for Android smartphones that allowed users to ask Copilot, Microsoft’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, to send a text message or summarize messages in their device’s inbox.
Windows 11 Explorer Update
In a blog afterMicrosoft has announced that the new File Explorer feature for Windows 11 is available through all Windows Insider channels for users who are registered as Windows Insiders. By wirelessly connecting their Android smartphones to their PCs via the Link to Windows app, users will be able to browse their files, folders, and media on their handsets from within File Explorer.
Android Smartphone Visibility in Windows 11 File Explorer
Photo Credit: Microsoft
In addition to browsing capabilities, they can open, rename, and delete files from their device, while also moving/copying them from their PC to their smartphone or vice versa. However, there are a few requirements for using this feature.
How to use
According to Microsoft, the user must:
- Have a smartphone with Android 11.0 or higher firmware
- Make sure you have the beta version of the Link to Windows app installed on your phone (version 1.24071 and later)
- Sign up for the Windows Insider Program with a PC running Windows 11
- Chose one of the four Windows 11 Insider channels
Once the above conditions are met, users can go to Institutions on their PC and then to the Bluetooth and devices tab. Then they have to Mobile devices option and grant permission for the PC to access their Android smartphone. A switch to enable its visibility in File Explorer should then appear.
According to Microsoft, if users don’t see this option, the feature may not be available yet. Although it has been introduced, it is still being tested. So, users may experience issues while using this feature. Some known issues include syncing issues, a broken auto-delete feature, and more.
