Quick Info
  • The beta version 1.24071 or later of the Link to Windows Android app brings a new feature that lets you access files from your Android device wirelessly on Windows 11.
  • There are certain prerequisites you need to meet to be able to use the new feature.
  • Currently, the feature has a few issues that will be fixed with future updates.

Prerequisites

  • Your Android device should be running Android 11 or later.
  • You should have the Beta version (1.24071 or later) of the Link to Windows app installed on your phone.
  • You should be running Windows 11 and should be a Windows Insider with access to any of the four Insider Channels.

Enable the new feature

  1. Open the Settings app and click on 'Bluetooth and Devices' on the left.
  1. On the Bluetooth and Devices page, tap on 'Mobile Devices'.
  1. Make sure the 'Allow this PC to access your mobile devices' toggle is on. If it is not, click on it to enable it.
  1. You should also see an option 'Access in File Explorer' that shows your mobile's photos, files, and media in File Explorer. Click on it to turn it on. If this option is not present, the feature is not yet available on your machine.
Source: Microsoft

Access your Android files

  1. Open the Windows File Explorer and an entry point for your Android device should be visible on the upper left.
  2. When your Android phone is connected to the PC, you can now directly access it by double-clicking on its icon in the File Explorer. You can move, copy, delete, and manage the files on your Android device directly from here without needing to connect it to your PC via a cable.
The new entry point for accessing files on your Android. Source: Microsoft

Known issues

Since the new feature is still in Beta, there are a few issues you must be aware of when using it.

  1. When you delete files on your Android phone using this feature, they are moved to the Recycle Bin where they stay for five days, instead of the indicated 30 days. Microsoft has stated that a fix is on the way.
  2. Sometimes files in the Recycle Bin on your phone may fail to appear in the Windows File Explorer. Again, an update will resolve this.
  3. Occasionally, changes you make to the files on your phone using your PC may not take effect. To fix this, log out of your Windows account and log in again.

Things to know

  • With the new feature, you will be able to access all your Android files on your Windows 11 PC wirelessly. Currently, you can only do so by connecting both devices with a cable.
  • Since the feature is rolling out gradually to Windows Insiders, it may take time to reach your device.
  • Since this is a beta build, features may get added, changed, or removed when the final build is released.
  • As of now, there is no word on when the final stable update will be released and will be publicly available, and whether it will be available on Windows 10.