Windows 11 update lets you access your Android phone wirelessly: Here’s how

Microsoft has started testing a new feature that will allow users to directly access it on their Android phones using Windows 11 File Explorer. The tech giant recently confirmed in an official blog post that it is gradually rolling out the feature to Windows Insiders with Android phones through various Windows Insider channels.

The Android device appears in File Explorer as a regular USB device, so Android users can quickly browse and manage files and folders between their computer and smartphone wirelessly using the Phone Link app.

According to Microsoft, this feature allows users to wirelessly browse all the files on their Android phones, including media. Android users can open, move, rename, copy, and delete files on their phone through a File Explorer window.

To access this feature, users should have an Android phone running Android 11 or later. They should also be running the Link to Windows beta app (version 1.24071 or later). Additionally, a Windows Insider registered account, Windows 11, and enrollment in any of the four Insider channels are required.

How to access files on an Android phone

– Go to your Windows computer settings.

– Search for and click Bluetooth and Devices, then “Mobile Devices.”

– Select “Manage devices” and grant permissions to access your smartphone from your computer.

– Now the “Access in File Explorer” toggle will appear.

“If you don’t see this toggle, it means this feature isn’t available yet,” Microsoft said.

The company also highlighted three issues that exist with the feature. When a user deletes files from their phone from their computer, they can move them to the Trash folder on their phone. These deleted files will remain there for 5 days instead of the 30 days that the feature suggests. The good news is that the company is working on an update that will fix this issue to ensure automatic deletion after 30 days.

Deleted files in the new Trash folder on your phone may not always appear in File Explorer. Additionally, file operations on your phone from your computer may not sync back to your phone. Signing out and back into your Windows account on your computer can workaround these file syncing issues.