You can remotely access your Android phone in Windows 11/10 incredibly easily now, thanks to this new update

Thanks to a new update, Microsoft is finally making it possible to access files on Android phones remotely from your Windows PC. You no longer need to email files to yourself or deal with annoying cables.

Announced earlier this year in a blog post, the Redmond-based tech giant says users with access to Android 11 would be able to connect their phones to Windows 11 seamlessly. The Redmond-based tech giant initially announced the feature only for this Windows version. However, it seems that Windows 10 users will also be getting it. Additionally, your phone must have the Link to Windows app’s beta variant (version 1.24071 or newer).

Once these conditions are met, go to Settings on your Windows 11/10 PC and proceed towards Bluetooth & devices > Mobile Devices. Nowadays, in the Settings app on your phone, you should see an option for “Your Phone Companion.” Open it and follow the necessary steps to connect your phone and PC. Once finished, proceed to link your Microsoft account with both devices.

With this new experience, you will be able to wirelessly browse through all your folders and files, including media that is on your Android phone. You can open them, copy them to your PC, copy PC files to your phone, rename files, move them, and delete them.

Microsoft

As soon as this process is completed successfully, you can manage devices. Find your Android phone here and toggle on its entry. This will display the toggle switch for showing your phone in File Explorer.

If you see this toggle switch, you are ready to use your phone app and all its features. If not yet visible in settings, please be patient because Microsoft is slowly rolling out this feature for everyone.

You can wirelessly browse all folders and files on your Android phone from a PC. You can open them, copy them back and forth, rename or move them, and delete as many as you like.

However, there were some known issues with it. Removing phone files from your PC places them in a fresh Recycle Bin folder on the phone that will continue to exist for five days – not 30, as stated in the dialog box. Microsoft is working on it, and they will soon be automatically deleted after 30 days. If some actions are not syncing to your phone, log out and log in again to your Windows account.

It would also be better if you download the latest Windows 11 version, the 24H2 patch, as it will greatly improve the connection between the desktop and mobile devices

Have you attempted accessing your Android phone files on your Windows 11 PC? What do you think?