You see how you’re able to browse through the contents of any external storage media you plug into your computer? What if you could do the same for your phone… wirelessly?
That is what is going to happen soon when Microsoft completes testing a new feature available to Windows Insiders (the name given to testers of new and upcoming Windows features).
“Today we are beginning to gradually roll out the ability to see your Android phone in File Explorer to Windows Insiders with Android phones across all Insider Channels.”
“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 says in a post on the Windows Insider blog.
While users can already do this, that ability has been limited to wired connections. Now, going forward, users won’t need to plug in a cable to their computer and phone in order to be able to view the files and media contained on the phone via File Explorer.
As can be expected, when the feature rolls out, it will be accessible to those who have the Link to Windows app, formerly Your Phone Companion, on their phones. And the said phones should be running on Android 11 or a newer version while the computers being connected have to be on Windows 11.
For those already enrolled to the Windows Insider program and meet the other minimum requirements listed by Microsoft and are keen to experience this right away, head over to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile Devices then choose Manage devices and allow their computer to access their (Android) phone.
