You may remember that a while back we reported on a nifty feature hidden in Windows 11 test builds, which allows users to view and use their phone within the desktop operating system (in File Explorer) as if it were an external drive. We’ve been patiently waiting for this feature to finally be released somewhere, and it looks like now is the time!
In a Official blog entryMicrosoft announced that it is gradually rolling out the feature to Windows testers with Android phones through the various Insider channels (there are four, from Canary to Release Preview).
This means that for now, only select Windows 11 testers will be able to try out the feature, but the key takeaway is that Microsoft is working on rolling it out and it could be available to all users before long.
With this feature, you can browse files and folders, including photos and videos, on your Android phone right in File Explorer on the Windows 11 desktop. You can also perform all the usual file-related actions (open, rename, move, delete, etc.) across all devices.
In the blog post, Microsoft clarifies that this feature will work wirelessly, so you'll be able to see it in File Explorer when your phone is near your PC (assuming you've turned on the “Access in File Explorer” feature under “Manage mobile devices” in Settings).
When can I get this?
Unfortunately, since it’s still in the development phase, the only way to try out this feature is by joining the Windows Insider Program. Becoming a tester in any Windows 11 preview channel will allow you to experiment with new features and fixes that Microsoft is currently working on (like this one) and provide feedback to help make those features more reliable.
In addition to being a Windows 11 tester, you must be running the Link to Windows app beta (v1.24071 or later) on a smartphone running Android 11 (or later) to get this feature. Again, keep in mind that not all testers will have it available right away.
However, most people will want to wait until this functionality is implemented in the final version of Windows 11 – though normally, at this point, we’d add a caveat that not all features in testing make it to launch. But since Microsoft made a blog post dedicated to this, with some detailed instructions on how to get it working, we’re a little more confident that this is a change that won’t be abandoned.
If you decide to join the ranks of Windows 11 testers, remember that as with any feature that's still in development, things can go wrong, and that could affect both your Android phone in this case and your PC. So, if you're really interested in trying out this particular Windows 11 feature, we recommend staying away from your important files or photos and making sure to back everything up before trying it out. If you have any doubts or concerns, just wait for the full release to all Windows 11 users.
