Are you a Windows 11 (or 10) user who's envious of Mac owners with iPhones who can use AirDrop to seamlessly transfer files? AirDrop's ability is hard to deny, even for the staunchest of Apple detractors, but Windows users with Android smartphones should soon get similarly clever file-sharing powers, with any luck.
The new file sharing system for Microsoft's operating system was discovered by Windows Centraland is now live in testing on the Release Preview Channel (the final stage of testing before launch, as the name suggests). It works through the Phone Link app (on PC) and the Link to Windows app (on your Android), and Microsoft explains all the details in a Support document which was recently updated.
As mentioned, the feature will work similarly to AirDrop in the Apple ecosystem, and will be housed in the built-in Share menu of the device you're sharing from, be it your Android phone or Windows PC. All you'll need to do is tap or right-click on the file you want to share, then choose “Share,” then find the relevant app (Phone Link, if you're sharing from a PC, or Link to Windows if the file is on your phone).
A long-awaited arrival that could really impress.
This feature will be available for Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs. You’ll need Windows 10 May 2019 release or later, or any version of Windows 11, and your mobile device must be running Android 9.0 or later. Additionally, your phone must be running Link to Windows app version 1.24032.518.0 or later, and your PC must be running Phone Link version 1.24032.156.0 or later.
It's worth noting that this new feature is not the same as the existing cross-device copy and paste feature in Phone Link, which allows you to have a shared clipboard between two devices where items being copied are stored and can be pasted into an appropriate app on either device.
All in all, it will be a very useful addition to Windows 11 (and Windows 10) for those with Android smartphones, as it will make file sharing more fluid and possibly speed up your workflow. Hopefully, it will make its way to the release version of Windows 11 (and 10) soon enough.
