You Can Now Access Your Android Files From Your Computer
Windows 11 File Explorer isn’t everyone’s cup of tea , but that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of useful features. As it happens, File Explorer isn’t just for viewing files on your computer, but also on your Android device—if you know how to set it up.
On Thursday, Microsoft announced that it is now making it possible to see your Android device in File Explorer on your PC. If this feature is enabled, you will be able to view all Android folders and files, including actions such as:
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Opening files
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Copy Android files to computer
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Copy files from PC to Android device
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Rename files
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Move files
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Delete files
This is made possible by the Link to Windows app , which allows you to connect your Android device to your computer so you can answer text messages, take calls, and view Android notifications from your computer.
Access Android files from your PC
To try this feature on your device, your phone must be running Android 11 or later. You will also need to run the beta version of the Link to Windows app (version 1.24071 or higher) as the current public version of the app will not work. You can download the beta version from the APKMirror link here . For Windows, you’ll need to enroll your PC in the Windows Insider program (any of the four Insider channels will do here), and you’ll need to be running Windows 11.
Make sure Link to Windows is set up and connected on your phone. ( You can follow the instructions in our article here for help getting set up .) Once all of this is ready, go to your computer and go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Mobile Devices , then select Manage Devices “ . Make sure your phone is turned on, then turn on the switch next to Sharing in File Explorer . Microsoft says if you don’t see this switch, it means the feature isn’t yet implemented for you.
Since this feature is still in the testing stage, there are some bugs and issues to look out for. Microsoft says that when you delete phone files on your computer, they are sent to a new Trash folder on the phone, where they will be deleted after five days. (The system will tell you that the expiration date is 30 days, so keep in mind that you don’t have much time before these files are deleted.) Additionally, Microsoft says that deleted files in this new Recycle Bin may not appear on on your computer.
Finally, you may notice that some actions you perform on your computer may not sync with your phone. If yes, sign out of your Windows account on your computer and then sign in again.