File sharing between PC and Android smartphone will soon be easier. The new Phone Link feature and the Link to Windows application provide the possibility of easy file transfer between Windows and Android. How to use this feature is fully explained in one of Microsoft’s support documents. Apparently, this function, which has a function similar to Apple’s AirDrop, is currently available through the Insider Release Preview channel, and soon all users will be able to use it.
The new Phone Link feature works similar to Apple’s AirDrop, except that it connects Windows and Android devices. There are various ways to share files between devices, but this new feature looks very promising due to its ease of use. Sharing with the desired device is done through the internal Share menu of the sending device, so sending a file from a computer or sending a file to a computer should be similar to sharing content through applications.
To share files between a computer and an Android smartphone, you need a computer equipped with Windows 10 or Windows 11. Also, your phone must run Android 9.0 or higher. None of these requirements are strict and therefore this feature will not be limited to new hardware. In addition, the Link to Windows app version on your phone must be 1.24032.518.0 or higher, and the Phone Link version on the computer must be 1.24032.156.0 or higher.
Send files from computer to Android phone
The Microsoft support document explains the steps to send files from a computer to an Android phone as follows:
1. Select the desired file on the computer.
2. Right click on the file and select the Share option.
3. Find Phone Link in the Applications section of the Sharing window.
4. File sharing starts on the mobile device connected to Phone Link.
5. Make sure Windows notifications are turned on for Phone Link so you can follow the file sharing process live.
7. After sharing the file on the Android device, a Windows notification will be displayed.
By doing the above steps, a notification from the Link to Windows application will appear on your phone, and you can download and open the file by touching it.
Send files from Android phone to computer
File sharing from phone to Windows computer is as follows:
1. Select the desired file.
2 Tap the Share button.
3. Find Link to Windows – Send to PC in the Applications section of the System Sharing menu.
4. On the Devices List page, click on the connected device to start sharing.
5. The sharing process will be displayed and you should not leave it until it is finished.
6. After sharing is complete, the status of the file will change to Sent.
7. Phone Link displays a notification with a button to open the uploaded file on your computer.
