Microsoft may have given up on the Windows Subsystem for Android, but other initiatives to make Windows 11 and Android work better than ever are still moving forward, such as using your phone as a webcam or the latest arrival: Manage mobile files from Windows Explorerwireless.
You have always been able to see the folders on your phone in Windows File Explorer, as long as you connected it with a USB cable. With Windows 11 you can forget about the USB cablesince the connection is wireless.
How to connect your phone to Windows without a cable
Microsoft announced in July the possibility of Access your mobile from the file explorer without cablesalthough at the time it required users to be somewhat adventurous, as it was necessary to have the beta version of Link to Windows and a version for Windows 11 Insiders. Since then, version 1.24071 of Link to Windows has already been distributed as a stable version, being available to all users. The requirements are therefore as follows:
- A mobile phone with Android 11 or higher.
- Link to Windows 1.24071 or higher installed on the mobile.
- Be a Windows Insider (this remains the same).
The configuration itself is similar to the process that we had to carry out to use the mobile as a webcam in Windows 11. You must install Link to Windows on the mobile (if you did not have it already) and sign in with the same account that you use in Windows.
The most important part of the configuration is done in Windows, in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile deviceswhere you must activate Allow this computer to access your mobile devices for the button to be activated Manage deviceswhich you must also press.
In this list of devices you should see your mobile, as well as the services that you can use in Windows 11 thanks to the intervention of Link to Windows. If you have activated the management of files from the file explorer, you will see Show mobile device in File Explorerwhich you must activate. However, it may be activated by default.
While you’re at it, you might as well choose to activate it as well. Use as a connected camera, if you want your mobile to appear as an option to use as a webcam in Windows applications. The third option that is available today is Get notifications of new photos.
And that’s it. You don’t need to do anything else except open windows file explorer. Within Desk You will see the name of your phone, accompanied by a mobile icon. Tap on it to access your phone’s files from Windows, without using cables.
If you’ve ever connected your phone to Windows with a USB cable, you’re basically going to encounter the same thing, but without the cable. You canBrowse folders, open files, move or delete themAs a curiosity, Windows creates its own recycle bin for the mobile.
Since it works wirelessly, you can expect it to be a bit slower than using a cable, but it performs quite well. When you open a photo, for example, you’ll see the file copy window for a few seconds, because before it opens, you’ll see the file copy window for a few seconds. a local copy is made on the PC to make it easier for you to reopen it later without downloading it again. In this case, the file is marked with a green icon indicating that it is synchronized.
You can also click on Connected, in the top bar of the file explorer, to see a summary of the occupied and available spaceupdate the files and access two shortcuts: one to go to the Manage Devices settings in Windows and another to open the mobile recycle bin.
In short, this integration will allow you to access specific photos or files that you have on your mobile without having to take the cable out of the drawer. It is very useful for sporadic usealthough if you’re going to copy your entire photo library or something similar, you’re probably better off with the regular USB cable.