In the latest Insider build of Windows 11, end users can remotely access and manage files on their Android smartphones. The files can be moved, edited and deleted.
The new feature, available to Insider channel users, can now remotely manage their Android smartphones. They can access all files, including media, on the smartphones through their Windows 11 PCs.
This access occurs within Windows 11 via the File Explorer, after giving the PC access to the smartphone via settings. If the smartphone is not yet visible in File Explorer, it means that the feature has not yet been rolled out for the relevant user.
Prerequisites
To view an Android smartphone via Windows 11, end users must meet certain conditions. Thus, first of all, they must be participants in the Windows 11 Insider Preview programs.
In addition, the smartphone must have at least Android 11 and contain the beta version of the Link to Windows app, with version 1.24071 or higher.
Known issues
The feature is still in an experimental phase, so some teething issues have been identified. Microsoft indicates that when smartphone files are deleted via PC, they are moved to a new trash folder on the smartphone.
Instead of being kept normally for 30 days, as indicated, it appears that these files are deleted after only five days. An update should fix this problem.
Also, the new Trash folder does not always appear in File Explorer on the PC. This problem will be fixed later, according to Microsoft.
In addition, sometimes edits to smartphone files via the PC, are not always synchronized on the smartphone itself. A workaround for this problem includes users logging out of their Windows account on the PC and logging back in.
Also read: Windows 11 will soon offer smaller targeted updates