Microsoft launched the Cellular Gadgets part in Home windows 11 and Home windows 10 to deeply combine Android telephones. You need to use your telephone’s digital camera as a webcam and get new screenshot notifications. Now, it’s attainable to entry your telephone’s storage in File Explorer. For now, this function is restricted to Home windows 11.
It’s stunning that such a helpful function wasn’t part of Home windows, regardless that Microsoft has been working on improving the Android integration for fairly some time. You might entry and transfer pictures through the Telephone Hyperlink app, however accessing all of the information nonetheless required a USB connection.
Home windows 11’s new “present cellular gadget in File Explorer” function lastly addresses the priority. In our assessments, Home windows Newest noticed that the function requires the newest model of the Cross gadget expertise host bundle from the Microsoft Retailer. You’ll additionally want to hitch the Home windows Insider Program, however any channel works.
As proven within the above screenshot, it is advisable open the managed gadget settings web page and allow the “Present Cellular Gadget in File Explorer” possibility. That is essential for the function to work in your PC.
If you happen to haven’t paired the telephone beforehand, you’ll have to take action utilizing the Hyperlink to Home windows app, which is offered within the Google Play Retailer.
Is the function any good?
When you open File Explorer, your Android telephone will seem on the facet menu. Click on on it to entry the telephone information.
It’s just like what you see if you join your telephone through the USB cable with the file entry permissions, nevertheless it works wirelessly, due to Telephone Hyperlinks integration.
You’ll be able to see the standing of the connection on the handle bar of the File Explorer. Clicking the cellular identify reveals its storage capability and accessible house. You need to use the Refresh button to power it to resync the information.
We encountered no hiccups whereas opening folders and transferring information backwards and forwards. Though file switch speeds aren’t spectacular as a result of it makes use of Wi-Fi, it’s nonetheless helpful for transferring small information and paperwork fairly than unexpectedly looking for the USB cable.
Notice that File Switch additionally works in case your PC doesn’t have a Wi-Fi connection, however it’ll eat up your knowledge plan.
For now, the function is just accessible on Home windows 11. There’s no indication of it arriving in Home windows 10.
However we now have excessive hopes as a result of the “Get new photo notifications” feature shipped with the August 2024 update.
You’ll be able to edit screenshots captured out of your cellular in your PC utilizing the Snipping Device.
Along with Android telephone integration in File Explorer, Home windows 11 23H2 may get one other function referred to as “Proceed from Telephone”. It’s unclear how the function works, however references noticed by Home windows Newest counsel that it’s associated to OneDrive.
For instance, “Proceed from Telephone” may show you how to proceed enhancing your doc in your PC that you simply beforehand edited in your telephone, nevertheless it requires the file to be synced to OneDrive.
