Microsoft is rolling out a new feature that lets users access files stored on an Android device directly from the Windows File Explorer. Available for Windows Insiders, the new functionality lets you wirelessly manage files stored on your phone's storage. In a blog post, Microsoft says users will be able to open, copy, rename, move and delete files, just like how you would when your phone is physically connected to your PC using a data cable. This approach might be much better compared to the Link to Windows app, which is a bit complicated. How to enable the new feature? The new feature currently seems to be under development and requires users to manually enable a toggle. To use it, open the Windows Settings app, head over to 'Bluetooth' and devices and click on 'Mobile Devices'. Here, press the 'Manage Devices' button and allow your PC to access your Android phone. Now, you will see a toggle that shows your Android phone in Windows File Explorer. In case the option is missing, it means that the feature is not available on your machine. To connect your phone wirelessly to Windows and manage its content on the fly, your smartphone should have at least Android 11 or higher and run the beta version of the Link to Windows app on your phone (v1.24071 or newer). Also, make sure you are running Windows 11 and are registered for the Windows Insider Program in any of the 4 Insider Channels. As is the case with most features that are still being worked on, Microsoft lists down some issues that users might experience when remotely accessing their Android phone from Windows 11 File Explorer. The company says when you delete phone files on your PC, they remain in a new Recycle Bin for 5 days even though the dialogue says it will be there for 30 days and deleted files in the new Recycle Bin folder might not appear in File Explorer. The company says these bugs will be fixed "in a future update". Sometimes operations performed on files stored on the phone from your PC may not sync back to the phone. However, this issue can be fixed by logging out of Windows and signing back into your account. Last week, Microsoft was spotted testing a new Windows 11 Start menu design that categorises apps depending on their type or name and shows them in an Android-like app drawer grid.
