Windows 11 to enhance file explorer with Android phone access

Shortly, File Explorer in Windows 11 may be expanded with a new feature that will deepen the integration between a computer and an Android device. The plan is to enable browsing of phone files directly on the computer screen.

This new functionality in File Explorer is under development and not yet available. It is related to the evolution of the Phone Link tool, which was tested as part of the KB5034855 update in the Insider program, reports the Neowin service. Eventually, an option will appear in Windows 11 settings to request access to the memory of a connected Android phone, allowing its files to be displayed in Explorer.

If, in practice, this feature works smoothly and quickly transfers files to the computer, it may turn out to be one of the most valuable changes in Windows 11 File Explorer. Indeed, it will significantly facilitate managing extensive collections of photos and videos stored on phones, whose archiving on the computer often proves cumbersome and time-consuming. The option to browse phone memory in Explorer without using a USB cable could greatly simplify this process and, as a result, encourage regular backup creation.

Browsing phone memory in File Explorer is not the only new feature associated with the Phone Link tool. A feature enabling a smartphone camera as a webcam was also recently added. It's a pity that such a feature appeared in Windows with a delay, considering the period of remote work popularity triggered by the pandemic.

Nevertheless, this novelty allows many users to improve the quality of video calls without incurring additional costs – phone cameras are usually much better than the cheapest webcams available.