The constant use of USB cables to connect the phone to a PC to transfer photos from a trip or other files can be a pain.
Therefore, integrating your Android phone with Windows 11 can make accessing files and managing your device much easier.
Fortunately, the Link to Windows feature makes this process easier than ever. We will then guide you through the most important steps.
What you need
To use this feature, you first need:
- A Windows 11 PC with the latest updates.
- An Android device running Android 11 or later.
- The Link to Windows app on your Android phone. If it is not installed yet, download and install it from the Google Play Store.
Once you have everything installed and ready, follow the steps below to seamlessly add your Android phone to Windows 11 File Explorer.
Remark: This manual was created using the Nothing Phone (2). Although the steps should be the same on other brands of Android phones, the specific names of the settings and their sections may differ slightly.
1. Connect your devices
Open the Link to Windows app on your Android phone and sign in with your Microsoft account. Make sure you’re using the same Microsoft account as on your Windows 11 PC.
Click ‘Go to device settings’ and then ‘ADD COMPUTER’. You will be asked to go to the www.aka.ms/phonelink website on your PC to connect your devices. Alternatively, you can also scan the QR code on your PC.
The Phone Link app will open on your PC, where you’ll need to sign in with the same Microsoft account as on your phone (if necessary).
Artur Tomala / Foundry
For further configuration, you can click ‘Continue’ as your phone and PC are now connected.
2. Allow data rights
Back on your phone, you should see a message asking you to give permission to view photos and send text from your PC. Click ‘View permissions’ and then ‘Settings’ in the pop-up window.
You will be taken to the Windows App Info link where you need to click on ‘Permissions’ and then allow all the required permissions i.e. ‘Phone’, ‘SMS’, ‘Contacts’ and ‘Storage’.
3. Allow notification rights
Back to the PC app, click the ‘Open settings on mobile device’ button at the bottom left. You’ll be asked to grant a few more Android permissions to view content from your phone.
You should now see the ‘Device & app notifications’ settings back on your phone. From here, select the ‘Link to Windows’ app and enable ‘Allow access to notifications’.
If everything went well, the Phone Link app panel should be configured and ready to use on your PC (see image below).
Artur Tomala / Foundry
4. Give access to your mobile devices
Then go to your PC’s ‘Settings’, select the ‘Bluetooth & devices’ tab and enable ‘Allow this PC to access your mobile devices’ and ‘Phone linking’ if not already enabled.
Artur Tomala / Foundry
Click the ‘Manage devices’ button. A pop-up window will appear where you should see your phone under the “My Devices” list (if it’s not enabled, do so).
To see files from your phone in File Explorer, enable “Show mobile device in File Explorer” (if it’s not enabled), then click “Allow permissions” below.
Artur Tomala / Foundry
5. Allow all file access
On your phone you should then see the ‘Access to all files’ settings. Select the ‘Link to Windows’ app and then enable ‘Allow access to manage all files’.
You should now see a final message that says “Your mobile device and PC are successfully paired,” meaning everything went well.
Foundry
6. Open your phone storage in File Explorer
That’s it! If you have successfully completed all the steps above, you should be able to see your phone as a tab on the left side of File Explorer.
Artur Tomala / Foundry
Be sure to check out our Phone Hacks and How-tos section to learn more about what you can do with your Android phone.
