Microsoft’s AirDrop alternative for Android is baked right into Windows 11 — here’s how to get it

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What you need to know

  • The latest optional update for Windows 11 includes an integration that makes it easy to share files from a PC to an Android device.
  • The integration, which relies on Phone Link, is similar to AirDrop within the Apple ecosystem.
  • Users can install the optional update now or wait until the same changes make their way to general availability next month.

As someone who has spent countless hours navigating through the intricacies of various operating systems, I must say that this latest optional update for Windows 11 piques my interest. The ability to share files effortlessly between Android devices and PCs seems like a game-changer, especially for those of us who have grown accustomed to AirDrop within the Apple ecosystem.

Microsoft has announced a new optional update for Windows 11, which will be accessible to all users via an upcoming Patch Tuesday release. The key feature of this update is the ability to share content with Android devices using Windows Share. To utilize this function, you’ll need to set up Link to Windows and Phone Link, then connect your devices. This capability was first introduced to Insiders in the Release Preview Channel, and it is now being rolled out to a broader audience.

For a long time, transferring files between Android and Windows devices has been achievable, but this new integration aims to make it more straightforward. Once you have Link to Windows and Phone Link set up, you can exchange files using the Windows Share menu. This method resembles Apple’s AirDrop in terms of direct OS integration within the Windows system, although not quite as seamless. The connection works bidirectionally, similar to how AirDrop functions.

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Keep in mind that the recently introduced sharing approach is distinct from the “cross-device copy and paste” functionality, a feature that has been available since 2020.

In this Windows update, you’ll find enhancements to features like Narrator, Voice Access, and File Explorer (which can be updated at your discretion). Additionally, the Widgets Board undergoes some modifications, but it’s worth noting that the most significant changes are primarily aimed at users in the European Economic Area.

Here are several methods to obtain this update:

Microsoft lists the highlights and changes in the update in a support document:

Windows 11 optional August update

Windows Share

  • You can now share content to your Android device from the Windows Share window. To do this, you must pair your Android device to your Windows PC. Use the Link to Windows app on your Android device and Phone Link on your PC.

Narrator

  • This update makes scan mode respond quicker. This is especially helpful when you use Microsoft Edge and read large documents. To use scan mode, you must turn on Narrator first (Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter). Then, turn on scan mode by pressing Caps lock + Spacebar during a Narrator session.

Voice access

  • You can now dictate the characters that you spell at a faster speed. You also have more editing options for the commands that select, delete, and move within text.

File Explorer

  • When you press Windows logo key + E, a screen reader might say a pane has focus, or the focus might not be set at all.
  • When you press Ctrl + F, sometimes the search does not start.
  • Keyboard focus sometimes might get lost when you press Shift + Tab.
  • Screen readers do not announce when you open or browse items that are in a breadcrumb of the Open or Save dialog.
  • Screen readers do not announce when you open or browse items in the column header.

Widgets board

  • We are rolling out an update to the Widgets Board to improve security and the APIs for creating widgets and feeds for users in EEA regions. As part of this update, the Microsoft Start Experiences app will power the Microsoft Start widget and feed experiences. Also, as part of this update, some existing widgets will be removed and others will be modified, temporarily affecting their functionality. This update sets the foundation for new widgets and other features in development, set to roll out soon.

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