Microsoft’s AirDrop alternative for Android is baked right into Windows 11 — here’s how to get it
Sharing files from your Windows PC to your Android device is about to get a lot easier.
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What you need to know
Microsoft has released an optional update for Windows 11 that will soon be available to everyone through an upcoming Patch Tuesday update. The most notable change is that sharing content to an Android device through Windows Share is now possible. Doing so requires setting up Link to Windows and Phone Link and connecting your devices. That experiencebecame availableto Insiders in the Release Preview Channel recently, and it is now making its way to more users.
Sharing files between Android and Windows devices has been possible for years, but this new integration should be a bit simpler. If you’ve set up Link to Windows and Phone Link, you can share files through the Windows Share menu. It’s the closest thing to Apple’s AirDrop on Windows, at least when it comes to direct OS integration. The connection also works in both directions, much like AirDrop.
Note that the new sharing method isnotthe"cross-device copy and paste" feature, which has existed since 2020.
The optional Windows update also improves Narrator, Voice access, and File Explorer. The Widgets Board also sees changes in this update, though the largest changes are for users in EEA regions.
There are a few ways to grab this update. You can go through Settings > Windows Update to grab Windows 11 build 22621.4112 and 22631.4112 (build dependent on which version of Windows you’re running). Since this is an optional update, you must opt-in to receive it. You can also grab the update through theMicrosoft Update Catalogfor manual installation. Assuming there aren’t any significant issues with the update, the same changes should ship to everyone on Tuesday, September’s patch, so you could also just wait a couple of weeks to update your PC.
Microsoft lists the highlights and changes in the update in asupport document:
Windows 11 optional August update
Windows Share
Narrator
Voice access
File Explorer
Widgets board
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
