Microsoft introduces feature that enables file sharing between iPhone and Windows PCs

2 weeks ago 4

Microsoft introduces feature that enables file sharing between iPhone and Windows PCs

Microsoft on Wednesday announced a new feature coming soon to Windows that will let users easily share files between an iPhone and a PC, similar to Apple’s AirDrop – which is only available on Apple devices.

As detailed by Microsoft in a blog post, the company is now rolling out a beta version of Phone Link for users registered in the Windows Insider program that includes the new feature for sharing files between iPhones and PCs. For those unfamiliar, Phone Link is a Windows app from Microsoft that lets users connect their phone, whether iOS or Android, to their PC wirelessly.

Once paired, users can see their notifications and even answer calls from their PC. And soon, Phone Link will also work to share files between devices. On Windows, users will see their phone as an option when they click to share a file. On iOS, the Link to Windows app will appear as a sharing extension.

According to Microsoft, the feature requires an iPhone running iOS 16 or later and version 1.24112.73 or higher of the Link to Windows app for iPhone. The Phone Link app on Windows must be version 1.24112.89.0 or higher, and users must be registered in the Windows Insider beta program for now. Eventually, the feature will be rolled out to all Windows 10 and Windows 11 users.

This is great news for iPhone users who also have a Windows PC, as sharing files between an iPhone and another non-Apple device can be quite complicated.

The Link to Windows app for iOS is available for free on the App Store. More details about Phone Link can be found on the Microsoft website.