Set Up Wireless Access to Android / iPhone Files From Windows 11
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Author:
Vladimir Artiukh
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Editor:
Oleg Afonin
Read this article to find out how to configure wireless access to files on your Android phone or iPhone from a Windows 11 computer using the integrated utility called Phone Link..
- Before you start setting it up
- Wireless access to Android files
- Wireless access to iPhone files
- How to unsync a phone from the computer
- How to recover accidentally deleted files
- Conclusion
- Questions and answers
- Comments
Windows 11 introduced a new useful feature that allows you to sync your phone wirelessly with your computer. This way, you can get access to your photos and messages, receive notifications from your phone on your computer, as well as make and receive phone calls.
In today’s article, we’ll explore how to sync your Android or iOS device using the feature called (Phone Link). You can use it to:
- View and reply to text messages from your PC.
- Receive and manage notifications.
- Access photos and transfer them between your devices.
- Make and receive calls as soon as you set up your Bluetooth connection.
Fast Ways to Transfer Files from iPhone to Mac
Before you start setting it up
Before you begin configuring the connection, consider this:
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For this feature to work correctly, you need a valid Microsoft account. If you don’t have such an account, start by creating one. Go to the company’s official website and create a new account there.
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One more thing – the app supports devices with at least Android 11 onboard. For iOS – at least version 15.
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To sync the device, open Google Play and install an app called (Link to Windows). For iOS, install the app from AppStore.
When you start the app, use your Microsoft account to sign in, and be attentive – the same account should be used on the computer where you’d like to sync your phone.
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Now make sure your PC and phone are connected to the same network – this will speed up data transfer. Also, such connection can be configured via the Internet.
Wireless access to Android files
To have your phone connect from mobile networks, open Settings and drag the slider to Enable the option Sync over mobile data.
On your computer, click on Start – Settings – Bluetooth & devices – and then go to Mobile devices.
Once you’re there, enable the option to Allow this PC to access your mobile devices.
After that, open Manage devices and give your Microsoft account credentials. To establish the connection, you’ll be suggested to scan a QR code.
On your phone, open the Link to Windows.
Sign in with your Microsoft account.
Go to the Settings – Add Computer, and scan the QR code from the screen of your PC. Now your mobile device is linked and ready to use with this computer.
Click Continue, enable Phone Link, and choose the device for connection in the new window that opens.
Now open Link to Windows app, go to Settings – Add Computer, aim your camera on the display and scan the QR code.
After that, you will see the app window, where you can view and send text messages, make calls – as long as you have a Bluetooth connection with your PC, and view photos. Photos can be opened and viewed on the computer, edited and then saved to your PC or sent anywhere you wish.
When your phone is linked, it will appear in the Explorer window. This is where you can open it, and then copy any files stored in its memory. All these things can be done as long as you have a wireless connection.
Wireless access to iPhone files
You can also connect an iPhone to a Windows PC, and do it wirelessly.
On your computer, click on Start – Settings – Bluetooth & devices – Mobile devices.
Enable Phone Link, and choose the device for connection in the new window that opens – iPhone.
On your iPhone, open Link to Windows app – Allow access to the camera – ОК.
Aim your camera on the display and scan the QR code. Click Continue and allow this app to access Bluetooth – ОК. This begins the process of creating the disk image.
On your iPhone, select Pair.
Click Pair on your PC, then Allow to receive phone notifications on your computer.
When the connection is established, the app on your PC will show brief instructions. On iPhone, open Bluetooth settings, tap on the (i) symbol next to your computer and enable the following options: Show Notifications, Sync Contacts, Share System Notifications.
Go back to your computer and click Get started.
The connection will remain active as long as both devices are within the same network.
When they are linked for the first time, you will see a short explanation describing available features:
- Calls. You’ll be able to make and receive calls right from your computer, using its speakers and microphone.
- View and send messages.
- Another thing you can do is to receive notifications from third-party apps and follow external links.
If your connection becomes unavailable for some reason, and you can’t set up a new one, you should stop syncing your devices, and then sync them again, following the same steps we have explored here.
How to unsync a phone from the computer
To unsync the devices:
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To unsync devices, you should remove the phone from the Phone Link app on your computer.
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Then:
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On iPhone: go to Bluetooth settings, tap on the (i) symbol next to the computer, and select Forget This Device.
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On Android phones, tap on the arrow and select Unpair.
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However, you can set up this connection again, when and if necessary.
How to recover accidentally deleted files
If you accidentally deleted files from your phone while it was synced to a computer, don’t worry – they can be recovered easily.
When removed, such files are placed into a special Recycle Bin folder which is created when the devices are synced. To locate the lost files, follow this path:
C:\Users\demo_\CrossDevice\Redmi Note 11S\storageRecycle bin - Connected device
It should contain your user name, your Microsoft account name, and then the folder with your phone model name.
If the files have been deleted from this folder as well, you can still get them back as long as you use Hetman Partition Recovery, a powerful data recovery tool.
Download, install and start the program. Scan the disk the files were deleted from. In my case, that is Disk C.
Right-click on the disk and choose Open.
Choose the scan type - Fast scan or Full analysis.
We recommend beginning with a Fast scan - this will take less time, and it works fine in most typical recovery scenarios. The tool will scan the disk in no time and display all files and folders it has found.
Then follow this path:
C:\Usersdemo_\CrossDevice\Redmi Note 11S\storage\Recycle bin - Connected device
Select the necessary files and click the Recovery button. When the entire process is over, you will find the recovered files in the folder you have chosen.
If the app fails to find the lost files with Fast scan, go for Full analysis. To do it, return to the main menu, right-click on the disk and choose Analyze again, Full analysis, and select the file system - Next.
When the scan is over, go to the same folder again:
C:\Users\demo_\CrossDevice\Redmi Note 11S\storageRecycle bin - Connected device
Conclusion
Even though it may seem a bit complicated or not too user-friendly for some people, it tends to be pretty stable as long as you configure it properly. With this feature, you can say goodbye to all those cables.
All in all, this seems to be a convenient and modern solution for file management across various devices. You can easily access your data on Android devices, work with them in real-time mode, and even sync all changes without having to establish a physical connection. This opportunity could be especially relevant for users who need to transfer files, manage multimedia content, or work with folders right from their computers, while enjoying the freedom of movement and ease of use. The range of options available for iPhones is somewhat limited, but the situation may change in the nearest future.
