Windows 10 surprises with Android file explorer integration
A new feature is coming to the Windows operating system, including the now aging Windows 10. This update will integrate the system's File Explorer with a connected Android phone, allowing users to browse documents on their smartphones using the Link to Windows app without needing a USB cable.
10:14 PM EDT, October 30, 2024
This new option, available for both Windows 10 and 11, was reported by Windows Latest. While the integration of File Explorer with smartphone storage in Windows 11 is not unexpected—having been both announced and anticipated—it may pleasantly surprise Windows 10 users. In theory, Windows 10 was not supposed to receive new feature updates for some time. However, this update is different, as it is a new feature enabled on the server side.
Currently, Windows users who browse the contents of their Android phones do so by connecting them to a computer with a USB cable. With this new feature, they gain a more convenient option. Users can simply pair their phone with the computer using the Link to Windows app, and after the Windows update, the phone's storage will appear in File Explorer as if it were a USB flash drive, without the need for a cable connection.
This integration is especially surprising for Windows 10, which will lose support in 2025 and hasn't received feature updates regularly for some time. The final security updates for Windows 10 will be released in October 2025, after which the system will become more vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Users can upgrade to Windows 11 for free, although this may not always be possible due to hardware requirements. Microsoft advises those who cannot upgrade to consider purchasing a new PC compatible with Windows 11 or exploring cloud solutions, particularly for business purposes.
