Microsoft unveiled its plan to develop feature that will enable users to transfer files between iPhones and Windows PCs. This feature, accessible to Windows Insiders, is part of Microsoft's ongoing improvements of the Phone Link app to make PCs and mobile devices seamlessly connected.
This feature allows users to transfer files between an iPhone using iOS 16 or newer versions and a Windows 10 or 11 PC. If you use Windows, it employs the Phone Link app on iPhones and the Link to Windows app on Windows. This is one way to overcome the challenges faced by Apple's new operating system.
Sharing files is simple. To share files with an iPhone, users pick the file and click the share option before choosing to link to the Windows option and the targeted device. For sending files from a PC, the options are to select a file, click the option ‘Share’, and then select ‘My Phone.’
This innovation eliminates third-party apps such as Dropbox or Google Drive, which require manual file transfer. It provides a better solution for sharing files between devices on different operating systems.
It is only available to users enrolled in the Windows Insider Program. To use it, the user needs iOS 16 or a higher version on an iPhone, the Link to Windows application from version 1.24112.73, and the Phone Link application starting from version 1.24112.89.0. A Windows 10 or 11 PC is also needed.
Nevertheless, even after this latest update, the iOS version of Phone Link is less flexible than the Android edition. It does not support features of higher interactions, like app mirroring. However, adding file sharing will be a significant improvement for those using both Windows and iPhone devices.
During Phone Link setup, new users can choose to turn on file sharing, while existing users should do so through the link provided by Microsoft for adding more accounts.
The feature is among the measures Microsoft implements to enhance Phone Link capabilities. The company has also added limited support for iMessage, which allows for text messaging through the app but with minimal limitations.
Microsoft has not yet released the file-sharing update for all Gmail users, but it is planned to do so in the coming months. This development also improves Microsoft's move to enhance the compatibility between its services and Apple's ecosystem.