Skip to main content

Windows is getting its own version of AirDrop

Promotional image for Windows Phone Link showing a phone mirroring on a laptop screen.
Microsoft

As spotted by Windows Central, a Microsoft support document has been updated to include details on a new file-sharing feature for Windows and Android devices. Thanks to Phone Link and the Link to Windows Android app, users will be able to share files through the native share menus on their devices, creating an experience not unlike Apple’s well-loved AirDrop. It seems the feature is currently rolling out to Windows Insiders and should be available to the public soon.

AirDrop has long been the king of file-sharing features, and so far, Microsoft and other companies have struggled to compete. If this new feature is as easy to use as it looks and succeeds at least most of the time, it’s sure to be a hit.

Recommended Videos

To take advantage of Windows’ new file-sharing capabilities, you’ll need a PC running Windows 11 or at least the May 2019 update for Windows 10. You can use any mobile device as long as it’s running Android 9.0 or later and has the Link to Windows app installed (version 1.24032.518.0 or later.) Once everything is set up, when you click the “Share” button, your PC should show “Phone Link” as an option under “Share using.” When you tap to share files on your phone, you should see a similar option called “Link to Windows – Send to PC.” You can check out the Microsoft document for more detailed instructions.

A little more setup is required compared to AirDrop since both Windows and Android are used on so many different devices, but once you get that out of the way, sharing files should become a lot more seamless. Although Phone Link itself also supports iPhones, the support document makes no mention of this feature being extended to iOS devices. Perhaps it will come in the future, or perhaps it’s a subtle jab for iOS users to go enjoy their precious AirDrop elsewhere.

Willow Roberts
Willow Roberts has been a Computing Writer at Digital Trends for a year and has been writing for about a decade. She has a…
The 10 best gaming monitors of 2024: tested and reviewed
Alienware ultrawide OLED on a desk.

Editor’s note: Gaming monitors are always hot sellers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We're expecting some really great discounts on some of the top models, including high-end OLED gaming monitors, super-fast refresh rate screens, and more budget-oriented fare. There are tons of fantastic monitor deals available now, and they're bound to get even better on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Make sure to check out our other Black Friday deals or Cyber Monday deals for even more bargains on TV, headphones, and more.

A good monitor is essential for gaming due to its significant impact on the overall experience. There are a ton of options if you are on the hunt for one of the best gaming monitors, but for us, Alienware's 34 QD-OLED still takes the cake in 2024. It's not the display for everyone, though, and after reviewing dozens of the top gaming monitors, we've settled on a list of displays that offer great gaming performance for any budget or purpose.

Read more
Nvidia’s RTX 5070 Ti may trail behind the RTX 4080
Power adapter on the RTX 4070 Ti Super graphics card.

As we inch closer to the launch of Nvidia's RTX 50-series, new leaks keep cropping up daily. Today, one of the most prolific leakers in the PC hardware space shared a glimpse of the specs for Nvidia's upcoming RTX 5070 Ti. Although it's not the full spec sheet, one specification in particular tells us that we may be dealing with a GPU similar to the RTX 4080, which is still one of Nvidia's best graphics cards. But is that good news?

All of this is unconfirmed. Kopite7kimi is one of the accounts that most of us turn to when we want some new scoop on upcoming PC hardware, but this time, the leaker didn't post on X (Twitter), and has instead shared some specs directly with VideoCardz. Let's dig in.

Read more
I tried the RayNeo Air 2s glasses and they’re on sale for Black Friday
RayNeo Air 2s on custom Steam Deck - Briley Kenney Digital Trends_edited

With the holidays coming, I've been trying a spat of unique VR and AR devices. One pair I got my hands on, called the RayNeo Air 2s, basically gives you a portable 201-inch display that you can put on and use anytime, anywhere. They work with Android, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and -- my favorite -- Steam Deck. Our team has used the RayNeo Air 2 previously and also gave them high marks. Fun Fact I learned from reading that, RayNeo is actually a TCL brand. As for what I think of them, we'll get to that. For now, I want to talk about the crazy RayNeo Black Friday deals that have just dropped.

 
RayNeo Air 2 -- $184, was $380 51% off

Read more