transferring files from your PC to your smartphone is now much easier

This new, very practical way to quickly exchange files improves the reputation of Microsoft's operating system, often criticized for its lack of innovation. Here is how this new option so appreciated by users works.

A well-received feature

While Apple has been allowing instant sharing between devices for ages, Windows has finally come around to offering a system similar to AirDrop to its users. Before the update, sharing was rather tedious: you had to use a cable and then transfer manually, provided you had authorized the transfer on the phone. Sharing could also be done via third-party applications, but never directly via Windows. Now, a right click is enough to send one or more files to a phone.

Connected mobile: the Windows application that links your phone and your PC

Before you can perform a file transfer, you will need to create the link between your smartphone and your PC. For this, Windows has provided the Connected Mobile application. This allows you to add your phone to authorized devices for receiving files. When you first open the application, you can choose to add a smartphone running Android and iOS.

You will then need to scan a QR Code or log into your Microsoft account to add your device. If you have an Android phone, you will need to download the Link with Windows application available on the Google Play Store. According to Windows, if you have a Samsung or HONOR phone, the application may already be installed on the smartphone. Pairing between phone and computer is done via Bluetooth, and document sharing is done via WiFi. Your phone and your computer will therefore need to be connected to the same network to share.

File sharing from PC to phone in practice

Once configured, you will be able to send one or more files from the computer to the smartphone in a few clicks, without needing to connect the devices with a cable. To do this, identify the file(s) you want from your computer's File Explorer, right-click on the files you want to transfer, then choose the Mobile Connected option.

In addition to file sharing, the Connected Mobile application will allow you to make and answer calls, respond to your SMS and receive your notifications on your computer, similar to what is already available on iOS and Mac at Apple.

What should I do if the share option doesn't appear?

This new sharing feature was included in a recent Windows update. The Connected Mobile application is available on Windows 10 and 11. Check if your PC is up to date and, if not, look to perform update KB5043076 if you are on Windows 11 and KB5043064 if you use Windows 10 (you can search for updates from the settings by going to Windows Update).

This update is also the source of several corrections which improve the user experience on Windows, in particular with regard to narrator mode, voice input and Bluetooth.

Unison: the interesting alternative

One of the constraints of the connected Windows Mobile application is that it works with a Microsoft account, which is not to the taste of all users. There are interesting alternatives in terms of third-party applications, and Intel Unison is certainly the best:

Unison offers the same functionalities as Connected Mobile, with a few differences. Where some complain of frequent connection cuts on the Windows application, Unison offers good stability and compatibility with the iPad, which is not the case with Connected Mobile, which, at the time of writing This item, only supports iPhone. For its part, Unison does not offer Screen Mirroring functionality, which allows you to view the content of your phone on your PC screen. On Windows, this feature is available for some devices, including Surface and Samsung phones. If you need Screen Mirroring and your device is not on the list of compatible devices, Unison will suit you better.

Towards better integration between different systems

With this new simplified sharing feature, it's clear that Microsoft wants to make Windows an operating system that's just as good as Apple's when it comes to pairing with your phone in an intuitive way. The growing collaboration between Microsoft and Google to integrate Android devices significantly improves the user experience. For their part, iPhone owners now benefit from efficient file sharing with their PC.

More generally, in recent years we have seen increased collaboration between tech giants to provide users with an ever more integrated experience. The integration between Windows and Apple, however, is not yet as deep as that of Android. For example, since Windows 10, Connected Mobile allows you to access Android applications on your phone directly on a Windows PC, which is not the case with the iPhone.