Microsoft has announced a new feature aimed at making file sharing between Windows PCs and Android phones easier. The development comes as part of an update to the Windows 11 Beta channel, available exclusively to members of the Windows Insider Program.

The highlight of this update is the introduction of a “My Phone” search icon within the Windows Share interface. This new feature allows users to send content from their Windows PC directly to their Android device. The process is designed to be simple and intuitive, reducing the usual hassle associated with transferring files between different operating systems.

To take advantage of this feature, users need to pair their Android device with their Windows PC. This is facilitated through the Link to Windows app on Android and the Phone Link application on PC. Once the device is paired, the “My Phone” icon will automatically appear in the Windows Share window, providing a quick and easy option for file transfer.

“We’re rolling out the ability to easily share content to Android devices from the Windows Share window. This feature requires you to pair your Android device to your Windows PC using the Link to Windows app on Android and Phone Link on your PC,” Microsoft elaborated in its announcement.

Currently, there are several methods for transferring files between a PC and an Android device. For example, Google’s Quick Share feature allows for wireless file sharing between a phone and a PC. However, Microsoft’s latest offering attempts to simplify the process even further, integrating it directly into the Windows ecosystem.

The inclusion of this feature in the beta channel indicates that a wider release may be imminent. Along with this, the update introduces several other enhancements to Windows 11. These include jump lists for pinned apps in the Start menu and better control over images presented by Windows Spotlight.

In addition, the update addresses various issues. This includes fixing an issue where the taskbar failed to appear for a small subset of users. Additionally, screen reader functionality has been improved. Specifically, it now correctly announces the navigation of items in the breadcrumb flyout of the Open or Save dialog, as well as items in the column header flyout in File Explorer.

Another notable improvement resolves an issue from the previous beta release where selecting “Change account settings” from the Start menu’s profile icon did not open account settings as expected.