Microsoft has released an Insider preview that lets you “seamlessly” share files from your iPhone to a Windows 10 or 11 PC.
So long as you’re part of the Windows Insider Program and your iPhone runs iOS 16 or later, you can pair with Windows’ Phone Link app and enable file sharing.
To share files from your iPhone with your PC, you send them to the Link to Windows app using iOS’ built-in sharing tools. To share from the PC to the iPhone, you right-click on the file you want, choose “Share,” and then either “My Phone” or “Phone Link.”
Microsoft hasn’t said when it expects iPhone sharing to become widely available. As with many Insider previews, you’re more likely to see bugs. The company encourages you to point out issues through the Feedback Hub.
Limitations on sharing iPhone files to Windows
The feature might not be satisfying if you expect drag-and-drop file sharing like you frequently get with Android phones. This still requires special apps on both sides, and isn’t going to let you put files exactly where you’d like them. Large-scale transfers, including folders, still aren’t going to be elegant.
However, this might address one of the most common complaints about linking an iPhone with a Windows PC: the inability to quickly share files beyond photos. This could be helpful if you need to move a must-read document and don’t want to rely on cloud services.
The expansion doesn’t come as a shock. Apple has generally been more willing to accommodate Windows users in recent years, such as integrating iCloud images into Windows 11’s Photos app. While you’ll still get the tightest integration on Macs, moves like this can keep iPhone users loyal when switching from Windows isn’t realistic.
