This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off access to your Android phone mobile device in File Explorer for your account in Windows 11.
If you turn on Allow this PC to access your mobile devices, you will be able to link and manage your mobile devices directly from your PC. This link between your Android device and PC provides instant access to your mobile device.
It is required to sign in to Manage Mobile Devices with your Microsoft account before you are able to link (add) and manage your mobile devices from your PC.
Microsoft is beginning to gradually roll out the ability to see your Android phone in File Explorer in Windows 11 to Windows Insiders with Android phones across all Insider Channels.
With this new experience, you will be able to wirelessly browse through all your folders and files, including media that is on your Android phone. You can open them, copy them to your PC, copy PC files to your phone, rename files, move them, and delete them.
To use this feature, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Your Android phone has at least Android 11 or higher.
- You are running the Link to Windows app on your Android phone (version 1.24071 and higher).
- Your PC is running Windows 11 version 24H2.
References:
Setting up and using your phone in File Explorer - Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com
Ability to access your Android phone in File Explorer begins rolling out to Windows Insiders
blogs.windows.com
Show mobile device in File Explorer requires the Windows Search (WSearch) service to be enabled, running, and set to Automatic.
Your phone's local folder (ex: "Brink s23+") is located in your account's C:\Users\<username>\CrossDevice profile folder.
- Option One: Turn On or Off Android Phone Access in File Explorer in Settings
- Option Two: Turn On or Off Android Phone Access in File Explorer in Registry Editor
EXAMPLE: File Explorer showing the new entry point for accessing your Android phone
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Bluetooth & devices on the left side, and click/tap on Mobile devices on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Perform an available action below: (see screenshots below)
The Manage devices button will be disabled and grayed out if Allow this PC to access your mobile devices is not turned on.
- Click/tap on the Manage devices button.
- Under Mobile devices, click/tap on the linked phone (ex: "Brink S23+") you want to manage.
4 Turn On (default) or Off Show mobile device in File Explorer for what you want. (see screenshots below)
If you have more than one added mobile device in the "Manage mobile devices" window, expand open the mobile device (ex: "Brink S23+") you want to manage.
5 If you turned off Show mobile device in File Explorer, you can click/tap on View Local Files or Close for what you want. (see screenshot below)
6 You can now close Settings if you like.
Thank you to our member Rubic for this option.
This option will only work while Show mobile device in File Explorer is turned on in Option One.
1 Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe).
2 Navigate to the registry key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below step 3).
3 Click/tap on each GUID under NameSpace until you find the GUID (ex: "{CC1603C6-2409-415E-9109-A466D05B35C3}") for CrossDevice. Make note of this GUID. (see screenshot below)
This is a unique GUID that will only stay the same GUID while Show mobile device in File Explorer is turned on in Option One.
If you turn off Show mobile device in File Explorer in Option One, this GUID will get deleted.
When you turn on Show mobile device in File Explorer again in Option One, a new unique GUID will be created for this here.
4 Navigate to the registry key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below step 5).
Substitute <GUID> in the key path above for the actual GUID (ex: "{CC1603C6-2409-415E-9109-A466D05B35C3}") from step 3.
For example: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{CC1603C6-2409-415E-9109-A466D05B35C3}
5 In the right pane of the <GUID> key (ex: "{CC1603C6-2409-415E-9109-A466D05B35C3}"), double click/tap on the System.IsPinnedToNamespaceTree DWORD to modify it. (see screenshot below)
You will notice your phone's name (ex: "Brink 23+") as the (Default) data value to help confirm the GUID.
6 Type 0 (off) or 1 (on) for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
7 If File Explorer is currently open, close and reopen File Explorer to apply.
8 You can now close Registry Editor if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
- Enable or Disable Allow PC to Access your Mobile Devices in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Mobile Devices in Windows 11
- Sign in or Sign out of Manage Mobile Devices in Windows 11
- Switch Account to Manage Mobile Devices in Windows 11
- Link Android Mobile Device to Microsoft Account on Windows 11 PC
- Enable or Disable New Photo Notifications from Mobile Devices in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Use Camera from Android Mobile Devices in Windows 11
