Windows has received an analogue of AirDrop – dropping a file from iPhone to PC has finally become simple and fast

Microsoft has announced a new function that will allow users without any effort to transfer files between iPhone smartphones and PC under Windows. The principle of operation of the function is similar to AirDrop for quick file exchange between Apple devices.

Image source: Microsoft

In its official blog, Microsoft announced that it has made a new beta version of the Connect to Phone app available to users enrolled in the Windows Insider program to test new features and builds of Windows.

The Connect to Phone app allows you to wirelessly connect Android and iOS smartphones to your PC. When connecting a mobile device to a PC, users can see notifications on the monitor screen and even answer calls. You can soon use Phone Link to share files between iOS and Windows devices. On Windows, when selecting a file transfer source, users will see their phone as an available device. In the iOS app, Link to Windows, the option will appear as an extension that allows users to share content directly from other apps.

According to Microsoft, the new feature for directly transferring data between an iPhone and a Windows PC requires an iPhone running iOS 16 or later and the Link to Windows app version 1.24112.73 or later. The Link to Phone app for Windows must be version 1.24112.89.0 or later. Only registered members of the Windows Insider program can try out the new feature. In the future, it will become available to all users of the Window 10 and Windows 11 operating systems.

This is good news for iPhone owners who also use Windows PCs, as transferring data between iPhone and non-Apple devices can be quite problematic. The Connect to Windows app for iOS is available for free on the App Store.