Microsoft is introducing file sharing to its Android feature for Windows 11. The Windows Subsystem for Android update, available to all Windows Insiders for testing, includes file sharing, drag and drop support, camera enhancements, and usual bug fixes. In a blog post, the Windows Subsystem for Android team states: “We are delighted to announce that Windows Subsystem for Android can now share your Windows user folders, such as Documents and Pictures, with the Subsystem for scenarios like uploading photos to social media apps or working seamlessly on video editing in a creative app.”
Preview users can share folders by default, and Android apps can only view or edit Windows files with permission. Android apps request permission via a dialog, and permissions can be withdrawn from settings. To prevent malicious apps from being loaded, Microsoft scans all Android apps upon install using Microsoft Defender or whatever antivirus software you have.
File sharing support is limited to Windows user profile folders like documents, photos, and videos folders. Windows system folders, external drives or folders like Program Files, and some file types like .exe are not supported. The file sharing support has been released to all Windows Insider channels, and it is likely to be available to all Windows 11 users in the coming weeks.
