Microsoft Brings iPhone File Sharing To Windows PCs With New Phone Link Update: Here's What You Need To Know

On Wednesday, Microsoft Corp. MSFT made a significant stride in bridging the gap between Apple Inc.'s AAPL iPhones and Windows PCs with its latest Phone Link update.

What Happened: With the new Phone Link update (version 1.24112.89.0 or higher), Windows Insiders can now share files back and forth between their iPhone and PC. 

Simply put, users can seamlessly transfer photos, documents, and more between their iPhones and Windows computers, just like Android users have been doing all along.

See Also: How To Unlock Apple Intelligence Features With iOS 18.2: Everything You Need To Know

Here's What You Need To Get Started

To start sharing files between their iPhone and PC, users will need an iPhone running iOS 16 or higher, the Link to Windows app (version 1.24112.73 or higher) on their iPhone, a Phone Link version 1.24112.89.0 or higher on their PC, and enrollment in the Windows Insider Program.

For people who have never connected their iPhone to Phone Link, it's an easy setup process that offers the file-sharing feature right from the start.

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What You Need To Do:

• From the iPhone, tap the share icon and choose "Link to Windows."
• Select the desired PC, and voilà!

For PC-to-iPhone sharing, right-click on the file, select "Share," and pick "My Phone."

For those who are already connected, simply visit aka.ms/addAccount on the PC to activate the new feature.

Why It Matters: While this update is a major improvement, Microsoft's journey to fully unlock iPhone-PC integration is ongoing.

The app still can’t mirror apps or handle group chats in iMessage, but it’s a solid start in making cross-platform file sharing more accessible for all.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo courtesy: Unsplash