Microsoft is making a notable shift in its Phone Link app, a key element of its cross-device strategy. The company is set to remove the Photos tab from the app, redirecting users to access their photos through File Explorer in Windows 11. This change is part of an effort to enhance user experience by integrating more robust features.
Key Points
- Microsoft is removing the Photos tab from Phone Link and moving photo access to File Explorer in Windows 11.
- The File Explorer version offers better features, such as multi-select, copy-paste, drag-and-drop, and video access, unlike the current Photos tab.
- Users are being notified of the removal ahead of time, unlike past changes, and will need to enable mobile device access in File Explorer settings.
Your phone’s photos will soon disappear from Windows 11’s Phone Link
The Phone Link app currently features four tabs: Calls, Messages, Photos, and Apps, allowing users to manage these functions directly from their Windows 11 PC. However, this number will soon be reduced to three, as the Photos tab is phased out.
As reported by Windows Latest, Microsoft is alerting Windows 11 users about this transition with notifications appearing in the Phone Link app. Users may need to check their Photos tab to see this alert, which seems to be rolling out gradually across devices.
Interestingly, Microsoft frames this change not as a removal of the Photos feature, but rather as a new experience within File Explorer. While the ability to access Android phone files via File Explorer was introduced last year, the Photos tab in Phone Link has provided a convenient way to view images stored on a mobile device. However, it lacks advanced functionalities such as multi-selection, copy-pasting, and drag-and-drop capabilities.
In contrast, the File Explorer integration supports these features and additionally allows access to videos stored on the phone—an option not available in the Phone Link’s Photos tab. As users prepare for this transition, they are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the File Explorer integration.
To ensure your Android phone appears in File Explorer, users must enable the Show mobile device in File Explorer toggle by navigating to Settings > Bluetooth > Mobile devices > Manage devices.
