Microsoft has started moving photo viewing functionality out of the Phone Link app on Windows 11 and into File Explorer. A new in-app alert now guides users toward this change, pointing at an upcoming removal of the built-in photo viewer in Phone Link.
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Photos Moving to File Explorer
An update to the Phone Link application introduced a prominent notification stating: “Photos is moving to File Explorer.” The message encourages users to adopt File Explorer for managing and viewing images stored on their linked mobile devices.
According to the notice, File Explorer now offers enhanced capabilities for photo management, including support for video playback, multi-select operations, copy/paste actions, and drag-and-drop functionality.
How to Access Phone Photos in File Explorer
Viewing phone content through File Explorer requires users to link their device via the Mobile Devices section in Windows Settings. This setup treats the connected phone as a peripheral, appearing in File Explorer much like a removable drive. It also enables additional features such as using the phone as a webcam.
Phone Link Retains Its Core Features
Despite the shift in photo handling, Phone Link remains active and continues to support key functionalities. These include real-time notification relay, screen mirroring, message synchronization, and remote phone control from a Windows PC.
Historically, Phone Link provided a unified interface for accessing phone data directly from Windows 11. Users could browse recent images in full screen without launching another application. With this change, Microsoft directs users to manage media files through the native file manager app instead.
Microsoft has not specified when it will completely remove photo viewing from Phone Link. However, the current alert actively prompts users to migrate to File Explorer for a “better Photos experience,” suggesting the transition is already underway.
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