How Can I Wirelessly Access My Android From My PC?

It’s 2020. There’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to wirelessly connect to all of our devices, whether you’re looking to transfer files, stream media, or even adjust one device’s settings using another. Believe me, nothing is more annoying than having to physically connect my Android to my PC whenever I want to access something on it—or, really, whenever I want to muck around with adb commands. In a perfect world, there would be a tiny little option in Android that would allow you to create a direct, wireless connection to a laptop or desktop. We don’t quite have that kind of setup by default, but we can sort-of get there with a little help.

Using Windows Built-in Settings

One option for connecting your Android to your PC is to use Windows’ built-in settings for linking one to the other. In the most recent version of Windows 10, just pull up Settings > Your Phone, and click on Add a phone to get started. You’ll be prompted to install the Your Phone app on your Android. Open it, sign in with your Microsoft account (or use the handy QR code on your Windows PC to link the two) and accept all the permissions. Once you’ve linked the two, you’ll be able to access your phone’s notifications, messages, and photos directly from your Windows PC. You’ll also be able to make and receive calls through your phone on your Windows PC.

Wireless File Transfer and Sharing

You should also be able to use your phone and PC’s “Nearby Share” features to exchange files between the two via Bluetooth. Setting it up is as easy as pulling up your Settings app on each device, searching for “Nearby Share,” and enabling it. You’d then use Android’s built-in sharing features or Windows’ Send to > Bluetooth device menu in File Explorer to ship data back and forth. Honestly, though, I find “Nearby Share” to be confusing at best, and mostly kludgy. Other apps like Wifi File Transfer or SuperBeam make it much easier to send and receive files between your Android and PC. There’s also websites like Snapdrop, which require no extra apps for file transfers, or the tried-and-true apps AirDroid and Portal.

Advanced Remote Access Solutions

Dell Mobile Connect is another option worth trying. If you’re lucky, everything will connect just fine, and you’ll be able to access your messages, phone app, files, and share your Android’s screen directly on your Windows 10 PC. I suspect this will work better for you if you’re trying to connect a wireless laptop to your Android. If you’re running into any issues however, abandon ship and try some other alternatives for remotely viewing your Android, such as the classic AirMirror or Scrcpy.

Key Features of Wireless Access Methods

  • Windows Your Phone: Syncs notifications, messages, photos, and allows making calls.
  • Nearby Share: Uses Bluetooth for direct file exchange between devices.
  • AirDroid / AirMirror: Provides remote viewing and wireless file management.
  • Snapdrop: A web-based solution for file transfers that requires no app installation.
  • Dell Mobile Connect: Enables screen sharing and file access on Windows 10 PCs.