Those using Windows 11 should install the latest update to get some helpful new features. This week’s update from Microsoft, called KB5041587, released on Tuesday, adds a new way to share files with Android devices and offers a few other benefits.
First, there’s the new sharing option that lets you share files faster between your Windows PC and your Android device. The new feature requires you to install and set up Microsoft’s Phone Link app in Windows and the Link to Windows app on your Android device.
Also: How to upgrade your “incompatible” Windows 10 PC to Windows 11
Once these apps are installed, you can send a file to Android via Windows’ File Explorer by simply selecting “Phone Link” as the destination app. Conversely, you can send a file to Windows via Android’s default Android sharing tool by selecting “Link to Windows” as the app.
You’ve long been able to share files between Windows and Android through methods like Google’s Nearby Share for Windows (now known as Quick Share) and Intel’s Unison app. But the new trick is quicker and easier.
Next on the list is a performance optimization for Windows Narrator, a tool that can read text on the screen. The update helps Narrator scan text faster, a helpful optimization especially if you need to read long web pages in Microsoft Edge or long documents aloud. To use the new scanning mode, turn on Narrator, then press Caps Lock + Spacebar.
The Voice Access feature in Windows 11 has also become faster thanks to the new update. You can now dictate the characters you want to appear more quickly. You’ll also find more editing options for selecting, deleting, and moving text on the page.
Also: How to record your screen in Windows 10 or 11 using built-in tools
The new update also helped with File Explorer, but in the form of bug fixes. According to Microsoft’s description, the following defects were fixed:
- Pressing Ctrl+F in File Explorer sometimes doesn’t start the search.
- When pressing Shift + Tab, keyboard focus was sometimes lost.
- Pressing the Windows logo key + E (which opens File Explorer by default) can cause a screen reader to report that a pane has focus, or that the focus may not even be set.
- Screen readers did not indicate whether you opened or browsed files in the Open or Save dialog boxes.
- Screen readers did not indicate in the column header whether you had opened or browsed files.
The new update is optional, so you’ll need to go to Windows Update on your PC to install it. To do this, go to Settings, select Windows Update, and then click the Check for updates button. Let it download and install the latest updates.
Also: How to make Windows updates less annoying in three easy steps
After your PC restarts, go back to Windows Update, click on the “Update history” setting, and go to the “Quality updates” section. Make sure KB5041587 is listed as one of the latest updates.
You can also try the new Android file sharing or use Narrator and Voice Access to see if they’re faster. Microsoft warned that the latest tweaks may not be available to everyone as they’re rolling out gradually. But when I checked my Windows 11 PC after the update, the new Windows and Android sharing option was available.
