How to transfer files between win11 and WSA locally?

Zhuoran Li (SME,118020251) 36

I have just installed Windows subsystem for Android on my laptop, and I want to know how I can transfer files from my own system to WSA. I know there's a shared folder in WSL, is there anything similar in WSA that I can share my files just by dragging them into that folder?

andyching168 11 Reputation points

2021-11-07T11:49:37.853+00:00

I think you can use adb push and adb pull in WSA
https://www.androidauthority.com/android-customization-transfer-files-adb-push-adb-pull-601015/
Alexis BELHADJ-TAHAR 11 Reputation points

2021-11-27T19:35:28.693+00:00

Download this:
https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools

Extract it in c:/

rename the folder as ADB

Make a notepad file you will save as .bat

echo
cd c:/adb
adb connect 127.0.0.1:58526
adb push %1 /mnt/sdcard/Download/
pause

Create a shortcut, right clic and next to change icon, click advanced, clic run as admin, save

Drag and drop the file you want to find in WSA,

Here you will find it in donwload folder

Done :D
Alexis BELHADJ-TAHAR 11 Reputation points

2021-11-27T19:36:04.387+00:00

I forgot: Active dev option in WSA APP
Alexis BELHADJ-TAHAR 11 Reputation points

2021-11-27T19:37:59.137+00:00

Follow my comment to an easy drag and drop (I did it too for ADB install ^^
Javier Marín 6 Reputation points

2022-01-15T19:55:05.71+00:00

I got this error:

adb: error: stat failed when trying to push to /mnt/sdcard/Download/: Permission denied
Михаил Погосян 1 Reputation point

2022-01-19T19:34:02.64+00:00

Explain in more detail why you need a .bat text file and a shortcut to what you need to create
almullens1991 16 Reputation points

2022-01-30T10:25:24.9+00:00

1) Download following file:
-https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools
2) Extract Downloaded File to C:\

3) Open Windows Subsystem for Android Settings
4) Switch Developer Mode On
5) (With Windows Key and R together) Open Run Dialogue
6) Type "cmd.exe"
7) On Windows Subsystem for Android, look for IP Address(example 172.23.44.56)
8) In Command Window, type adb connect (enter Ip Address From Pervious Step) then Enter
9) In Command Window:
-For Transfer to Windows Subsystem for Android:
Type adb push (file path here) /storage/emulated/0/Download
File should be in Downloads
-For Transfer from Windows Subsystem for Android:
Type adb pull /storage/emulated/0/(file name as it appears in Windows Subsystem for Android) (desired path on Windows)
The_Doot_ 1 Reputation point

2022-02-08T16:49:17.787+00:00

I got lost at the:

"save

Drag and drop the file you want to find in WSA,

Here you will find it in download folder"

Where am I dragging my files to???
bu1517hep 6 Reputation points

2022-03-24T13:41:58.21+00:00
I succeeded this way:

1) Download adb set-up file:
-https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools
2) Extract the downloaded File to C:\ADB\

3) Open Windows Subsystem for Android Settings
4) Switch Developer Mode On
5) Open WSA Pacman then look for the WSA Port in Settings (gear icon on right upper-hand)
6) Goto C:\ADB\ and in there open Notepad (right-click, Text Document), paste this code, save as batch file:

echo cd c:/adb adb connect [type in WSA Port address here sans square brackets] echo echo To push a file, changing fileSource.ext to the complete file path with extension, type echo adb push fileSource.ext /storage/emulated/0/download echo pause echo Find pushed file using an Android File Explorer pause

7) To use the batch file: while in the C:\ADB\ folder open Run dialog (Win+R), then type "cmd" enter

8) On the Command terminal prompt type:

cd c:\adb

-To Transfer (push) file to Windows Subsystem for Android, on Command prompt type:

adb push fileSource.ext /storage/emulated/0/Download

-To Transfer (pull) file from Windows Subsystem for Android to Windows, in the cmd prompt type:
adb pull /storage/emulated/0/(file name as it appears in Windows Subsystem for Android) (desired path on Windows)
Musa Garba 1 Reputation point

2022-06-14T13:27:30.853+00:00

worked thanks champ
Lukas Kremer 1 Reputation point

2022-07-07T00:42:55.557+00:00

For me this works

echo
cd c:/adb
adb connect 127.0.0.1:58526
adb push %1 /storage/emulated/0/
pause

after the "0" you can type the Folder that you wanted.
Phillips Family 11 Reputation points

2022-08-01T16:03:25.657+00:00

A much easier way to do this... Sideload a program named File Manager+. This is a legitimate Android program, available on Google Playstore. You will need the APK file however, but that can easily be found. You will need to figure how to do this on your own, only so much I can explain here. I'll just say its easy to do. When File Manager+ is loaded, add a "remote location". Consider your PC a "remote location" (you may have to use the IP address). When you have added and connected to it, you can browse and copy any shared files you have on your PC and copy them to the appropriate media/document files within WSA. EASY, EASY, EASY!
Meni Viner 1 Reputation point

2022-08-04T13:08:17.607+00:00

Thanksss!!
ziyad tahir 1 Reputation point

2022-11-23T21:29:19.827+00:00

Man, I can't Thank you enough
Jeff Luo 0 Reputation points

2023-03-10T12:55:04.11+00:00

Are you sure there's a shared folder? Cuz I can't find it.
Simon Puzankov 0 Reputation points

2023-03-19T04:32:21.2466667+00:00

push to /storage/emulated/0/Downloads
Иван Неткачев 10 Reputation points

2023-05-02T19:25:03.3666667+00:00

i make some "user-friendly" batch, that add new Context menu entry to Send To menu.
https://github.com/inetkachev/WSAFileTransfer
Electric 0 Reputation points

2024-07-26T07:19:34.2433333+00:00

Hello! Using /mnt/sdcard/Download/ also gave me an error, but changing it to /storage/emulated/0/Download worked and shared the file.

7 answers

Shkedi 10 Reputation points

2023-03-19T18:08:09.4233333+00:00

Just downloded "Aow Tools" from the Microsoft Store, now I can drag & drop files to transfer from/to WSA and file explorer, problem solved.
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2 people found this answer helpful.
vagenrider 0 Reputation points

2023-10-03T08:58:56.3533333+00:00

just tried on latest wsa and works fine,thanks a lot!
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Limitless Technology 39,671 Reputation points

2021-10-28T09:41:18.83+00:00

Hi there,

I suppose you cannot make a transfer .

The subsystem uses a file system that's separate and different from Windows—these files can't be transferred to Windows. Also, files available in Windows aren't accessible in the subsystem and any mobile apps.

If you need to, here's how to view your subsystem files:

Open Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app.

Select Files.

Your files in the subsystem will open and you can browse any images, videos, audio, documents, and downloads that are saved in the subsystem.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/mobile-apps-and-the-windows-subsystem-for-android-f8d0abb5-44ad-47d8-b9fb-ad6b1459ff6c

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Jim McLeod 1 Reputation point

2022-03-26T03:12:11.097+00:00

It seems to me that there is no way to directly drag-and-drop between Windows 11 and the WSA. That makes it useless to me.

It's counterproductive to make it so separate from Windows 11 that this cannot be easily done.

WSA is now uninstalled from my system. I'm going for Bluestacks, which I used very nicely with Windows 10.
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UwU XD 6 Reputation points

2022-11-11T00:50:03.97+00:00

Download this app from microsoft store:

https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NXM6552H2QL

and turn on developer mode on WSA

you will access all the files now and install APKs by it and a few more pretty function's

this is the easiest way I found :)
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1 person found this answer helpful.
SamiSamSam 0 Reputation points

2023-06-09T13:15:02.4966667+00:00

Great works amazingly
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Иван Неткачев 10 Reputation points

2023-05-06T16:56:51.77+00:00

I make some "user-friendly" batch, that add new Context menu entry to Send To menu.
https://github.com/inetkachev/WSAFileTransfer
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1 person found this answer helpful.
Meni Viner 1 Reputation point

2023-07-27T15:45:21.2166667+00:00

thank you so much! I found this very helpful!
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Anonymous

2021-11-11T00:24:47.17+00:00

Probably not the best option, but I installed OneDrive onto WSA and download what i need to the subsystem via OneDrive
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Alexis BELHADJ-TAHAR 11 Reputation points

2021-11-27T19:35:11.453+00:00

Download this:
https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools

Extract it in c:/

rename the folder as ADB

Make a notepad file you will save as .bat

echo
cd c:/adb
adb connect 127.0.0.1:58526
adb push %1 /mnt/sdcard/Download/
pause

Create a shortcut, right clic and next to change icon, click advanced, clic run as admin, save

Drag and drop the file you want to find in WSA,

Here you will find it in donwload folder

Done :D

Alexis BELHADJ-TAHAR 11 Reputation points

2021-11-27T19:36:26.687+00:00

I forgot: Activate dev option in WSA app
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How to transfer files between win11 and WSA locally?

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