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Windows is testing iPhone integration in Start menu

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  • 2 min read

After adding a side panel to the Start menu in the Windows 11 24H2 update, Microsoft is finally bringing the same feature to iPhone owners with a compatible Windows 11 device via the Phone Link app. The feature is already available for testing for Windows Insiders and brings all the Android connectivity features to iOS, including battery status and connectivity, the ability to access messages, calls, photos, and more.

As is the case with the existing Android integration, users will also be able to share files between an iPhone and Windows PC, simplifying an otherwise cumbersome task. Redmond first started testing the file-sharing feature in December 2024 and now it also works with the native Share feature in Windows 11. Apart from the aforementioned data, users can access and receive their iPhone notifications on their PC.

An iPhone paired to a Windows PC in the Start menu. | Source: Microsoft

Microsoft did not include a launch date for the feature in its announcement, but it should be available to all Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta channels to test. There are, however, some requirements:

  • Users need Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 4805 and higher in the Beta Channel and 26120.3000 and higher in the Dev channel.
  • Phone Link version 1.24121.30.0 or higher is required.
  • Your PC must be signed in with a Microsoft account and have Bluetooth LE capability.
  • PCs running Pro Education or Education SKUs are not supported

It can take a while before Redmond is satisfied with the feature’s performance and stability, so a full release in the second half of 2025 is more likely. Any feedback for the feature can also be shared via the Phone Link app’s feedback section.

The feature comes from years of work Microsoft has put into Windows to make it integrate seamlessly with phones. Unlike Apple, which offers significantly better and more seamless integration between Macs and iPhones, Windows has historically had trouble wirelessly syncing data and notifications between Android or iPhones and a PC, with users often having to resort to third-party tools.

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Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah is a Computer Science graduate who writes/edits/shoots/codes all things cybersecurity, gaming, and tech hardware. When he's not, he streams himself racing virtual cars. He's been writing and reporting on tech and cybersecurity with websites like Candid.Technology and MakeUseOf since 2018. You can contact him here: yadullahabidi@pm.me.

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