Windows 11 Laptops Now Integrate Your iPhone In The Start Menu!

Over the last few years, Microsoft has tried its best to bridge the gap between Windows laptops and other mobile platforms. The Phone Link app offers an easy portal for Android and iOS devices to pair with a Windows 11 laptop and offer access to some of their basic functionalities. Every successive update tries to make the process easier and the latest one makes it easiest for even those who are new to computers!

As part of its latest updates, Windows 11 will now be able to link your iPhone to the PC and show its dedicated control panel right from the Start Menu. This feature was previously available on Android devices but now, it is coming to iOS devices. The ability to bring your iPhone controls to the Start Menu is cross-platform integration at its best.

How does the iPhone integrate with a Windows PC?

Once you are on the latest version of Windows 11, the Start Menu will show a new mobile device connectivity pane. You get the ability to choose between Android and iOS devices. 

- Regardless of the platform, the connection process will be similar. In this case, we choose iOS for iPhone users. 

- You need to install the latest version of the Phone Link app on your iPhone. This updated version will be available on the App Store. 

- Once you have the necessary apps in place, follow the on-screen instructions on your Windows PC to pair it with your iPhone (same goes for Android). 

Once paired, the Start Menu will show the details of your iPhone. Users will be able to see the iPhone’s battery status, mobile data connectivity and access messages and call records. The Start Menu pane also shows the status of recent activities. 

There’s more. If your day job requires you to transfer files between your PC and iPhone, the ability to do that is now baked in the Start Menu pane. All you need to do is hit the ‘Send Files’ button and you are good to go. 

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Can I use this feature now?

Before you frantically start looking for that update to download, here are a couple of things you should take care of:

1. The feature is currently a part of beta testing and is only available to those who are subscribed to the Windows Insider program. You will need to be on Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 4805 or higher in Beta Channel.

2. Next, you will need the latest version of the Phone Link app installed on your iPhone. In this case, ensure that your Phone Link version is updated to 1.24121.30.0.

3. You will need an active Microsoft account that’s been signed in on both your iPhone and the Windows PC. Bluetooth LE support is a must on the laptop or PC.

Those who fear going to beta versions and prefer to stay in the comfort of stable builds should wait for a few more weeks since Microsoft will thoroughly test the feature before rolling it out to the masses. 

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