This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off show your Android or iPhone mobile device from Phone Link in the Start menu for your account in Windows 11.
Starting with Windows 11 build 26100.3915 (24H2) and build 22631.5262 (23H2), you can directly access content on your mobile device from the Start menu on your PC. Using this feature, you can view your device’s battery status and connectivity, access your voice messages, calls, and photos, and pick up where you left off with the latest activities on your device. Only Android users who are already connected using Phone Link can get this feature. iOS support will be coming later.
Key features include:
- Effortless Connectivity: View your phone’s battery status and connectivity right from the Start menu on your Windows 11 PC.
- Unified Communication: Access your phone messages, calls, and photos directly from Start, ensuring you never miss an important update or moment.
- Continuity of Experience: Pick up where you left off with the latest activities from your phone, all seamlessly integrated into your Start menu experience.
UPDATE 1/28: Connected iPhone users can now access their phone features directly from the Start menu. This seamless integration allows iPhone users to enjoy the same benefits as Android users, including ability to view phone’s battery status and connectivity, ability to access messages and calls, and keeping track of the latest activities, all conveniently integrated into the Start menu.
Microsoft previewed the ability to share files between your devices in December. Now, you can easily send files across your devices (Android/iPhone and Windows PC) right from the Start menu. Select “Send files” to begin transferring.
Requirements:
- Your PC must be signed in with a Microsoft account and must have Bluetooth LE capability.
- Not supported for PCs running Pro Education or Education SKUs.
- Instantly see notifications from your mobile device apps — grouped by app for easy catch-up, right from your Start menu.
- Mirror your Android device’s screen with a single click from your Start menu. Simply click on your device’s icon or access the option from the footer menu to quickly launch device screen mirroring.
- Your iPhone memories are now accessible from the Start menu. Windows iCloud app users can see recently synced photos and quickly access their iCloud photos all within the Start menu.
Starting with Windows 11 build 26200.5742 (Dev 25H2), Microsoft has redesigned the mobile device companion with an updated layout that lets you access more right from Start. Now, you can scroll to access more recent activity items so you can stay on top of updates from your mobile device. Users will be able to access messages, calls, photos, mobile app updates and more from this new updated layout.
References:
Previewing accessing Phone Link features from the Start menu with Windows Insiders
June 2025: This experience is also available to Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel. UPDATE 8/2: We are beginning to gradually roll out this experience to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. Updates made below t
blogs.windows.com
Seamless phone integration from the Start menu gets even better for Windows Insiders
Hello Windows Insiders, Last year, we previewed the ability for existing Android connected use
blogs.windows.com
Contents
- Option One: Hide or Show Phone Link Mobile Device on Start Menu
- Option Two: Hide or Show Phone Link Mobile Device on Start Menu using REG file
- Option Three: Turn On or Off Show Phone Link Mobile Device on Start Menu in Settings
- Option Fur: Turn On or Off Show Phone Link Mobile Device on Start Menu using REG file
EXAMPLE: Mobile device showing on Start Menu
This option requires Show mobile device in Start turned on in either Option Three or Option Four.
1 Open the Start Menu
2 Click/tap on the Mobile device (phone) button to toggle show (default) or hide for what you want. (see screenshots below)
This option requires Show mobile device in Start turned on in either Option Three or Option Four.
1 Do step 2 (show) or step 3 (hide) below for what you want.
2. Show Phone Link Mobile Device on Start Menu
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Show_mobile_device_right_pane_on_Start.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start]
"RightCompanionToggledOpen"=dword:00000001 3. Hide Phone Link Mobile Device on Start Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Hide_mobile_device_right_pane_on_Start.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start]
"RightCompanionToggledOpen"=dword:000000004 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Personalization on the left side, and click/tap on Start on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Under Other settings, turn On (add - default) or Off (remove) Show mobile device in Start for what you want. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Settings if you like.
1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
2 Turn On Show Phone Link Mobile Device on Start Menu
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_ON_Show_mobile_device_in_Start.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start\Companions\Microsoft.YourPhone_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
"IsEnabled"=dword:000000013 Turn Off Show Phone Link Mobile Device on Start Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_OFF_Show_mobile_device_in_Start.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start\Companions\Microsoft.YourPhone_8wekyb3d8bbwe]
"IsEnabled"=dword:000000004 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
