This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off showing your recent Android or iPhone mobile device content from Phone Link in the Start menu for your account in Windows 11.
Starting with Windows 11 22635.4805 (Beta) and build 26120.1330 (Dev), 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, and share files across devices directly from the Start menu.
These features are gradually rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels.
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.
Starting with Windows 11 build 26200.5622 (Dev 24H2), build 26120.4230 (Beta 24H2), and build 27871.1000 (Canary), the following improvements for Phone Link and phone companion with the Start menu are rolling out to Windows Insiders across all channels:
- 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.
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
Showing recent mobile device content in the Start menu requires turning on Show mobile device in Start.
EXAMPLE: Recent photos, message, and calls content from mobile device in the Start menu turned on and off
Here's How:
1 Open the Phone Link app.
2 Click/tap on the Settings (gear) icon. (see screenshots below)
3 Click/tap on Start menu personalization in the middle Settings pane. (see screenshots below)
4 Do step 5 (on) or step 6 (off) below for what you want.
5 Turn On Show Recent Mobile Device Content in Start Menu
This is the default setting.
A) Under Content in the right Start menu personalization pane, turn on Recent content. (see screenshot below)
B) Check (on - default) or uncheck (off) Show recent photos in the Start menu for what you want.
C) Check (on - default) or uncheck (off) Show recent messages in the Start menu for what you want.
D) Check (on - default) or uncheck (off) Show recent calls in the Start menu for what you want.
6 Turn Off Show Recent Mobile Device Content in Start Menu
A) Under Content in the right Start menu personalization pane, turn off Recent content. (see screenshot below)
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
