Microsoft Bridges The Gap: iPhone And Android Integration In Windows 11

Windows 11 is ready to improve its Start menu significantly by introducing comprehensive integration with both Android as well as iPhone devices. This upgrade will allow users to effortlessly access their mobile texts and images directly from their desktops. 

Initially, this functionality was exclusive to Android devices, but it has now expanded to include iPhones as well. As it has been detailed in a blog post from Microsoft to take advantage of this feature, the users will need to run Windows 11 Build 4805 or newer in the Beta channel. Or they can also use Build 26120.3000 or later in the Dev Channel. 

In addition to this, the PC must have Phone Link version 1.24121.30.0 or above to be logged in with a Microsoft account and support Bluetooth LE. It is important to note that this feature is not available on PCs that operate under Pro Education or Education SKUs. 

After users are done updating their system, they can open the Start menu or they also can select Android or iPhone after the following prompts on their screen. Once connected, they will get instant access to all the content of their phone right from the Start menu. 

They also monitor the status of the battery of their iPhone and connection directly from this interface. Moreover, they will also be able to read text messages, review recent activities as well as answer calls. 

However, they will need to launch the Phone Link app for this. The integration settings for Android and iPhone can be managed through Settings and then by selecting Start from Personalization, where they can also disable the sidebar panel if needed. In tests that were conducted recently, it was noted that the Start menu’s sidebar uses Microsoft’s Adaptive Cards feature which is also the backbone of the widgets board.