Summary
- Microsoft is enhancing Phone Link in Windows 11, making it more accessible on the Start menu.
- For now, the Phone Link update is exclusive to Android users, with no support for iPhone devices.
- Along with Phone Link improvements, Windows 11 build 22635.3790 brings minor changes and fixes to the Beta channel.
Microsoft is making the Phone Link experience even more prevalent in Windows 11, putting it right on the Start menu. The company is now rolling out an update to Insiders in the Beta channel which includes a new Phone Link experience in a sidebar next to your apps.
The new experience includes quick access to your messages, calls, and photos, along with basic status information, such as the battery level of your phone and recent activity from your phone. As noted in the Windows Insider Blog post, though, the feature is only available for those using Phone Link with an Android device, so if you have an iPhone, you won't see this experience just yet. It's also worth noting that, as per usual, this is a gradual rollout, so you won't see it right away.
A few weeks ago, it had been discovered that Microsoft was planning to bring some kind of widget support to the Start menu, but it looks like for now, this is only being used for Phone Link. That said, it's possible that more experiences can be unlocked for this panel in the future.
How to use Phone Link with an iPhone
Own an iPhone and also use Windows 11? You can now see your texts right on your PC using the Phone Link app.
Windows 11 build 22635.3790 includes a few more changes
In tandem with the new update to the Phone Link experience, Microsoft is also rolling out a new build of Windows 11 to insiders in the Beta channel, which includes a few other changes, albeit smaller ones. One of the changes in build 22635.3790 is that the new experience where Copilot is an app pinned to the taskbar, rather than built into the Windows shell, is now available in the Beta channel. This also removes the ability to open Copilot with the Windows + C keyboard shortcut, so you now need to use the Copilot key on laptops that have it. If Copilot is pinned to the taskbar, you can also press Windows and the number corresponding to the position of the icon on the taskbar.
Aside from this, this update only includes a few fixes, including one for issues with contrast with certain UI elements in File Explorer. here's the full list:
Despite the fixes, there's still a somewhat extensive list of known issues, which is par for the course for beta software. As per usual, if you're already enrolled in the Beta channel, you can get the latest update by simply looking for updates in the Settings app. If you want to join the Windows Insider Program, you might want to read more about how it works.
Explaining the Windows Insider Program channels for Windows 11 betas
Microsoft's Windows Insider Program can be confusing if you're new, so here's everything you need to know for testing the Windows 11 beta.