Since final 12 months, Android customers with Home windows 11 computer systems have been in a position to preview a brand new characteristic that lets them see their telephone straight subsequent to the Begin menu, the place they will simply entry texts, calls, and ship recordsdata. You may form of do these items with iPhones as effectively, however not from the Begin menu. Slightly, it’s important to open the Telephone Hyperlink app in your Home windows PC to make it occur.
Coming later this 12 months (and accessible in preview construct 4805 for these within the Microsoft Insider program) would be the skill to see your iPhone proper subsequent to the Begin menu, similar to Android telephones. You’ll be able to entry your texts and calls, see battery share, and straight ship recordsdata to your iPhone.
Simply as there may be at this time when utilizing the Telephone Hyperlink app, there are some caveats. To hook up with an Android telephone you want solely be on the identical Wi-Fi community (and have the Hook up with Home windows app put in on it), however iPhones want a Home windows 11 PC with Bluetooth LE.
For Android telephones, Telephone Hyperlink allows you to see and entry the final 2,000 photos in your digicam roll, and messages can embody photos. You additionally get to see mirrors of your telephone notifications and might make telephone calls out of your PC. Nevertheless, when utilizing an iPhone, Telephone Hyperlink doesn’t assist photos in any respect (in messages or in any other case) or group texts. You’ll be able to see notification popups (however not likely act on them) and make calls. In different phrases, Telephone Hyperlink basically lets your Bluetooth LE-equipped Home windows 11 PC do the identical stuff your automotive’s Bluetooth connection can (should you don’t have CarPlay).
None of that is altering with the brand new construct. What’s new is the power to see a bit of iPhone window proper subsequent to the beginning menu that reveals battery life, the most recent exercise, messages, and fast entry to sharing recordsdata. it’s not fairly iPhone Mirroring, however should you don’t have a Mac, it’s the subsequent smartest thing.
For extra data, take a look at the Home windows Insider weblog put up asserting the characteristic.