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Iphone gets better integration with Windows

Microsoft is testing a number of new features when it comes to connecting an iPhone with Windows.

Ove Kaufeldt

Published 30 January 2025 - 10:42

Windows 11 will soon have a new way to interact with a connected iPhone. Microsoft is now testing an integration with the Start menu and the Phone Link tool that shows a connected phone's battery life, connection, and some of its notifications. The expansion of the Start menu will also include a section for sharing files between a computer and a phone.

Much of this functionality has been available for Android devices for a while, although some have been limited to Windows Insiders during testing. Even sending files from a Windows 11 computer and a phone has been tested since December 2024, but the initial rollout of the feature was not integrated with the Start menu.

Generally speaking, Microsoft's Phone Link has more features when connected to Android devices. This is mainly because Apple has restrictions on what an app like Phone Link can do, which limits the app's features if you connect an iPhone to a Windows 11 computer. However, Microsoft has worked to close that gap over the years, and some of the best Phone Link features now work with both iOS and Android.

Microsoft has started testing the new features, but when it will be released in a full version to everyone is not known, as it depends on how the testing goes via Windows Insider.