Microsoft is testing several improvements to the Windows 11 shell and user experience that will integrate your smartphone into other features of the OS. According to my sources familiar with these plans, the company is working to expand and improve the smartphone integration experience of Phone Link so that they feel more sorry for Windows.
First, I hear that Phone Companion in Start is set to get a small upgrade. It gets the ability to display recent activities, with users able to scroll through the list without needing to open the Phone Link app. I’ve also heard that users will be able to hover over tasks to see additional information, such as the entire message or image.
I also heard that a new dedicated smartphone flyout is being tested, which will be present in the Taskbar in the system tray. The phone icon will be there whenever your phone is connected, and clicking on it will open a flyout that gives the user an overview of their phone’s status.
It will include buttons to toggle things like do not disturb, vibrate mode, find phone, and more. You will also be able to share files directly to your phone by dragging them to the icon.
Another feature Microsoft is looking at is syncing your clipboard history between your phone and PC using Windows 11’s dedicated clipboard feature. Currently, you can sync the clipboard from your phone to the PC, but it only remembers the last thing you copied. Clipboard history can provide you with a synchronized list of everything that has been copied.
Microsoft is also working on a new dedicated Messages app for Windows 11 that will sync your phone’s SMS conversations and let you reply and start conversations with your contacts. This app builds on the existing Messages feature in the Phone Link app, but will exist as a standalone app that can be pinned and launched from the Start menu.
Sources say all these features are being tested and prototyped internally, but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll ship as described. The company may be planning to gather feedback from Insiders before committing to shipping anything concrete.
I understand that the purpose of this development is to gradually integrate Phone Link capabilities natively into all Windows shells. Phone Link existed as a standalone application on top of Windows 11, but over the past year or so we have gradually seen new smartphone integration features added directly to Windows OS, completely avoiding the Phone Link application.
Features like the ability to see your phone’s file system and photos in the File Explorer app, or use your phones camera as a webcam on your PC are just two examples of how Microsoft has already been working to integrate your smartphone seamlessly into Windows 11 UX.
I don’t know what the future holds for the Phone Link app itself, but it’s clear that Microsoft isn’t done with connecting your phone to your PC. It’s working on further improvements that will make your smartphone feel like a natural extension of your computer, with an experience that feels native to Windows UX.
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