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How to Hide or Show the Phone Link Sidebar in Windows 11 Start Menu

2024/10/18
PC Repair

Key Notes

  • Easily toggle the Phone Link sidebar using two methods.
  • Customize notifications for enhanced usability.
  • Only available for Android devices currently.

Unlock the Power of Mobile Integration: Toggle the Phone Link Sidebar in Windows 11

This guide outlines the steps to toggle the Phone Link sidebar, enhancing your interaction with mobile features directly from the Windows 11 Start menu.

How to Toggle the Phone Link Sidebar on the Start Menu

To make the Phone Link sidebar accessible, you can use two main methods:

Step 1: Toggle via the Settings App

To show or hide the Phone Link sidebar in the Start menu through the Settings app, do the following:

  1. Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Select the Personalization tab.
  3. Navigate to Start in the left sidebar.
  4. Toggle Show mobile device in Start to On.
  5. Access your Start menu to see the Phone Link sidebar.

Pro Tip: To remove the sidebar, simply toggle the same option to Off in the Settings menu.

Step 2: Adjust through the Windows Registry Editor

If you prefer using the Registry Editor, ensure to back up your Registry first. Here’s how to modify the sidebar visibility:

  1. Open the Start menu, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start\Companions\Microsoft. YourPhone_8wekyb3d8bbwe
  3. Look for the IsEnabled DWORD Value and change its value to 1 to enable, or create it if absent.
  4. To disable, set the value to 0.

Pro Tip: Only change DWORD values if you’re confident; incorrect edits can impact your system.

Step 3: Personalize Your Phone Link Sidebar

Enhance your experience by customizing notification settings:

  1. Open the Phone Link app.
  2. Click the Settings icon.
  3. Select Start menu personalization.
  4. Adjust the Badges toggle for unread messages.
  5. Configure the Recent Content settings as needed.

Pro Tip: Disabling Recent Content will hide mobile notifications, making your Start menu cleaner.

Additional Tips

  • Make sure your mobile device is compatible with the latest Phone Link app features.
  • Keep the Windows 11 operating system up-to-date for optimal performance and new features.
  • Explore alternative mobile integration apps if required preferences are not met.

Summary

By following the above steps, you can effortlessly toggle and customize the Phone Link sidebar on Windows 11, allowing seamless interaction between your PC and mobile devices.

Conclusion

Mastering the Phone Link sidebar feature significantly enhances user experience by streamlining access to mobile device functionalities. Make sure to configure the settings that suit your preferences best!

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Can I use the Phone Link sidebar on iOS?

As of now, the feature is exclusive to Android devices, with iOS support expected in future updates.

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