Windows 11 phone messages in Start are coming. Microsoft says the Start menu will soon show previews of messages and notifications from your connected Android phone or iPhone, so you can see what needs a reply without picking up your phone. Microsoft hasn’t said when it arrives.
Here are the quick facts before the details.
- Announced: October 15, 2026, on the Windows Experience Blog.
- Works with: Android phones and iPhones, though features differ by platform.
- Release date: not announced.
- Compatible phone list: not published yet.
The short version: the Start preview is the one feature Microsoft explicitly ties to both Android and iPhone. That makes it the most useful part of this announcement for most people.
What Windows 11 phone messages in Start actually do
According to AndroidPure, which summarized Microsoft’s post, Start will preview incoming messages and notifications from your paired phone. When you want to answer, the reply opens in a chat-focused window on your PC.
Quick Settings also gets a small addition. You’ll be able to silence your phone or make it ring from the PC, which helps when it’s lost somewhere in the house.
It builds on Phone Link, the app Windows already uses to pair a phone with a PC. If you haven’t set that up, you’ll likely need to before any of this works.
Extra Android-only features
Android phones get more than iPhones in this round. Gadget Hacks lists five cross-device features from Microsoft’s post, and only the Start preview is confirmed for iPhone.
Here’s how the confirmed pieces line up.
| Feature | Android | iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Message previews in Start | Yes | Yes |
| Phone apps in resizable windows | Supported phones only | Not confirmed |
| Phone files in File Explorer | Yes | Not confirmed |
| New-photo alerts on the PC | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Resume on PC (“supported activities”) | Not specified | Not specified |
If you use an iPhone, plan on message previews and not much else for now. Apple limits what outside apps can do with iOS, so a gap like this isn’t surprising.
Why previews in Start beat a notification pile-up
Phone Link already forwards notifications to Windows, but they pop up and vanish. A preview that sits in Start gives you a place to look when you’re ready, instead of a stack of toasts you dismissed while typing.
That’s the practical idea here. You stay in your document or spreadsheet, glance at Start, and decide whether a message is worth answering now. If it is, the reply window opens right on the PC, so your hands stay on the keyboard.
The Resume feature points the same way. Microsoft says it works with “supported activities,” which suggests picking up something you started on your phone. It hasn’t listed which apps count, so don’t expect it to work with everything.
What Microsoft hasn’t said yet
This is where you should be careful with any article that sounds sure about details. Microsoft’s post doesn’t include a rollout date, a Windows build number, a Phone Link version, or a list of supported phones.
Some older articles do list phone brands and build numbers. Those belong to earlier previews, not this announcement, so don’t treat them as requirements. Gadget Hacks makes the same point in its write-up.
One privacy question is also open. Previews put message text on your PC screen, and Microsoft hasn’t said whether you can hide that text. If you share a desk or present on a screen often, that matters.
How to get ready before it lands
You can’t switch this on today, but a few steps will save time later.
- Pair your phone with your PC through Phone Link and confirm it stays connected.
- Keep Windows up to date. Our guide to getting Windows 11 26H2 covers why updates sometimes don’t show up.
- Check your notification settings on the phone, since previews can only show what the phone sends.
Microsoft is also changing other parts of the desktop. We covered the new Windows 11 Search that can change settings for you, which is a separate Insider feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Windows 11 show phone messages in Start?
Microsoft hasn’t given a date. The announcement was on October 15, 2026, with no feature-specific rollout timing.
Does it work with iPhone?
Yes, for the Start menu message previews. Microsoft doesn’t confirm the other new phone features for iPhone.
Do I need Phone Link?
Most likely, since it’s how Windows connects to your phone. Microsoft hasn’t published exact setup steps for the new features yet.
Can I hide the message text on my PC screen?
That hasn’t been announced. Watch the Phone Link and notification settings once the feature rolls out.
Worth the wait, with one caveat
Seeing your texts in Start is a small change that could save a lot of phone-grabbing, and it works for both Android and iPhone users. I’d still wait for the privacy controls before turning it on at a shared or work PC. Until Microsoft names a date and a phone list, treat everything beyond the Start preview as “coming eventually.”
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