The Windows 11 Quick Settings phone controls are now rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel. They let you silence your Android phone, change its ringer mode or make it ring, all without leaving your PC.
It’s early testing, so don’t expect it on your everyday PC yet. Microsoft hasn’t given a public release date.
Here are the quick facts.
- Announced October 23, 2026, in Windows Insider build 26340.9767.
- Available to Experimental channel Insiders, and it’s still rolling out gradually.
- Works with a supported Android phone: Do Not Disturb, ringer mode and play sound.
- iPhones get a limited, status-focused view only.
- No public release date has been announced.
Those are the facts Microsoft confirmed. The rest of this post covers how it works and what’s still unknown.
What the new Quick Settings phone section does
Microsoft’s October 23 Windows Insider announcement describes a new mobile devices section in Quick Settings. It appears for connected phones. With a supported Android phone, you get three controls.
- Turn Do Not Disturb on or off.
- Change the ringer mode.
- Play a sound to find your phone.
The sound option is the one you’ll probably use most. If your phone is buried in a couch cushion, you can make it ring straight from the taskbar.
Android vs iPhone: what you can actually do
Microsoft says iPhone support is limited to a status-focused experience. That means you can see information, but you shouldn’t expect the same toggles. The table below sums up the difference.
| Control | Android phone | iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Do Not Disturb | Toggle from the PC | Not confirmed |
| Ringer mode | Change from the PC | Not confirmed |
| Play sound (find my phone) | Rings the phone | Not confirmed |
| Status view | Yes | Limited, status-focused |
The iPhone cells say “not confirmed” because Microsoft only described a status view. Apple restricts what other devices can control, so full parity is unlikely.
Where this fits with Phone Link and earlier Windows tests
This isn’t a brand new idea. Earlier in October, Android Authority reported that Windows Latest had found a hidden “Mobile devices” tile in an experimental build. That version showed Do Not Disturb, volume and play sound controls. Microsoft’s announcement is the first official word.
It also follows other Quick Settings experiments. We covered the Windows 11 speed test in Quick Settings, which shipped in the same build. And if you use your phone with your PC, our look at phone messages in Start shows where Microsoft is taking this.
Why these small phone controls matter
Most people don’t miss a phone call because they’re careless. They miss it because the phone is in another room, on silent, and the PC is the only screen in front of them.
Putting Do Not Disturb in Quick Settings means you can mute notifications during a meeting without picking up your phone. That also means no accidental scroll through social apps on the way.
The ringer toggle helps in the opposite case. If you’re waiting for an important call and left the phone on vibrate, you can switch it back from your desk.
It also hints at Microsoft’s bigger plan. Quick Settings is becoming a small control panel for your whole device set, not just the PC itself. Whether that works well depends on how reliably the phone connection stays alive, which Insiders will now test.
What we still don’t know
Microsoft’s post is short, and a few details are missing. It doesn’t say which Android versions or phone brands are supported, only that you need a supported Android phone.
It also doesn’t say when the feature will reach regular Windows 11 users. Experimental features sometimes change, move to another channel or never ship. Treat this as a preview, not a promise.
How to try it, and who should wait
To test it, you need to join the Windows Insider Program and pick the Experimental channel. You also need to link your phone to your PC first.
- Open Settings, then Windows Update, then Windows Insider Program.
- Choose the Experimental channel and install build 26340.9767.
- Link your phone through Phone Link (Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Mobile devices).
- Open Quick Settings and look for the mobile devices section.
Experimental builds can be unstable, and not everyone in the channel gets a feature at once. If your PC is your main work machine, wait for a public release instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Windows 11 Quick Settings phone controls today?
Only if you’re in the Windows Insider Experimental channel, and even then the rollout is gradual. There’s no public release date yet.
Does it work with iPhone?
Only in a limited way. Microsoft says iPhone support is a status-focused experience, without the same Do Not Disturb or ringer controls.
Do I need Phone Link for this?
You need to connect your phone to your PC first. The menu path above is the usual way to do it, though Microsoft may change the setup before release.
Is it safe to install an Experimental build?
It’s meant for testing, so bugs are likely. Use a spare PC if you can, and back up your files first.
My take: it’s a small but handy shortcut, especially the find-my-phone ring. Android users with a spare PC can try it now. Everyone else should wait for the stable release, which will probably arrive after Microsoft finishes testing.
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