Microsoft is now allowing Windows Insiders to begin an early preview of Phone Link for iOS on Windows 11 as announced recently by Panos Panay, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer.
The preview will initially be rolled out to a small percentage of Insiders with Microsoft planning to increase the availability of the preview to more Insiders over time, based on feedback they receive with this first set of Insiders. The preview will require Phone Link app version 1.23012.169.0 and higher but will be controlled via the cloud.
For Insiders who receive the preview, they will see the option to pick their iPhone on the Phone Link homepage, in addition to choosing an Android device. If they see the iPhone button greyed out with a coming soon message, that means they are not yet in the preview.
Once they choose iPhone, the guided installation will kick off to pair their iPhone. Insiders will be directed to follow a set of steps that will guide them to pair their iPhone and PC over Bluetooth. This will initiate after they scan a QR code shown on their screen and then move on to the confirmation steps that help Microsoft confirm the phone and PC are in range.
During this step, Insiders will be asked to confirm the code in Phone Link matches the code shown on their iPhone. Once they complete pairing, they will be asked to grant a set of permissions that allow Microsoft to sync all their favorite content over to Phone Link.
The final step in the guided installation is to give the right permissions, which Phone Link will direct Insiders to do in their iPhone’s Bluetooth settings. This is an important step in getting notifications and contacts to show correctly in Phone Link from their iPhone.
Once the guided installation completes, and their iPhone is paired to their PC, and the right permissions are given, Phone Link will deliver basic iOS support for calls, messages, and contacts. Insiders will be notified directly through their Windows notifications. However, Phone Link does not support replying to group messages or sending media in messages.
This early preview of Phone Link for iOS on Windows 11 is a significant step for Microsoft, as it brings iPhone users closer to the Windows ecosystem. This move is also seen as a strategic one, as it will allow Microsoft to retain iPhone users who may have switched to other platforms because of the lack of integration between Windows and iOS. Overall, the early preview of Phone Link for iOS on Windows 11 is a promising development, and we look forward to seeing how it progresses in the coming months.
