In its October 23 build announcement, Microsoft said it is beginning to roll out a new Mobile devices experience in Quick Settings, making it easier to take quick phone actions (such as ring your phone) without breaking your flow on Windows. Note the words "beginning to roll out." Installing the build does not guarantee you will see the feature right away.
What the Mobile devices panel does
According to Microsoft's release notes, as reproduced by Neowin, with your supported Android phone connected, everyday actions are now just a click away. You can turn Do Not Disturb on before a meeting, change your phone's ringer mode, and play a sound to find your phone nearby. Thurrott's Laurent Giret says the ringer control lets you change the ringer mode to Vibrate.
Here is what each platform gets at launch:
| Capability | Android (supported, connected) | iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Battery status | Yes | Status-focused view |
| Turn on Do Not Disturb | Yes | Not listed |
| Change ringer mode | Yes | Not listed |
| Play a sound to find the phone | Yes | Not listed |
The iPhone column is short on purpose. The Windows Insider team said "The initial experience provides the most complete set of controls for Android phones, while iPhone support starts with a more limited status-focused experience". Microsoft has not said which iPhone controls, if any, will come later.
There are also some limits. "Play a sound" helps you find a phone that is nearby, such as one lost under a couch cushion. Nothing in the notes says it works as remote tracking. Microsoft also hasn't listed supported phone models, minimum Android or iOS versions, or regional limits.
Summary: Android users get three useful actions plus battery status. iPhone users get status information. The tile is meant for quick actions and does not replace Phone Link.
How to try it
Microsoft's instructions are short:
- Install Windows 11 Insider Experimental build 26340.9767.
- Open Quick Settings from the taskbar and look for Mobile devices. The Windows key + A shortcut also opens the panel.
- If your phone is already connected, you'll see available battery status and controls there.
- If you haven't connected a phone yet, Windows will help you get set up.
Windows Latest saw a hidden early version of the feature. In that version, a linked phone's name replaced the tile label. Without a linked phone, the tile simply shows "Mobile devices," and the page shows "No mobile devices" with a note to connect one in Settings. The setup flow also includes a link to the Mobile devices page in Settings as well, making it easy to move from the compact controls to the full set of device-management options. That was early testing, so the version rolling out now may look different.
If the tile doesn't appear
- You may not have it yet. This is a gradual rollout, so other Insiders on the same build may get it before you.
- Check the Settings toggle. ElevenForum documents the path: open Settings, then click/tap on Bluetooth & devices on the left side, and click/tap on Mobile devices on the right side. Linked phones are hidden there if Allow this PC to access content and capabilities from your mobile devices is turned off.
- Use the new feature flag filter. This build lets you filter the feature flags list on the Windows Insider Program settings page by whether each flag is on or off. That makes it easier to see what's active on your PC.
Earlier hidden testing
The official announcement comes after several weeks of hidden testing. Pureinfotech reported that starting with build 26340.9577, available through the Experimental channel, Windows 11 includes a new "Mobile Devices" control in Quick Settings. At that time it could be turned on manually using ViveTool with the vivetool /enable /id:62103454 command. Windows Latest later turned it on in build 26340.9596 and found it worked without opening Phone Link or searching through the Settings app.
Now that Microsoft is rolling the feature out officially, ViVeTool should not be needed. Forcing features on with that tool is unsupported and can leave your system in odd states. If you're patient, wait for the rollout to reach you.
The early versions also showed what Microsoft changed. Pureinfotech said the hidden build let users toggle Do Not Disturb, toggle the phone's ring, and check whether Link to Windows is turned off. The version Microsoft announced adds a ringer mode control, a play-sound action and battery status.
A speed test without the browser
The second Quick Settings addition is a built-in internet speed test. Thurrott says you can start it from the Wi-Fi or Cellular flyout, or by right-clicking the network icon in the system tray, and results no longer open on the web. Pureinfotech reports that the results show download speed, upload speed, and ping.
For anyone doing IT support, that is a small time-saver. A user can run a speed test from the tray before a support call instead of opening a browser and searching for a speed test site.
Other builds released the same day
Microsoft released several other builds on October 23. Microsoft's Flight Hub lists them:
- Experimental (Future Platforms): 29695.1001
- Experimental (26H1): 28120.3302
- Beta (26H1): 28020.3292
- Beta (25H2): 26220.9757
Thurrott described the changes in these builds as minor. Neowin pointed out more in the 26H1 Experimental build, saying it brings a more customizable Start menu, per-app desktop permissions, and several Magnifier improvements. Pureinfotech also reports that 26340.9767 adds options to filter Feature flags, control the Magnifier shortcut, and manage Microsoft 365 recurring billing in Windows. Don't assume the phone controls are in any build other than 26340.9767.
Microsoft's Flight Hub explains the build numbering. The 26H2 Experimental builds are delivered on top of Windows 11 version 25H2 (Build 26200) through an enablement package, which raises the build number to 26300 for that channel.
Analysis: small feature, clear purpose
Android Authority compared this to Apple's ecosystem, noting that Microsoft has been chasing that same kind of continuity with Phone Link for years. The comparison makes sense, but the more important change is simpler. Silencing your phone before a meeting now takes a click in a panel you already use, instead of opening a separate app. Small conveniences like this matter more than splashy features because people use them every day.
There are still things to watch:
- Android vs. iPhone. iOS limits what Windows can control on an iPhone, so the gap may never fully close. iPhone users should not expect parity.
- This may not ship. Experimental-channel features can change or be dropped before they reach the general release.
- Unanswered questions. Microsoft hasn't said which devices are supported, how it works with managed corporate phones, or whether administrators can turn it off by policy. IT teams should watch for those details.
The verdict for now: on Windows 11 Experimental build 26340.9767, Quick Settings can ring, silence or set to vibrate a connected Android phone. iPhone owners get a status view, and everyone in the build gets a speed test that stays out of the browser. If you're an Insider, open Quick Settings and check for the Mobile devices tile.