Learn how to hide your phone from the Windows 11 Start menu by disabling the Phone Link sidebar using the Settings app.
If you’ve connected your phone to your Windows 11 PC using the Phone Link app, you will now see your phone in a sidebar when you open the Start menu. By default, the Phone Link sidebar in the Start menu displays the connection status, device name, battery charge, recent calls & messages, and quick access to messages, calls, & photos. While having quick access to your phone from the Start menu is useful, it can also make your Start menu look cluttered and unnecessarily busy. Additionally, it can also be a privacy issue.
Thankfully, you can easily disable the Phone Link sidebar in the Start menu using the Windows Settings app. Once disabled, your phone is hidden from the Start menu. This guide will show you how. Let’s get started.
Disable the Phone Link Sidebar in the Start Menu in Windows 11
- Open Settings by pressing the “Windows key + I”.
- Go to the “Personalization” tab on the sidebar.
- Click the “Start” option.
- Turn OFF the “Show mobile device in Start” toggle.
- With that, the Phone Link sidebar in the Start menu is disabled.
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
The first thing to do is launch the Settings app. You can do it by pressing the “Windows key + I” shortcut or by right-clicking the “Windows” icon on the taskbar and selecting the “Settings” option.
After opening the Settings app, go to the “Personalization” tab on the sidebar and then click the “Start” option on the right page.
The above action opens the Start options page in the settings app. This page lets you customize the look, feel, and behavior of the start menu. Here, scroll down and turn OFF the “Show mobile device in Start” toggle.
That is it. As soon as you turn off the toggle, the Phone Link sidebar in the Start menu is disabled and will no longer appear with the details of your phone.
If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.
I’ve tried your suggestions but I don’t have an option switch ‘Show mobile device in Start’.
Not in the Recommended settings for mobile devices or in the Personalisation – Start options page either.
You might be using older Windows 11 version. I just checked it on my computer and the option is available. Please update to the newest version and try again.