Guide to Enabling or Disabling the Start Menu Mobile Sidebar in Windows 11

In Windows 11, the Start menu has evolved to include a dynamic mobile sidebar that offers quick insights into your phone’s notifications, battery status, messages, and more. This guide will help you easily enable or disable this feature, ensuring you stay connected without missing a beat!

Understanding the Mobile Sidebar

While Microsoft hasn’t officially named the mobile sidebar within the Start menu, it serves as an extension of the Phone Link app. This sidebar allows users to access notifications, messages, calls, and photos from both Android and iPhone devices seamlessly. Commonly referred to as the “Phone Link Sidebar, ” it reveals a floating interface next to the Start menu, providing a glance at vital phone information without fully launching the app.

Each item you click directs you to the Phone Link app, creating a quick entry point to your smartphone’s features. This integration is a valuable addition for those looking to streamline their multitasking experience in Windows 11.

Requirements to Get Started

Before diving into the setup, ensure your system aligns with the following requirements to utilize the mobile sidebar feature:

Operating System: Must be on Windows 11 build 22635.4805 or higher in the Beta Channel, or 26120.3000 or higher in the Dev Channel.
Phone Link App: Requires version 1.24121.30.0 or higher.
Microsoft Account: Both your PC and phone must be linked to the same Microsoft account.
Bluetooth LE Support: Make sure your device supports Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) for optimal performance.

To link your phone to the Start menu, you’ll first need to connect your Android or iPhone through the Phone Link application on Windows 11 and the “Link to Windows”app on your mobile device. Remember, as this feature is gradually rolling out, you might have to enable it using ViveTool.

Steps to Enable the Mobile Sidebar

Ready to bring your phone to the forefront of your Windows experience? Follow these easy steps to activate the sidebar:

Launch Settings.
Select Personalization.
Navigate to the Start layout.
Toggle the “Show mobile device in Start” option to enable the feature.

Congratulations! After performing these steps, the next time you open your Start menu, the sidebar should appear on the right, displaying the latest updates from your phone!

If you don’t see the sidebar, ensure that your phone is completely connected. Open the Phone Link application to verify the connection status and confirm it has the necessary permissions to access your phone’s data.

Activating the Sidebar with ViveTool

If the sidebar isn’t showing, it may require manual activation through ViveTool. Here’s how:

Visit the GitHub page.
Download the ViveTool-vx.x.x.zip file.
Double-click the zip file to open it with File Explorer.
Click the Extract all button.
Select Extract.
Copy the path to the extracted folder.
Open Start and search for Command Prompt. Right-click the top result, and select Run as administrator.
Input the following command to navigate to the ViveTool folder, replacing “c:\folder\path“with your specific path:

cd c:\folder\path\ViveTool-v0.x.x
To enable the Start menu sidebar, type the following command and press Enter:

vivetool /enable /id:48697323, 48433719
Finally, restart your computer.

Once completed, this feature will be reflected in the Start settings, ready for your use!

Disabling the Mobile Sidebar

If you decide you no longer need the mobile sidebar, here are the steps to turn it off:

Access Settings.
Select Personalization.
Go to the Start layout.
Toggle the “Show mobile device in Start” option to disable the feature.

After completing these actions, the sidebar will no longer be visible in your Start menu!

Turning Off the Sidebar via ViveTool

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and choose Run as administrator.
Input the command to navigate to the ViveTool folder, ensuring the path matches your setup:

cd c:\folder\path\ViveTool-v0.x.x
To disable the Start menu sidebar, enter the following:

vivetool /disable /id:48697323, 48433719
Restart your device.

After following these steps, the sidebar should be successfully turned off.

For visual guidance and more details, refer to the original

Additional Insights

1. Can I access my phone’s notifications without Phone Link?

No, to access phone notifications via the Start menu in Windows 11, the Phone Link app is essential as it facilitates the connection between your PC and smartphone.

2. What should I do if the sidebar is not showing after enabling it?

If the sidebar isn’t appearing, ensure that your phone is connected properly. Try reconnecting through the Phone Link app and recheck the permissions granted.

3. Will disabling the sidebar remove the Phone Link app?

No, disabling the sidebar won’t uninstall or remove the Phone Link app. It simply hides the sidebar in the Start menu; you can still access Phone Link from your applications.

source and images.