How to Enable or Disable Mobile Device Notification Previews on Hover in Start Menu on Windows 11
Mobile device notification previews in the Windows 11 Start menu show phone alerts, battery status, and new messages when you mouse over your phone icon. This feature runs through the Phone Link app to connect your Android or iOS device directly to your desktop.
You can turn these previews on or off in your Windows 11 settings depending on what you want to see. Open the Settings app and go to Bluetooth & devices to manage your linked phone and control these pop-up notifications.
Open the Phone Link app, click the settings gear icon, select “Start menu personalization,” and toggle “Notification previews” on or off under the “Notifications” section to control what you see in the Start menu.
Control Notification Previews in the Start Menu
Now that your phone is linked, let’s manage the notification previews on your Start menu . Here you decide if you want to see the full content of your phone’s alerts or just a quick summary.
Step 1Go to Phone Link Settings
With your phone linked and visible in the Phone Link app, locate the settings icon. This gear icon opens the Phone Link settings menu, where PC and phone interactions are managed.
Step 2Find Start Menu Settings
In the Phone Link settings, look for an option related to how your phone displays or is managed on the Windows Start menu . Click on “Start menu personalization.” This section lets you control how your phone appears and what information it shows on your Start menu.
Step 3Change Notification Preview Settings
In the Start menu personalization settings for your phone, find the Notifications section. Here, you can control how much of your phone’s notifications show when they appear in the Windows 11 Start menu. Look for the ‘Notification previews’ option to decide if you want to see the full message or just a summary.
- Turn On Notification Previews: If you want to see the full content of your phone's notifications when you hover over your phone's icon in the Start menu, make sure this option is turned ON. This is usually the default.
- Turn Off Notification Previews: If you don't want to see the full details of your notifications on the Start menu, turn this option OFF. You'll still get notifications, but you'll need to open the Phone Link app or check your phone to see the full message.
Step 4Save Your Changes
Changes to the "Notification previews" setting apply automatically without requiring a separate save action. You can now test it out!
Summary
Your Windows 11 Start menu can show notifications from your connected phone using the Phone Link app. You can choose to see the full notification content when you hover over your phone's icon by turning on 'Notification previews' in the app's settings. Turning this off keeps your notifications private and less distracting.
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Richard
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Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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