Enable Mobile Access on Windows 11: A Quick Guide

This article explains how to enable or disable “Allow this PC to access your mobile devices” in Windows 11.

Starting with Windows 11 build 26016 (Canary), the Phone Link settings page has been renamed to Mobile devices. Settings on this page will allow users to control how their PCs interact with their mobile devices.

A new section will appear as part of this change, allowing a PC to access mobile devices. This section has not introduced anything new yet, but Microsoft promised to add more features soon.

You can quickly use the settings on this page to send and receive text messages, view your photos on your mobile devices, control apps on your mobile devices, and more.

Allow PC to Access your Mobile Devices in Windows 11

As mentioned, a new device setting page for PCs to access your mobile devices has been added to the recent Windows 11 builds.

Here’s how to turn it on or off.

First, open the Windows Settings app.

You can do that by clicking on the Start menu and selecting Settings. Or press the keyboard shortcut (Windows key + I) to launch the Settings app.

When the Setting app opens, click the Bluetooth & devices button on the left.

Windows 11 Bluetooth and devices settings page

Select the Mobile devices tile under ‘Bluetooth & devices ‘on the right to expand it.

Next, select “Allow this PC to access your mobile devices” on the “Bluetooth & device -> Mobile devices” settings page.

Then, toggle the switch button to the On position to enable it. To disable it, toggle the switch button to the Off position.

Windows 11 mobile devices settings

The first time you turn this on, Windows will prompt you to install the “Cross Device Experience Host” feature. This is required.

Exit the settings page when done.

Allow access to your mobile device using Windows Registry Editor

Another way to allow your PC to access your mobile devices is to use Windows Registry Editor.

First, open Windows Registry Editor.

Then, navigate to the registry key below.

ComputerHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionMobility

Next, double-click the CrossDeviceEnabled (REG_DWORD) name on the Explorer key’s right pane to open it. Then, enter a value 1 to allow your PC to access your mobile devices.

To disable it, type 0.

If you do not see the ‘CrossDeviceEnabled’ item, right-click a blank area and create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value. Then, enter the name ‘CrossDeviceEnabled’.

Windows 11 mobile devices registry editor

You may have to restart your computer to apply the changes.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

  • Enabling or disabling the “Allow this PC to access your mobile devices” feature in Windows 11 is now possible through the settings page, which is now called “Mobile devices” as of build 26016.
  • Users can conveniently manage their mobile device interactions through the Windows Settings app, including sending and receiving text messages and viewing photos.
  • An alternative method to controlling access involves modifying the Windows Registry Editor, which allows users to choose their preferred approach.
  • Users can easily customize their PCs’ access to their mobile devices based on their preferences using the settings page or the Registry Editor.
  • If you encounter any issues or have additional insights, feel free to utilize the comments section below for further discussion or assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enable mobile access on Windows 11?

Open Windows Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then click 'Bluetooth & devices' on the left sidebar. Select 'Mobile devices' and toggle the switch for 'Allow this PC to access your mobile devices' to the On position. Windows may prompt you to install the 'Cross Device Experience Host' feature, which is required for this functionality.

What is the Cross Device Experience Host in Windows 11?

The Cross Device Experience Host is a required Windows feature that enables your PC to communicate with and access your mobile devices. It will be automatically installed when you first enable the 'Allow this PC to access your mobile devices' setting.

Can I enable mobile device access using Windows Registry Editor?

Yes, you can enable mobile access through the Registry Editor by navigating to ComputerHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionMobility and setting the CrossDeviceEnabled (REG_DWORD) value to 1. If the CrossDeviceEnabled entry doesn't exist, you can create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value with that name.

What can I do with mobile device access enabled on Windows 11?

With mobile device access enabled, you can send and receive text messages, view photos from your mobile devices, control apps on your mobile devices, and perform other cross-device interactions. Microsoft has indicated that more features will be added in future Windows 11 builds.

Do I need to restart my computer after enabling mobile device access?

If you enable mobile device access through the Settings app, no restart is typically needed. However, if you use the Registry Editor method to enable the CrossDeviceEnabled setting, you may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

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15 responses to “Enable Mobile Access on Windows 11: A Quick Guide”

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  11. G Avatar
    G

    Every time I try this and restart my PC it reverts back to the previous setting.

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