How To Remove The Phone From Start Menu In Windows 11

The latest version of Windows 11 displays a phone or mobile bar to the right of the Start menu. By default, the phone bar shows your connected phone’s status, such as the battery level, recent calls, and options to start a new message, send files, and make a call.

The new phone bar in the Start menu is very helpful for users who want to access their Android phones or iPhones directly from the Windows 11 Start menu. As mentioned earlier, you can initiate a call, send a message, or share files immediately from the Start menu.

The feature is part of the Phone Link app. That is, once a smartphone is linked to your Windows 11 PC via the Phone Link app, the smartphone will appear in the Start menu.

Like any other feature, a section of users like it and use it, while a section of users find it not so helpful and hence want to disable it.

If you are someone who does not find it useful or does not want to see the phone or phone bar in the Start menu, you may configure Windows 11 not to show your phone in the Start menu. Once you configure it, the Start menu will not show the phone bar.

Hide the phone bar in the Windows 11 Start menu

NOTE: Even after disabling the phone bar or removing your smartphone from the Start menu, you can still open the Phone Link app to access your linked smartphone and make calls or send messages.

Step 1: Open the Start menu.

Step 2: Right-click on an empty spot on the Start menu or phone bar and then click the Start settings option to open the Start menu settings page in the Settings app.

Alternatively, you may open the Settings app and then go to Personalization > Start page.

Step 3: Here, scroll down to see the Show mobile device in the Start option. Move the toggle button to the “Off” position to stop the Start menu from showing your smartphone in the Start menu.

If the Show mobile device in Start option is missing, please ensure that you are running the latest version of Windows 11. Go to Settings > Windows Update page and then click the Check for updates button to download and install the latest updates.