Microsoft Introduces Floating Panel and Phone Link Integration in Windows 11 Insider Preview

On June 21, 2024, Microsoft pushed update KB5039307 to Windows 11 Insider Beta channel users, delivering build 22635.3790. The most notable change is a new "floating panel" displayed in the official blog, which highlights the Phone Link feature (available on versions higher than 1.24052.124.0) for direct phone access.

The Phone Link functionality allows users to easily connect and view phone battery status and connection from the Start menu, access calls, messages, and photos, and continue activities seamlessly from where they left off, all integrated into the Start menu.

Users can enable or disable this feature via Start → Settings → Personalization. Currently, it is limited to Android devices, with iOS support planned for later releases.

Previously, Phone Link was placed in a "widget" panel that relied on internet connectivity, often causing loading delays. The new floating panel moves the feature to the Start menu, removing the internet dependency.

The floating panel is part of a broader "Companions" feature, an interactive widget implemented as adaptive cards. Adaptive cards are defined in JSON, allowing developers to create custom Start‑menu widgets and publish them through the Microsoft Store for users to download.

These adaptive‑card widgets resemble Windows 10's dynamic tiles, effectively merging dynamic tiles and widgets into a single experience.

Reference links: Windows Insider Blog and Adaptive Cards Documentation .