Ever since the death of Windows Phone, Microsoft’s failed mobile platform, Windows PCs have generally played nice with Android phones. It’s easier to build tools that let Windows and Android synchronise and share data or connections as they are both more open and flexible operating systems than those offered by Apple.

Though iPhones can easily connect and sync with Macs, the same can’t be said in general for iPhones and PCs. That could be set to change as Microsoft has just announced that a new Windows 11 update is bringing new tools to iPhone owners who also have PCs, including features that previously only worked with Android phones.

If you link your Android phone to your Windows 11 PC using the Phone Link app, a side bar appears when you open the famous Windows Start menu. This shows your phone’s status and gives you desktop or laptop access to several apps on your phone without having to pick it up.

The latest Windows 11 update now gives the same functionality to connected iPhones.

“Connected iPhone users can now access their phone features directly from the Start menu,” Microsoft said in a blog post.

“This seamless integration allows iPhone users to enjoy the same benefits as Android users, including ability to view phone’s battery status and connectivity, ability to access messages and calls, and keeping track of the latest activities, all conveniently integrated into the Start menu.”

You’ll even be able to send files to and from your PC or iPhone, helping Windows users get a small, if slightly fiddlier, taste of the joys of AirDrop and the file sharing it allows between Apple devices.

Though this update is likely to roll out in the coming weeks and months to all on Windows 11, right now these features will only be available to anyone enrolled on the Windows Insider Program that pushes software earlier to those interested to test new tools with the understanding there could be bugs present.

Here is Microsoft’s full list of requirements to get this working:

• Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 4805 and higher in Beta Channel and 26120.3000 and higher in Dev channel.
• Phone Link version 1.24121.30.0 or higher.
• Your PC must be signed in with a Microsoft account and must have Bluetooth LE capability.
• Not supported for PCs running Pro Education or Education SKUs.

This is a good step forward for interoperability of Windows and iPhones. Android phones enjoy very close integration with Windows, allow you to send and receive text messages, take calls and even use some apps, but it looks as though Microsoft has found a way for Apple devices to catch up.

Windows 11 come pre-installed on all new Windows laptops and PCs and is also available as a free download for Windows 10 users. Support for Windows 10 is officially ending in October, 10 years after its launch, which is causing some uproar among fans of the operating system. Windows 10 is still much more widely used globally than Windows 11, which came out in 2021.