Millions of Windows users who have seamlessly integrated their PCs with their smartphones are facing an unexpected hurdle with the recent upgrade to Android 15. The Phone Link app, which facilitates this connection, has encountered a significant obstacle due to new security measures implemented by Google. Users will soon be notified that “certain notifications are now hidden for your protection,” a change that has sparked frustration among many.
Impact on Notification Mirroring
The update, first highlighted by tech commentator Mishaal Rahman on X, has already generated a wave of complaints. One user expressed their discontent, stating, “I confirm that this is very annoying, as I heavily rely on notification mirroring for my 2FA codes. There should be an option to whitelist certain apps to ensure uninterrupted access to critical notifications.”
According to Windows Central, “Windows Phone Link is one of Windows 11’s best features, but with the latest Android 15 update, it’s about to get a little less useful.” The crux of the issue lies in Android 15’s new protocol, which automatically redacts sensitive notifications from being transmitted to ‘untrusted’ notification listeners, thereby affecting Phone Link on various devices.
Microsoft has acknowledged this development, clarifying that “Phone Link no longer shows notifications that contain sensitive information for your protection.” This limitation primarily impacts Phone Link apps downloaded from the Play Store, while preinstalled applications remain unaffected. This situation appears to favor Samsung users, while Pixel users may find themselves at a disadvantage.
A Shift in User Experience
In an ecosystem where Microsoft touts the convenience of managing calls, texts, and notifications directly from a Windows PC without reaching for a smartphone, this alteration poses significant challenges. As noted by Android Authority, “Android 15 changes things by designating notifications with two-factor authentication codes as ‘sensitive’ and only allowing ‘trusted’ Notification Listener services to read them.” Consequently, any untrusted service attempting to access these notifications will simply receive a message indicating that “sensitive notification content hidden.”
Tech Radar aptly points out that this situation serves as a reminder of the distinct paths taken by Google and Microsoft. While users can still manage messages, apps, and calls, they will now need to physically check their phones for sensitive notifications following the Android 15 installation.
Google’s Security Measures
Google had previously signaled the impending changes, emphasizing that “Android 15 introduces robust measures to combat one-time passcode (OTP) fraud and to protect the user’s sensitive content.” The enhancements include redacting OTPs from notifications accessible to untrusted apps, concealing notifications during screensharing, and securing app activities when OTPs are displayed. These modifications are designed to safeguard users’ sensitive information from potential threats.
While the impact on the connection between a user’s phone and PC was not anticipated, the masking of OTPs is a crucial development. Continuous warnings underscore Android’s susceptibility to malicious apps that deceive users into granting permissions to access texts, subsequently stealing those vital codes.
