Phone Link usually breaks because setup, pairing, permissions, updates, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or the saved device link is off. Start with the fastest checks before resetting the app or removing the phone. By the end, you will know whether to update, re-pair, repair, or rebuild the connection from scratch.
Check the basics first
Make sure the PC and phone meet Phone Link's current setup requirements before changing deeper settings.
- 1.For Android, use Phone Link on a PC running Windows 11 or Windows 10 with the October 2022 update or later, and use an Android device running Android 10 or later.
- 2.For iPhone, use Phone Link on a PC running Windows 11 or Windows 10 with the May 2019 Update or later, use an iPhone running iOS 16 or later, and confirm the PC supports Bluetooth Low Energy.
- 3.Turn on Bluetooth before iPhone setup. The iPhone option in Phone Link can be unavailable when PC Bluetooth is off or unsupported.
- 4.For Android, connect the PC and phone to the same trusted Wi-Fi network when Phone Link needs local network communication.
- 5.Use the current app names: Phone Link on Windows and Link to Windows on mobile.
Install or re-enable Phone Link
If Phone Link is missing, disabled, or will not open, restore it from Windows before troubleshooting the phone. On Windows 11, open Settings, search for Phone Link, select Enable or disable Phone Link, turn on Phone Link, then choose Install when Windows prompts you.
On Windows 10, open Settings, search for Phone Link, select Enable or disable Phone Link, turn on Turn on Phone Link, then choose Install when prompted. For a fresh install or update, use the official Microsoft Store listing for Phone Link.
If Phone Link still will not launch after installation, update Windows and Microsoft Store apps before moving on.
Update Phone Link and Link to Windows
This fixes update-required prompts, failed reconnect messages, and sync failures caused by stale app versions.
On the PC, open Phone Link, then go to Settings > About > Updates. Select Update when an update appears.
If your app uses the newer layout, open Settings > General, then expand the down arrow after the Phone Link version. Select Check for updates, then choose Download and launch update if Phone Link offers it.
On Android, open Link to Windows, then go to Settings > Check for Updates. Install the update, then close and reopen Phone Link on the PC.
On iPhone, open the App Store and search for Link to Windows. Choose Install or Update. The iPhone app is optional for setup, but it can make pairing easier. The App Store listing requires iOS 16.6 or later, so an iPhone on iOS 16.0 through 16.5 can still pair with Phone Link without installing it.
On Samsung or Surface Duo phones with Link to Windows preinstalled, open Settings > Advanced features > Link to Windows > More > Link to Windows. Tap Update when the phone offers it.
Pair the phone again
A clean pairing fixes many setup loops where the PC and phone can see each other but never finish linking.
- 1.On the PC, search the taskbar for Phone Link, open it, sign in when prompted, then choose Android or iPhone.
- 2.For Android, select I have the Link to Windows app ready, choose Pair with QR code, open Link to Windows on the phone, tap Link your phone and PC, tap Continue, scan the QR code, and grant the requested permissions.
- 3.If the Android QR code will not scan, choose Pair manually on the PC and enter the code shown on the PC into the phone.
- 4.For iPhone, choose iPhone under Pick your phone, scan the QR code with the default Camera app, complete Bluetooth pairing, then grant permissions for messages, notifications, and contacts.
- 5.If your Android phone already uses the same Microsoft account, select it from the linked Android devices list in Phone Link, then approve permissions in Link to Windows on the phone.
Repair or reset the Windows app
Open Settings on Windows 11, select Apps, then open Installed apps. Find Phone Link, choose the More icon next to Phone Link, and open Advanced options. Select Repair, then open Phone Link again and test the feature that failed.
If repair does not fix it, return to Advanced options and select Reset. On Windows 10, use Settings > Apps > Apps and features > Phone Link > Advanced options, then use Repair before Reset. If Repair or Reset is missing, remove the phone from Phone Link and reconnect it.
Fix notifications, messages, and photos
Feature-level failures usually come from blocked permissions. On the PC, open Phone Link > Settings > Features and turn on the toggles you need, such as Notifications, Messages, Calls, and Photos.
For Android notifications, approve the notification prompt during pairing. To change it later, open Android System Settings > Apps > Link to Windows > Notifications, then turn notifications on.
When notifications worked before and then stopped, search Android Settings for Notification access, open Link to Windows, toggle access off and back on, then choose Allow. On the PC, open Phone Link > Notifications and wait for the list to refresh.
After an Android 10 update, restore core permissions from Android Settings. Open App Info, choose Link to Windows, open Permissions, then allow Storage, Contacts, SMS, and Phone.
For Samsung photo or file problems, open Settings > Apps > Special access > All files access, then enable Link to Windows.
If notifications, messages, or photos still do not sync after permissions are restored, update both apps and then remove and reconnect the phone.
Fix Bluetooth and calls
The most common call problem is a broken or conflicted Bluetooth connection between the phone and the PC.
For iPhone pairing failures, remove the iPhone from PC Settings > Bluetooth & devices. On the iPhone, open Settings > Bluetooth, then tap the information icon next to the PC name. Choose Forget This Device.
Turn Bluetooth off on both devices and wait 10 seconds. Turn Bluetooth back on, then select Try pairing again in Phone Link.
For Android calls, open Phone Link > Calls > Get Started, follow the PC instructions, then choose Allow on the phone. If you skipped calls during first setup, open Phone Link > Settings > Features > Calls and turn on Allow this app to make and manage calls from my phone.
If Android calls still fail, swipe down from the top of the phone screen and turn Bluetooth off and back on. To connect manually, press and hold the Bluetooth icon, tap the PC name, and confirm the pairing prompts on both devices.
If another phone-linking app such as Intel Unison or Virtoo by LG already paired the phone, uninstall that app from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, then unpair Android from Bluetooth and set up calls again.
For call audio problems, disconnect other Bluetooth accessories temporarily or use a wired headset. Phone Link does not currently relay calls from Android or iPhone to a headset over Bluetooth.
Stabilize the network and account
This applies when Phone Link connects for a while, drops repeatedly, or works only on one network. Android Phone Link features that rely on local communication need the phone and PC to reach each other cleanly.
For Android, connect the PC and phone to the same trusted Wi-Fi network. If your router uses separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz network names, connect both devices to the same one.
If you use a VPN or firewall, temporarily disable it and retry Phone Link. When that fixes the connection, allow Phone Link or local-network traffic in that product.
On a home router, open the wireless advanced settings and turn off AP Isolation or Wireless Isolation when the phone and PC are on the same Wi-Fi but cannot communicate.
Turn off Battery Saver on both the Android phone and the PC before retrying. On Android, turn off battery optimization for Link to Windows so the app can keep the connection alive.
If Wi-Fi is unreliable and you accept mobile-data use, open Link to Windows > Settings > Sync over mobile data and turn it on.
For Android account mismatches, sign in at account.microsoft.com/devices/android-ios and confirm the Android device appears under the same Microsoft account used on the PC. In the downloaded Android app, open Link to Windows > Settings > Accounts and check the signed-in account.
Remove the phone and reconnect from scratch
Use a full cleanup when the wrong phone is attached, pairing is stuck, or repeated repairs have not restored syncing. This clears the old phone relationship before you pair again.
On the PC, open Phone Link > Settings > Devices, open the device overflow menu, choose Remove, then confirm Remove. Next, open Windows Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices > Manage devices, then remove the phone there too.
On Android with the downloaded app, open Link to Windows, select the settings icon, open Accounts, then sign out. On Android devices with Link to Windows built in, use Connected Devices > Link to Windows, or open Link to Windows from Quick Panel and sign out of the Microsoft account.
On iPhone, open Link to Windows > Menu > Settings > Account and sign out. Then open Settings > Bluetooth, select the PC name, and choose Forget this device.
If the PC belongs to work or school and Phone Link remains blocked after cleanup, ask an administrator to allow Phone-PC linking for that managed device.
If cleanup does not fix the connection, update Windows, update Microsoft Store apps, update Phone Link, then pair the phone again from a clean start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Phone Link not connecting to my Android phone?
The usual causes are different Wi-Fi networks, missing Link to Windows permissions, Battery Saver or Android battery optimization, mismatched Microsoft accounts, or outdated Phone Link and Link to Windows apps.
Why is the iPhone option greyed out in Phone Link?
The iPhone option can be greyed out when PC Bluetooth is turned off or unavailable. Phone Link for iPhone also needs a PC with Bluetooth Low Energy support.
Can Phone Link work over mobile data?
On Android, yes. Open Link to Windows, go to Settings, then Sync over mobile data, and turn it on if you accept mobile-data use.
Why are some Android notifications hidden in Phone Link?
On Android 15 or later, sensitive notifications such as two-factor authentication codes and one-time passcodes stay hidden in Phone Link. Check those notifications directly on the phone.