Easier to sync your PC and phone

Microsoft Phone Link replaces the Your Phone Companion app and allows you to filter your notifications, receive calls, and use your mobile apps on your PC.^{4 5 6 7} With an updated design for Windows 11, Phone Link is reaching customers around the world.

The Phone Link experience will come preinstalled on your PC with Windows 10 or Windows 11, simply search “Phone Link” in Start menu. If you are on Windows 10 and cannot find Phone Link, you may need to update to a later version of Windows 10 or download Phone Link directly from the Microsoft Store.

From your PC, you can connect to Android and selected Samsung and HONOR devices with these two apps:

• Link to Windows (LTW) app for most Android devices.
• Link to Windows (LTW) app preinstalled on selected Samsung and HONOR phones.
• You’ll see the name Link to Windows in the Google Play Store and in the Galaxy Store. In the Microsoft Store, you’ll see Phone Link. This link between your device and PC gives you instant access to everything you love. Read and reply to messages with ease, view recent photos from your Android device, use your favourite mobile apps⁶, make and receive calls, and manage your Android device’s notifications right on your PC.^{4 5}
• Phone Link requires the following to work:
  • A PC running Windows 10 May 2019 Update or later.
    • If you're currently running the May 2019 Update, you will need to install the Phone Link app from the Microsoft Store. Any Windows version after the May 2019 Update will have the app preinstalled.
  • An Android device running Android 7.0 (Nougat) or above.

You'll find Phone Link preinstalled if you have the Windows 10 October 2019 Update or later. When you open the app, you'll be guided through a few extra steps you'll need to take to finish setting things up.

Phone Link connects to your Android phone via Wi-Fi, mobile data network or instant hotspot^{8 9}. For easy connection over Wi-Fi, make sure to have both your PC and Android device nearby, turned on and connected to the same network. You’ll be able to access its functionalities from your PC as long as both devices are online. You’ll need to download the Link to Windows app for most Android devices. You can find this at the Google Play Store.

If you have selected Samsung or HONOR phones, you may already have the Link to Windows app preinstalled. If not, you can find the app from the Google Play Store or Galaxy Store.

If you start from your Windows PC:

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type Phone Link, and then select Phone Link app from the results.
2. Select Android.
3. You’ll be asked to sign in to your Microsoft account (you'll need to be signed in to the same Microsoft account on both your Android device and PC in order to link your devices.)
4. Once you're signed in, you'll be prompted to install or open the companion app on your Android device. To do this, open a web browser on your Android device and then enter the link that's displayed on your PC (aka.ms/yourpc).
5. Sign in to the companion app with the same Microsoft account that you're signed in to on your PC. The app will then open to a screen that displays a QR code for you to scan—we'll come back to that.
6. Once you've signed in, go back to your PC and select the I have the Link to Windows app installed on my phone check box. Then select the Pair with QR code button.
   
   Note: If you'd like to pair your device without using a QR code, select the Pair manually button on your PC instead. On your Android device, you'll be prompted to enter the code displayed on your PC.
7. A QR code will appear on your PC screen. On your Android device, the companion app should be open to a screen with a camera on it. Use this screen to scan the QR code that's displayed on your PC.
8. Once your devices are linked, your Android device will prompt you for several device permissions. These permissions help you access content from your phone on your PC.

If you start from your Android device:

1. Open a browser on your Android device, type aka.ms/yourpc in the browser, and then download the Link to Windows app. For selected Samsung devices.
2. You'll be prompted to open Link to Windows instead, which is preinstalled on your Android device.
3. Sign in to the companion app with the same Microsoft account you're signed in to on your PC (you need to be signed in with your Microsoft account on your PC in order to link your devices even though you're starting from your phone).
4. After signing in, you'll be prompted to scan a QR code that's displayed on your PC. To get to it, on your PC, open a browser to aka.ms/linkphone.
5. Use the companion app's camera to scan the QR code that's displayed on your PC with your Android device to link your devices.
6. You'll be asked for a series of device permissions to allow you to access content from your phone and on your PC.

If you encounter issues installing the app, troubleshoot them here.

You can use Phone Link to complete convenient smartphone tasks from your Windows PC, such as:

• Make and take phone calls on cellular networks (this will require your phone to be paired to your PC).^{4 5 8 9}
• View your photo gallery (up to your most recent 2,000 pictures and screenshots from your camera roll and screenshots folder).^{4 5}
• Write and reply to SMS text messages, send photos, emojis, GIFs and media content.^{4 5}
• Message history and group chats.^{4 5}
• Your phone’s contact list when you search for names or phone numbers.^{4 5}
• View, dismiss, pin or clear all notifications. (You can also manage which apps have notification privileges).^{4 5}
• Put your phone into “Do Not Disturb” mode.^{4 5}
• Mute your phone if sound is playing from it.^{4 5}
• Play, pause and skip songs that are “now playing” (like if you have Spotify or another music player open on your phone).^{4 5}
• See battery percentage, if Bluetooth is on, current Wi-Fi network connectivity, current mobile data network and strength.^{4 5 8 9}

Sometimes your phone needs to charge more before you go out. Phone Link enables you to still use it with your PC while it’s plugged in and by the outlet. Or perhaps you’re in a meeting and having your phone out will look unprofessional. Phone Link will give you a heads up of any important calls you need to take or texts you need to see.

Phone Link gives you the added versatility of being able to access and transfer information from an extra device. Instead of looking away from your screen and pulling out your phone to see notifications, it’s a notification on your PC, increasing the chances your attention stays focused on what you need to do.

Bluetooth pairing is required if you want to make or take calls on your PC. If you are unable to pair, follow these troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshooting calls in the Phone Link app - Microsoft Support.

In addition to browsing, you can also drag and drop them from Phone Link into open message windows or PowerPoint presentations. You can save them to any folder on your PC or your OneDrive for backing up. You can share the files to your contacts and you can delete them.^{4 5}

Simply go to Settings > My Devices in Phone Link on your PC and remove your linked device from the list. You can relink at any time. When pairing is removed, your personal content does not remain anywhere on your PC.

Go to Settings > Features in Phone Link on your PC. It’s there you can customise options like which apps can send notifications to you. Removing permissions for a feature will also disable the feature.

Start with the Troubleshooting page. You can find it here: Troubleshooting the Phone Link app – Microsoft Support.

If you have Windows 11, Phone Link will come preinstalled.

If you have Windows 10, it must run Windows 10, May 2019 Update at the least.

Your phone must be running Android 7.0 (Nougat) and above.

Microsoft Phone Link allows you to view and dismiss your notifications, make and receive calls and messages.^{1 2} With an updated design for Windows 11, Phone Link is reaching customers around the world.

The Phone Link for iOS experience will come preinstalled on your PC with Windows 11, simply search “Phone Link” in Start menu. If you are on Windows 11 and cannot find Phone Link, you may need to update to a later version of Windows 11 or download Phone link directly from the Microsoft Store.

From your PC, you can connect to selected iPhone devices with the following app:

• Link to Windows (LTW) app for iPhone.
• You’ll see the name Link to Windows in the Apple® Store. In the Microsoft Store, you’ll see Microsoft Phone Link. This link between your device and PC gives you instant access to everything you love. Read and reply to messages with ease, make and receive calls, and manage your device’s notifications right on your PC.^{1 2}
• Phone Link requires the following to work: Phone Link for iOS requires iPhone® with iOS 14 or higher, Windows 11 device, Bluetooth connection and the latest version of the Phone Link app. Not available for iPad® (iPadOS®) or MacOS®. Device compatibility may vary. Regional restrictions may apply. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. See full list of compatible devices by clicking here.

Phone Link connects your PC to your iPhone using Bluetooth. Ensure that both your PC and iPhone have Bluetooth enabled and are discoverable to each other. During set-up of Phone Link on your PC, you’ll be presented with a QR code to pair with your iPhone. Simply scan this with your phone’s default camera.

You can also download the Link to Windows app from the App Store to facilitate this process.

If you start from your Windows PC:

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type Phone Link, and then select Phone Link app from the results.
2. Select iPhone.
3. A QR code will appear on your PC screen. On your iPhone use your phone’s default camera to scan the QR code that’s displayed on your PC.
   
   Note: If you’d like to pair your device without using a QR code, select the Continue manually without a QR code link on your PC instead. On your iPhone device, you’ll be prompted to open a hyperlink on your phone and pair through a webpage on your phone.
4. Once your devices are paired, your iPhone will prompt you for several device permissions. These permissions help you access content from your phone on your PC.
5. If you encounter issues installing the app, troubleshoot them here.

Any iPhone with iOS 14.0 or later.²

It's not compatible with iPad.

You can use the Phone Link app to complete a variety of tasks, such as:

• Make and take calls.²
• Check and dismiss notifications.²
• Send and reply to messages.^{1 2}
• View your contacts.²

Sometimes your iPhone needs to charge more before you go out. Phone Link enables you to still use it with your PC while it’s plugged in and by the outlet.

Or perhaps you’re in a meeting and having your iPhone out will look unprofessional. Phone Link will give you a notification of any important calls you need to take or messages you need to see.

Phone Link gives you the added versatility of being able to do that from an extra device. Instead of looking away from your screen and pulling out your iPhone to see notifications, it’s a notification on your PC, increasing the chances your attention stays focused on what you need to do.

Yes. If you have issues pairing, check out the tips suggested here: Phone Link app requirements and set-up - Microsoft Support.

Simply go to Settings > My Devices in Phone Link on your PC and remove your linked iPhone from the list. For complete unpairing, disconnect Bluetooth via your phone settings, select the linked computer and choose to "Forget this device." For your computer, disconnect Bluetooth via your computer settings, select the linked phone and choose "Remove device." You can relink at any time.

Go to Settings > Features in Phone Link on your PC. It’s there you can customise options like which apps can send notifications to you. Removing permissions for a feature will also disable the feature.

You can also disable permissions on your iPhone, this will remove all feature activity. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, find the linked computer, and disable:

Share System Notifications Enable Sync Contacts.

Start with the Troubleshooting page. You can find it here: Troubleshooting the Phone Link app - Microsoft Support

If you have Windows 11, Phone Link will come preinstalled.