Windows · Apps
Connect your Android or iPhone to your PC
Phone Link pairs your smartphone with your PC so you can view and reply to texts, see notifications, make calls, and access photos without picking up your phone.
How to open Phone Link
- Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mobile devices
- Turn on 'Allow this PC to access your mobile devices'
- Select 'Add a device' and scan the QR code with your phone's camera
- Follow the prompts in the Phone Link app to finish pairing
What you should know
- Pair an Android phone for full features (apps, notifications, calls, messages) or an iPhone for a lighter feature set
- Mirror and control select Android apps directly from your PC
- View recent photos from your phone in a synced gallery
- Send and receive SMS/RCS messages from the desktop
iPhone support is more limited than Android because Apple restricts background access; calls and messages work, but app mirroring does not.
Why it matters
Phone Link cuts down on context switching by surfacing your phone's texts, calls, and notifications right on the screen you're already working on, which is a real productivity gain for anyone who's tired of picking up their phone every few minutes. For Android users specifically, app mirroring effectively turns the PC into a secondary phone screen, useful for quick replies in messaging apps that don't have a desktop client. It also matters for accessibility, since some users find typing on a full keyboard easier than a phone's on-screen one.
Best practices
- Keep Bluetooth enabled on both devices for the most reliable connection.
- Use the companion 'Link to Windows' app on Android for the full feature set rather than relying on default pairing alone.
- Disable app mirroring for apps you don't want visible on a shared or work PC screen.
- Re-pair if you switch Wi-Fi networks frequently and notice sync delays.
Common problems and fixes
- Phone Link shows as disconnected even though the phone is nearby.
- Ensure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and Bluetooth is on, then reopen the Phone Link app on the phone.
- Notifications from the phone aren't appearing on the PC.
- Check notification access permissions were granted to Phone Link on the phone during setup.
- App mirroring isn't available.
- This is an Android-only feature on supported devices; iPhone doesn't support app mirroring.
Tips and tricks
- Pin the Phone Link app to your taskbar for one-click access to recent texts and calls.
Frequently asked questions
Does this work with any phone?
Most modern Android and iPhone models are supported, though the feature set differs significantly between the two.
Do I need the phone unlocked for messages to sync?
No, once paired, notifications and messages sync in the background.
Can I unpair a phone?
Yes, from this same settings page you can remove a linked device at any time.
Related settings
- Linked DevicesLinked Devices shows phones and other PCs connected to your Microsoft account, enabling features like continuing a browser tab from your phone on this PC, or seeing your phone's photos and notifications through the Link to Windows / Phone Link app.
- Bluetooth SettingsBluetooth settings allow you to connect wireless devices such as headphones, keyboards, mice, and smartphones to your PC. You can pair, remove, and manage connected devices easily.
- NotificationsNotification settings let you control which apps can send alerts, how they appear, and when Do Not Disturb (Focus Assist) is active to reduce interruptions.
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