Windows 11 Phone Link: Connect Your Phone to Your PC

Phone Link is the Windows 11 app that bridges your phone and your PC. Once paired, you can read and reply to text messages, answer phone calls, see your phone's notifications, and browse the photos on your phone, all from the desktop. It saves you from repeatedly picking up the phone while you work.

The feature used to be called Your Phone and works with both Android and iPhone, though Android gets the fuller set of features. This guide explains how to pair your phone, what each part of Phone Link does, how to manage notifications and messages, and how to fix pairing and sync problems.

PAGE CONTENT

• What Phone Link Can Do
• Pair Your Phone with the PC
• Send and Receive Text Messages
• Make and Take Phone Calls
• View Photos and Notifications
• Fix Pairing and Sync Problems
• FAQs About Windows 11 Phone Link
• Back Up Windows Before You Change Settings

What Phone Link Can Do

Phone Link acts as a remote window into your phone. The exact features depend on whether you have an Android device or an iPhone, and on the phone model.

Available on Android and iPhone:

• Read and reply to SMS and MMS messages from the PC
• See phone notifications on the desktop and dismiss them from either device
• View photos stored on the phone
• Make and receive phone calls through the PC's microphone and speakers

Android-only features:

• Run supported Android apps directly on the PC in a separate window
• Mirror the phone's screen to the PC on some Samsung and HONOR devices
• Drag and drop files between the phone and the PC
• Reply to messages from chat apps such as WhatsApp in some regions

iPhone support is more limited because of Apple's platform restrictions, but the core messaging, calls, and notifications still work. Both phone types need Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for the connection.

Pair Your Phone with the PC

Phone Link is built into Windows 11, and the phone side uses an app called Link to Windows on Android. On iPhone, the pairing happens through the Phone Link app directly.

Pair an Android phone:

Step 1. On the PC, open the Phone Link app from the Start menu. If it is not installed, download it from the Microsoft Store.

Step 2. Choose Android and click Continue.

Step 3. On your phone, install Link to Windows from the Google Play Store. Open it and sign in with the same Microsoft account you use on the PC.

Step 4. Scan the QR code shown in the Phone Link app on the PC with your phone's camera. The two devices pair over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Step 5. Grant the permissions the phone asks for, such as access to messages, contacts, and notifications. These are needed for the corresponding Phone Link features to work.

Pair an iPhone:

Step 1. Open Phone Link on the PC and choose iPhone.

Step 2. Scan the QR code with the iPhone's camera. This opens a pairing page in the browser.

Step 3. Follow the prompts to pair via Bluetooth and allow the requested permissions.

Step 4. The Phone Link app on the PC now shows your iPhone's messages, calls, and notifications.

Send and Receive Text Messages

The Messages section of Phone Link shows your SMS and MMS conversations and lets you reply from the keyboard.

Step 1. Open Phone Link and click Messages in the left sidebar.

Step 2. Click a conversation to open it. The full thread loads, including photos sent as MMS.

Step 3. Type your reply in the box at the bottom and press Enter to send. You can also attach photos from your PC.

Step 4. To start a new conversation, click New message, type a contact name or phone number, and compose your message.

Messages are sent through your phone, so they count against your mobile plan just like texts typed on the phone itself. RCS and chat app messages work on some Android devices; on iPhone, Phone Link handles SMS and MMS only.

Make and Take Phone Calls

Phone Link can route voice calls through your PC, which is useful when your phone is charging across the room.

Step 1. Make sure your phone is connected and that the PC has a microphone and speaker or headset.

Step 2. In Phone Link, click Calls in the sidebar.

Step 3. To make a call, type a number or search your contacts, then click the call icon.

Step 4. When a call comes in, a notification appears on the PC. Click Accept to answer or Decline to send it to voicemail.

Step 5. During the call, use the on-screen controls to mute, switch audio devices, or end the call.

The PC acts as a Bluetooth headset for the phone, so the call audio goes through the PC's audio device. If the other person cannot hear you, check that the correct microphone is selected in the call controls.

View Photos and Notifications

Phone Link mirrors your phone's photos and notifications to the PC so you do not have to switch devices.

Photos:

Step 1. Click Photos in the sidebar.

Step 2. Browse the thumbnails of photos stored on your phone. Click one to open it in a larger view.

Step 3. Right-click a photo to save it to the PC or share it. On Android, you can also drag photos directly into File Explorer.

Notifications:

Step 1. Click Notifications in the sidebar.

Step 2. Incoming phone notifications appear here in real time. You can read them and dismiss them from the PC.

Step 3. To choose which apps can show notifications, open the Phone Link settings and manage the notification permissions. You can block noisy apps while keeping important ones visible.

Notifications are mirrored, not forwarded, so dismissing one on the PC also dismisses it on the phone and vice versa.

Fix Pairing and Sync Problems

Most Phone Link issues come from Bluetooth, permissions, or a dropped connection.

The phone will not pair.

Step 1. Confirm that Bluetooth is on for both devices and that they are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Step 2. Make sure you are signed in with the same Microsoft account on both the PC and the Link to Windows app.

Step 3. Remove the existing pairing in Phone Link settings and scan the QR code again.

Messages or notifications stop syncing.

Step 1. Open the Link to Windows app on your phone and check that it is connected.

Step 2. Confirm that the app has permission to access messages and notifications in Android settings.

Step 3. Restart both Phone Link on the PC and the Link to Windows app on the phone.

Calls do not connect.

Step 1. Check that Bluetooth is working and that the PC is paired with the phone.

Step 2. In the Phone Link call controls, select the correct microphone and speaker.

Step 3. On Android, grant the phone permission to make and manage calls.

The connection keeps dropping.

Step 1. Keep the phone within Bluetooth range of the PC.

Step 2. Check that battery-saving modes on the phone are not killing the Link to Windows app in the background.

Step 3. Update both Phone Link and Link to Windows to their latest versions.

FAQs About Windows 11 Phone Link

Is Phone Link free to use?

Yes. Phone Link and Link to Windows are free apps. Calls and messages go through your phone's plan, so standard carrier rates apply.

Can I use Phone Link with an iPhone?

Yes, but with fewer features. iPhone supports messages, calls, and notifications, but not app streaming, screen mirroring, or file drag-and-drop.

Does Phone Link work over the internet?

No. Phone Link requires the phone and PC to be paired over Bluetooth and on the same local network. It does not work remotely over the internet.

Can I reply to WhatsApp messages in Phone Link?

On some Android devices and in some regions, yes. iPhone does not support third-party messaging in Phone Link, so WhatsApp replies are not available there.

How do I disconnect my phone?

Open Phone Link settings, go to the connected devices section, and remove your phone. You can also uninstall or sign out of the Link to Windows app on the phone.

Back Up Windows Before You Change Settings

Phone Link is safe to set up, but if you are also changing Bluetooth, network, or app permission settings, a backup protects your system. Qiling Disk Master creates a full Windows image you can restore from if anything goes wrong.

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Part 1: Create a Full System Backup

Step 1. Install and open Qiling Disk Master. On the home screen, open "Backup and Recovery" and choose "System Backup". This option automatically includes Windows and the hidden boot partitions, so you do not have to select them one by one.

Step 2. Check the source. The disk where Windows is installed and its system partitions are already ticked for you. If you only need your personal documents, run a separate "File Backup" task instead.

Step 3. Click the destination box and choose where the image should be saved. Use an external HDD or SSD, a NAS, or any drive other than the one Windows is installed on, and make sure it has enough free space.

Step 4. Review the task summary and click "Proceed". Wait until the progress bar reaches 100%. Do not unplug the drive or turn off the PC while the backup is running.

Part 2: Restore Windows from the Backup

Step 1. Open Qiling Disk Master again, go to "Backup and Recovery", and select the recovery option. Your backup images are listed, so pick the one you created before the changes began.

Step 2. Choose the target disk or partition. Normally you restore to the original system disk. If the drive was replaced, select the new disk instead, and the restore rebuilds Windows together with its boot partitions.

Step 3. Preview the restore plan, click "Proceed", and confirm the warning. The PC restarts to finish the job, and Windows comes back exactly as it was on the day the image was created, with your files and programs intact.

Conclusion

Phone Link lets you text, call, view photos, and see notifications from your phone directly on a Windows 11 PC. Pair an Android phone by installing Link to Windows and scanning the QR code, or pair an iPhone through the Phone Link app itself. Once connected, use the Messages, Calls, Photos, and Notifications sections to work from the desktop. If pairing fails, check that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on, that both devices use the same Microsoft account, and that the phone has granted the required permissions. Android gets the widest feature set, including app streaming on supported devices, while iPhone covers the core messaging and calling needs.

Protect your PC with Qiling Backup—create a system image before your next round of settings changes.

For more Windows 11 connectivity guides, see Fix Windows 11 Bluetooth Not Working, Fix Windows 11 No Sound, Windows 11 Widgets, Windows 11 Quick Settings, and Windows 11 Start Menu.

Related Articles

• Fix Windows 11 Bluetooth Not Working
  Phone Link depends on Bluetooth; if pairing fails, this guide helps you restore the radio.
• Fix Windows 11 No Sound
  Phone calls route through your PC audio, so a broken speaker or mic breaks calls too.
• Windows 11 Widgets: How to Use and Customize the Widget Panel
• Windows 11 God Mode: How to Create the Master Control Panel
• Windows 11 Guide: Features, Upgrade Tips and What to Know