How to Connect Your Android Phone to Windows 11 with Phone Link
Learning how to connect your Android phone to Windows 11 with Phone Link is one of the best ways to stop switching between your phone and your PC all day. Phone Link, which was previously called Your Phone, is a free app built into Windows 11 that connects your Android phone to your computer, so you can see your notifications, send and receive text messages, make and take calls, and view your recent photos without ever picking up your phone. It also lets you run your phone apps on your PC, share files between devices, and even use your phone as a webcam. Setup takes about five minutes, and once it is done, your phone and your PC work together as one system. In this guide we show you how to connect your Android phone to Windows 11 with Phone Link, how to use its best features, and how to fix it when it does not work.
What Is Phone Link and What Can It Do
Phone Link is Microsoft’s app for connecting a phone to a Windows PC, and it comes preinstalled on Windows 11. On your phone, you install the companion app, which is called Link to Windows, from the Google Play Store. Once the two apps are connected, your phone’s notifications appear on your PC, and you can reply to text messages from your keyboard, which is far faster than typing on a phone screen. You can also make and receive phone calls on your PC, using your computer’s speakers and microphone, and you can view your recent photos and take screenshots from your phone without touching it. If you have a newer Samsung or Honor phone, you can also run your phone apps in a window on your PC, drag files between your phone and your computer, and even mirror your phone screen. Phone Link works over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and it needs both devices to be signed in to the same Microsoft account. Your phone and your PC do not need to be on the same Wi-Fi network, but they do need an internet connection for the initial setup. Phone Link is free, it does not require a subscription, and it is one of the most useful features in Windows 11 for anyone who owns an Android phone.
Set Up Phone Link to Connect Your Android Phone to Windows 11
Setting up Phone Link is straightforward. First, on your Windows 11 PC, open the Start menu, type Phone Link, and open the app. If it is not installed, you can download it for free from the Microsoft Store. The app will show you a QR code and ask you to choose whether you have an Android phone. Second, on your Android phone, open the Google Play Store, search for Link to Windows, and install it. Open the app, tap Link your phone and PC, and scan the QR code shown on your PC screen. You will be asked to sign in with the same Microsoft account you use on your PC, and to grant permissions for notifications, contacts, messages, photos, and calls. Grant all of them, because Phone Link needs them to work properly. Third, wait a few moments while the two devices connect. Your PC will show a confirmation message, and your phone will appear in the Phone Link app with its battery level and signal strength. If the QR code does not scan, you can sign in with your Microsoft account on both devices instead, and the app will find your phone automatically. The whole process takes about five minutes, and you only need to do it once. After setup, Phone Link will connect automatically whenever your phone is nearby and Bluetooth is on, so you can start using it right away.
Using Notifications, Messages, and Calls on Your PC
Once Phone Link is connected, the Notifications tab is where you will spend most of your time. Every notification from your phone, from text messages and emails to social media and app alerts, appears on your PC, and you can dismiss them, reply to messages, and open the relevant app without touching your phone. The Messages tab shows your text message conversations, and you can read and reply to them from your keyboard, send new messages, and even send photos from your PC. The Calls tab lets you make and receive phone calls on your PC, with a dial pad, a call history, and the ability to transfer a call to your phone if you need to walk away from your desk. To make a call, your phone needs to be connected by Bluetooth, and your PC needs a microphone and speakers or a headset. The Photos tab shows your most recent photos from your phone, and you can copy, save, or share them directly from your PC, which is far easier than emailing them to yourself. One practical tip is to customize which notifications you see: in the Phone Link settings, you can choose which apps can send notifications to your PC, so you only see the ones that matter, such as messages and calls, and not every game or shopping alert. You can also turn on Do not disturb on your phone to silence notifications on both devices at once.
Sharing Files and Running Phone Apps on Your PC
Phone Link is not just for notifications: it also makes it easy to move files and use your phone apps on a bigger screen. To share a file from your PC to your phone, open the Phone Link app, go to the Photos tab or use the file sharing feature, and drag the file onto the Phone Link window. The file will be sent to your phone over Wi-Fi, and you can find it in your phone’s downloads folder. To share a file from your phone to your PC, open the file on your phone, tap Share, and choose Link to Windows, and the file will appear on your PC. If you have a Samsung Galaxy or Honor phone, you can also run your phone apps on your PC: open the Apps tab in Phone Link, and you will see a list of the apps on your phone. Click one, and it will open in a window on your PC, where you can use it with your mouse and keyboard. You can pin your favorite phone apps to the taskbar or the Start menu, so they are always one click away. This is useful for apps that do not have a Windows version, such as a banking app or a messaging app, and it means you can use your phone’s apps without picking up the phone. For more ways to move files between devices, our guide on how to transfer files between your phone and Windows 11 covers other methods, including USB and cloud storage. And if you use Bluetooth headphones with your phone as well, our guide on how to connect Bluetooth devices to Windows 11 will help you pair them with your PC too.
Troubleshooting Phone Link
Phone Link usually works well, but a few problems are common. If your phone will not connect, check that both devices are signed in to the same Microsoft account, that Bluetooth is on, and that your phone is nearby. Try turning Bluetooth off and on again on both devices, and restart the Phone Link app on your PC. If notifications are not appearing, open the Link to Windows app on your phone, check that notification access is granted, and make sure your phone is not in battery saver mode, which can stop the app from running in the background. On Samsung phones, check that the app is not being put to sleep by the battery optimization settings. If calls do not work, check that your PC has a microphone and that the Bluetooth connection is active, and try removing the phone from the Bluetooth settings and pairing it again. If photos do not sync, check that the Link to Windows app has permission to access your photos, and that your phone has an internet connection. If Phone Link is slow or shows an old battery level, close the app and reopen it, or restart your PC. And if you have tried everything and it still does not work, uninstall and reinstall the Link to Windows app on your phone, and set up Phone Link again from scratch. Most problems are fixed by checking permissions and Bluetooth, and the setup only takes a few minutes to redo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phone Link free? Yes. Phone Link is built into Windows 11 and it is completely free, and the Link to Windows companion app for Android is also free from the Google Play Store. You do not need a subscription or a Microsoft 365 account to use it.
Does Phone Link work with iPhone? Phone Link has limited support for iPhone, including notifications, messages, and calls over Bluetooth, but it works best with Android, where it can also show photos, run apps, and share files. iPhone users can connect with the basic features, but Android users get the full experience.
Does my phone need to be on the same Wi-Fi as my PC? Your phone and PC do not need to be on the same Wi-Fi network for most Phone Link features, but they do need an internet connection for setup, and some features, such as file sharing and app streaming, work best when both devices are on the same network. Bluetooth is needed for calls.
Is Phone Link safe? Yes. Phone Link uses your Microsoft account and an encrypted connection between your phone and your PC, and your data is not shared with anyone else. You can disconnect your phone at any time from the Phone Link settings, and you can choose which permissions the app has on your phone.
Conclusion
Phone Link is one of the best features in Windows 11, and it is free and built in. Once you connect your Android phone to Windows 11 with Phone Link, you can see your notifications, reply to messages, make calls, view photos, and even run your phone apps on your PC, all without picking up your phone. Setup takes five minutes, and the time it saves every day is well worth it. If you have not set it up yet, do it today, and enjoy a phone and a PC that finally work together.
