How to Control Your Music and Podcasts Directly from Your PC using Phone Link
You can control your music and podcasts directly from your PC using Microsoft’s Phone Link app.
Phone Link allows you to manage your phone’s media playback, including streaming services, directly on your Windows computer. This feature leverages the app’s capabilities to extend your phone’s functionality to your desktop.
For example, you can use Phone Link version 1.22082.50.0 or later on Windows 11 to pause, play, skip tracks, and adjust volume without ever touching your phone.
This integration proves incredibly useful when you’re focused on your PC and want seamless control over your audio. You’ll find it simplifies managing your entertainment and productivity.
Control music and podcasts from your PC by enabling notifications for your audio apps on your phone. Then, in the Phone Link app on your PC, go to Settings and turn on “Show audio currently playing from my phone.” This provides basic playback controls within the app.
Control Your Music and Podcasts from Your PC
Imagine this: You are working hard on your computer. Your favorite podcast or music is playing on your Android phone. Instead of reaching for your phone, you can control the sound right from the Phone Link app. Sounds great, right?
Get Your Apps Ready
Your Android phone’s audio apps need to send notifications for Phone Link music control to work. Check your phone’s settings and find the specific app, like Spotify or YouTube Music, making sure its notification switch is turned on.
Grab your Android phone and head to its Settings.
Look for and tap on Notifications.
Find the specific audio app you want to control, like Spotify, Pocket Casts, or YouTube Music.
Make sure the switch for Show notifications is turned On for that app.
Good Tip: Even if you don’t want other alerts from an app, enabling its main notification setting often allows Phone Link’s audio playback controls to function. It’s a small but effective trick!
Turn On Audio Controls in Phone Link on Your PC
You can turn on the phone link music control feature right from your PC by opening the Phone Link app and changing a setting. Go to Phone Link’s Settings, usually found by clicking the gear icon, and look for the option to show audio currently playing from your phone.
Open the Phone Link app on your Windows computer.
Phone Link's Settings menu allows users to control application preferences. Users typically access the Settings menu by clicking the gear icon located within the Phone Link interface.
Under the Personalization section, you should see an option like Show audio currently playing from my phone.
Turn the switch next to this option to On.
What Happens When It’s All Set Up
Once Phone Link is set up, playing audio on your phone brings up a simple music player right in the Phone Link app on your PC. You’ll see basic controls like Previous Track, Play/Pause, and Next Track, and can even switch between different audio sources using a dropdown menu.
- Previous Track
- Play/Pause
- Next Track
If you’re using more than one audio source, like music from one app and a podcast from another, you can switch between them. Use the dropdown menu right in the Phone Link player. Just start playing from the new source on your phone. Phone Link should automatically change what it shows.
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Summary
The Phone Link app lets you control your Android phone’s music and podcasts straight from your PC. Just make sure your phone’s audio apps show notifications and that you’ve turned on the audio playing setting in the Phone Link app on your computer for basic playback controls.
How do I control my phone using Phone Link?
And now they've generated this QR code so on my phone I'll click on sign in using QR code on your PC. Then click on continue. And just enter the code which you see on your PC.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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