How to Control Your Music and Podcasts Directly from Your PC Using Phone Link

Phone Link audio controls let you pause tracks, skip songs, and adjust the volume on your phone from your Windows 11 desktop, so you don’t have to pick up the device. The feature needs Phone Link version 1.22082.50.0 or newer and works with the usual music and podcast apps. Your Android phone must already be paired with Phone Link. If the controls are missing later, check the Phone Link version first. You can update it from the Microsoft Store.

Get Your Apps Ready

Phone Link reads the media alert that the app shows while a track plays. If notifications are off for that app, no player appears on your PC. Menu names vary a little between Android makers, so look for the closest match if yours is worded differently.

1. Open Settings on your Android phone.
2. Tap Notifications. You should see a list of installed apps and their notification settings.
3. Find your audio app in the list, such as Spotify, Pocket Casts, or YouTube Music.
4. Make sure the switch next to Show notifications is on. Repeat this for every music or podcast app you want to control from your PC.

Phone Link’s audio playback controls need it. To undo the change, switch the setting off again. The player will stop showing that app’s audio.

Turn On Audio Controls in Phone Link on Your PC

Next, tell Phone Link on your PC to show the audio playing on your phone. It takes a few clicks in the Phone Link settings, and you shouldn’t need to restart anything.

1. Open the Phone Link app on your Windows computer.
2. Click the gear icon in the Phone Link window to open Settings.
3. Go to the Personalization section.
4. Find the option labeled Show audio currently playing from my phone.
5. Turn the switch next to it to On. The music player will now appear in Phone Link whenever audio plays on your phone.

If you ever want the player gone, come back to the same place and switch it to Off.

What Happens When It’s All Set Up

With both settings on, start playing something on your phone. A media player appears on your PC screen whenever audio is playing on the phone. It has the standard buttons:

• Previous Track
• Play/Pause
• Next Track

If the player doesn't show up, check these things in order:

1. Confirm audio is actually playing on the phone.
2. Check that notifications are on for that app.
3. Check that the Show audio currently playing from my phone switch is still on.
4. Make sure Phone Link is updated to version 1.22082.50.0 or newer.

You may listen to music in one app and a podcast in another. When that happens, use the dropdown menu inside the Phone Link player to pick which source you are controlling. Start playback from the new source on your phone, and Phone Link updates automatically.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/additional-features-and-settings-in-phone-link-896a3bb1-97b8-4ba5-a56e-98490573721d

Summary

Phone Link lets you control your Android phone's music and podcasts from your PC. For basic playback controls, two things must be true. Your phone's audio apps must be allowed to show notifications, and the audio playing setting must be turned on in the Phone Link app on your computer.