How to Control Text Message Notifications in Windows 11 Phone Link
The Phone Link app is a powerful tool that connects your smartphone to your Windows 11 PC. By using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, it creates a bridge between your devices. This allows you to view photos, manage apps, and handle text messages directly on your computer screen.
Why use it? It keeps you productive by letting you stay focused on your PC without needing to reach for your phone constantly. What happens when done? You gain a seamless workflow where your digital life is unified across your devices.
Why Control Windows 11 Phone Link Notifications?
Managing your notification banner settings is key to staying focused. If you receive many texts, constant pop-ups can be distracting. By customizing these settings, you decide exactly when and how you are alerted to new messages. What happens when turned on? You see real-time alerts on your desktop. You can read and reply to messages instantly. What happens when turned off? Your PC remains quiet. You will need to check your phone manually for updates. This also hides taskbar badges for your messages.
How to Configure Text Message Notifications
- Open the Phone Link app on your PC.
- Click the Settings (gear icon) at the top right.
- Select the Features tab.
- Locate the Messages section.
- Toggle the switch for Allow this app to show text messages from my phone to On or Off.

Note: No admin privileges are required for these settings.
Troubleshooting Phone Link Sync Issues
If your Windows 11 Phone Link notifications are delayed, it is often due to battery optimization settings. Android devices often put background apps to sleep to save power. To fix this, go to your phone settings, find the Link to Windows app, and set battery usage to Unrestricted. Also, ensure your PC is not in Do Not Disturb mode, as this will block all notification banners.
Checking Android Notification Access
For the app to work, it needs permission to read your notifications. Follow this checklist on your Android device:
- Open Settings on your phone.
- Search for Special App Access.
- Tap Notification Access.
- Ensure Link to Windows is toggled On.

Advanced Notification Management
You can manage how these alerts appear in the Windows 11 Action Center. If you want to reply to messages directly from the notification banner, ensure the Show notification banners option is enabled in your Windows System Settings. If some apps do not show notifications, verify that you have enabled Show notifications for all my apps within the Phone Link settings menu.
Summary
Controlling your Windows 11 Phone Link notifications helps you maintain focus while staying connected. By adjusting your settings, checking Android permissions, and disabling battery restrictions, you ensure that your text messages sync reliably. Whether you want to reply from your PC or keep your desktop clear, these steps give you full control over your digital environment.
Why are my Windows 11 Phone Link notifications delayed?
Notifications are often delayed due to Android battery optimization settings. When your phone restricts background activity to save power, the sync process slows down. To fix this, set the Link to Windows app to ‘Unrestricted’ battery usage in your phone settings and ensure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
How do I clear all notifications from Phone Link at once?
You can clear all notifications by opening the Phone Link app and clicking the ‘Clear all’ button located at the top of the notification feed. Alternatively, you can clear them from the Windows 11 Action Center by clicking the ‘Clear all notifications’ button, which removes them from both the PC and your phone.
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