How to Control Text Message Notifications in Windows 11 Phone Link

Written byRichardTech Writer, IT Professional

Nov 17, 2023 Updated Apr 17, 2026 3 min read Reviewed Mar 19, 2026

This guide explains how to manage text message alerts in the Windows 11 Phone Link app.

What is Phone Link?

The Phone Link app is a tool that lets you link your phone and PC using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. It lets you use your phone’s apps and data directly on your computer. You can use your PC’s large screen and keyboard while your phone stays in your pocket.

Once your phone is linked, you can choose how to display notifications, choose to hear audio from the PC or phone, turn allow the phone link app to sync over mobile without Wi-Fi on or off, unlink your phone from Windows, enable or disable auto startup for the phone link app, send and receive text messages from the app, add or remove Phone Link on the widgets board, turn dark mode on or off, open your phone screen in the app, turn show notifications for all my apps on or off, show notifications in the Phone Link feature feed, enable or disable using Phone Link with Windows suggestions, open Phone Link notification banners in the mobile app or Phone Link, and more.

Why Control Text Message Notifications?

By default, Phone Link shows your texts in the notification banners. You might want to change this based on how much you use your PC for messaging.

What happens when turned on: You will see text alerts pop up on your computer screen. You can read and reply to messages without touching your phone.

What happens when turned off: You will stop seeing these alerts on your PC. You must check your phone to see new messages. This also stops notification banners and taskbar badges for your texts.

How to Turn Text Message Notifications On or Off

1. Open the Phone Link app app on your PC.
2. If you have not connected your phone yet, follow the prompts to add it. If it is already connected, click the Settings button (the gear icon) at the top right.
3. Select Features from the menu.

Note: You do not need special permissions for this. No admin privileges are required to change these settings.

• On the right side under Notifications, look for the option labeled “Allow Phone Link to show text message from my mobile device.”
• Click the switch to On to see your texts.
• Click the switch to Off to hide your texts.

That is all you need to do!

Summary

Phone Link helps you manage text messages on your Windows 11 PC. You can choose to see alerts for new messages or keep your screen clear by adjusting the settings in the Features menu. Enabling this feature lets you reply to texts using your computer keyboard, while disabling it keeps your messaging activity limited to your phone.