How to Reset your Android Device with Phone Link and Windows 11

Step 1Stop the “Link to Windows” App on Your Android Phone

To properly reset your Phone Link connection, the first step is to stop the “Link to Windows” app running on your Android phone, which is key to how your phone talks to your PC.

1. Open Your Phone’s Settings: Unlock your Android phone. Find the Settings app. It usually looks like a gear.
2. Find Your Apps: Look through ⚙️ the Settings menu for something like Apps or Apps & notifications. Tap on it.
3. Find “Link to Windows”: You might need to tap See all apps or App info to see all your apps. Scroll until you find Link to Windows. Tap on it.
4. Force Stop: On the “Link to Windows” app screen, you should see a button that says Force Stop. Tap this button. A message will probably ask if you are sure because it might make the app act strangely. Tap OK or Force Stop again to confirm.

Step 2Reset the Phone Link App on Your PC

After stopping the app on your phone, the next step to fix your connection is to reset the Phone Link app on your Windows PC, clearing its settings for a fresh start.

1. Go to ⚙️ Windows Settings: On your PC, click the Start button, then click the Settings gear icon.
2. Go to “Mobile Devices”: In ⚙️ the Settings window, click on Phone.
3. Remove: You should see an option that says Remove. Click on it. This removes the computer’s specific connection to your phone.
4. Go to Sytem components: Click the back arrow in the top-left corner of ⚙️ the Settings window to go back to the main Settings menu. Then, choose Apps.
5. Find Phone Link in System components: In the list of apps, scroll down or use 🔍 the search box to find Phone Link. Click on it.
6. Go to Advanced Options: Click on Advanced options.
7. Reset the App: Scroll down in the Advanced options until you see the Reset button. Click on it. You will see a message asking you to confirm; click Reset again to confirm.

   What “Reset” Does: Resetting an app on Windows puts it back to how it was when you first installed it. It clears out all saved information and settings. This is what we need to do to fix problems with the connection.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/reset-your-android-device-and-pc-with-the-phone-link-6f71a86c-53b3-92ca-6181-ee1621a206ad

Summary

Resetting both the “Link to Windows” app on your phone and the Phone Link app on your PC is a great way to fix connection problems and give your digital link a fresh start.

What happens when done? After following these steps, you will need to set up the Phone Link connection again from the beginning on both your phone and your computer. This process clears out any old settings that might be causing issues, leading to a smoother and more reliable connection.