How to Allow Phone Link to Display Apps in Windows 11

Hardware and Software Requirements

Before you start, check that your PC and phone meet the requirements. Most “the Apps option is missing” problems come from skipping this check.

Your PC needs to run Windows 11 with all the latest updates. Your phone must be a compatible Android device, such as a Samsung Galaxy, a Surface Duo, or certain models from HONOR, OPPO and ASUS. Microsoft keeps the list of supported devices short, and it changes over time. If your phone is not on the list, the Apps option may not appear at all, even when everything else works.

Connect both your phone and PC to the same Wi-Fi 📶 network. That keeps app streaming responsive, so taps and clicks show up on screen without a noticeable delay. A phone on mobile data, or on a guest network, will not work well. Some routers also isolate devices from each other, and that can block the connection even when both are on the same network name.

Initial Pairing Checklist

Setting up Android apps in Phone Link starts with pairing your phone and PC through the Link to Windows app. In short, you do this:

Install the 💿 Link to Windows app from the Google Play Store on your phone. On the PC, open the Phone Link app and choose Android. A QR code appears on the PC screen. Scan it with the Link to Windows app on your phone to finish linking the two devices. Sign in with the same Microsoft account on both sides if you are asked to.

When the pairing works, your phone shows a message that it is linked, and Phone Link on the PC shows your messages, calls and photos. Accept the permission prompts on the phone as they appear. If you deny them, some features stay switched off later.

1. Install the 💿 Link to Windows app on your Android device from the Google Play Store.
2. Open the Phone Link app on your Windows 11 PC.
3. Select Android as your device type.
4. Use your phone to scan the QR code pairing displayed on your computer screen.
5. Grant the necessary permissions on your phone to allow app streaming and notifications.

How to Display Android Apps in Phone Link

Showing Android apps on your Windows 11 desktop means turning on one feature inside Phone Link. Open the app, click the Settings gear icon in the top right corner, go to the Features tab, and switch on the Apps section. After that you can view and open your phone apps on your PC.

The steps below show each click. If the phone is not paired yet, finish the pairing steps above first. The Features tab is not much use until the two devices are linked.

1. Open the Phone Link app on your computer.
2. Click the Settings gear icon in the top right corner.
3. Select the Features tab.

Now turn the feature on:

1. Find the Apps section on the Features tab.
2. Switch the toggle for “Allow the Phone Link app to display apps from my phone” to On.
3. If your phone asks for permission, unlock it and approve the request. The Apps list in Phone Link should then fill with the apps installed on your phone.

If the toggle is missing or greyed out, the usual causes are an unsupported phone, an out-of-date Phone Link or Link to Windows app, or a PC below build 22621. Update both apps and Windows, then reopen Phone Link. To undo the change, switch the same toggle back to Off.

Once the feature is on, you can pin your favorite mobile apps to your Windows taskbar or Start menu ⊞ for quick access. Right-click an app in the Phone Link Apps list and look for the pin options. Opening a pinned app starts Phone Link and streams that app from your phone.

A standard user account can do them. If you get a permission error, the cause is rarely your account’s folder access. Check that you are signed in with the same Microsoft account on the PC and phone, and that the phone has granted all the permissions Link to Windows asked for. Do not change permissions on Windows system folders to try to fix this.

Troubleshooting Common Connection Issues

If Android apps will not show up in Phone Link, the cause is usually your network or your notification settings. Check these two first:

Make sure your phone and PC share the exact same Wi-Fi 📶 network. Then turn off Focus Assist or Do Not Disturb on your computer, because these modes block app streaming. On current Windows 11 versions the setting is called Do not disturb and sits under Settings › System › Notifications. Older builds call it Focus Assist.

If that does not help, restart both Phone Link and the Link to Windows app, then try again. Keep the phone unlocked during the first connection. The checks below cover the most common causes.

• Wi-Fi Network: Ensure both devices are on the same local network.
• Focus Assist: Disable Focus Assist or Do Not Disturb mode on Windows, as these can block app notifications and streaming.
• Battery Saver: Turn off battery saver mode on both your phone and PC, as it often restricts background data transfer.
• Updates: Check the Microsoft Store for updates to the Phone Link app and the Google Play Store for updates to Link to Windows.

Summary

Using Android apps with Phone Link on Windows 11 connects your phone and PC and saves you from picking up the phone for every task. Check the hardware requirements, pair the devices, then turn on the Apps toggle in Phone Link settings. If something goes wrong, confirm that both devices are on the same network, that Do not disturb is off, and that Windows, Phone Link and Link to Windows are all up to date.

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