How to Use Windows 11 Phone Link to Connect Your Phone

Get Started with Phone Link Basics

Get started with Phone Link basics. If you are new to Phone Link, or you just want to confirm the core features work, start with the guides in this section. They cover first-time setup and the essential integrations: messages, calls, and notifications.

1 How to Allow Phone Link to Display Apps in Windows 11 This article guides students and new users on how to display Android phone apps on the Phone Link app in Windows 11. Users can connect their Android phone to Windows through the Phone Link app to seamlessly transfer content, browse, and use apps on a larger screen. The article includes step-by-step instructions on enabling and disabling this feature. 6 min read · ↻ Updated Oct 2026

2 Enable Photos Access in Phone Link for Windows 11 This article explains how to enable or disable access to photos from an Android device using the Phone Link app on Windows 11. Users can seamlessly link their phone and PC to access apps and data from their PC. By following a few simple steps, users can manage access to their photos and ensure a personalized experience, optimizing network bandwidth and performance. 2 min read · ↻ Updated Oct 2026

3 How to Enable or Disable Android App Notifications in Windows 11 The article provides a guide for students and new users on how to use the Phone Link app in Windows 11 to control which Android apps can display notifications on their PCs. By using a Wi-Fi connection, the Phone Link app allows users to access, browse, and manage Android apps and their notifications on a larger PC screen. 4 min read · ↻ Updated Oct 2026

Use Your Phone Apps and Media on PC

Once your phone is connected, you can work with its apps and content from your Windows 11 PC. The guides in this section show you how to open and manage apps, control music, and view photos without touching the phone.

Keep these limits in mind:

• Running phone apps and browsing photos work on Android only.
• App streaming is not available on every Android phone, so if the Apps option is missing, check whether your phone model supports it.
• The phone usually needs to be on and connected to the internet for photos and apps to show up.

1 How to Pin Android Apps to Your Windows 11 Pinning an Android app to your Windows 11 taskbar or Start menu lets you open it from the desktop without picking up… 3 min read · ↻ Updated Oct 2026

2 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,… 3 min read · ↻ Updated Oct 2026

3 How to Access Recent Apps from the Phone Link in Windows 11 Recent apps in Windows 11 Phone Link let you open and run your smartphone apps on your PC screen without picking up… 3 min read · ↻ Updated Oct 2026

4 How to Access Phone Link Recent Apps from Your Windows 11 Phone Link can run your Android apps on your Windows 11 desktop. It mirrors your phone screen in a window, so you… 4 min read · ↻ Updated Oct 2026

Customize Notifications and Appearance

You can tailor how Phone Link behaves on your PC, from which app notifications reach your desktop to how the interface looks. These options help you stay informed without being buried in alerts, and they let you set up the workspace to suit your day.

Changes made in the Phone Link settings take effect right away. You don't need to restart the PC. If you don't like a change, open the same setting and switch it back.

1 How to Allow Phone Link to Show Notification Banners in Windows 11 The post guides students and new users on enabling or disabling the Phone Link app notification banners in Windows 11. Users can link the Phone Link app to an Android device and manage the phone's notifications on their Windows PC. These instructions also allow users to select apps that display notifications or switch off banners completely. 6 min read · ↻ Updated Oct 2026

2 How to Enable or Disable Phone Low Battery Notification from Phone Link App on Windows 11 This article explains how to enable or disable low battery notifications in the Phone Link app on Windows 11. The Phone Link app links your phone and PC via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, allowing access to phone apps and data from the PC. You can manage low battery notifications by adjusting the settings within the Phone Link app. 2 min read · ↻ Updated Oct 2026

3 How to Sync Android Wallpaper in Phone Link on Windows 11 The Phone Link app on Windows 11 allows seamless integration of Android devices with PCs. A new feature syncs the app's background with the Android device's wallpaper, enhancing personalization. Users can easily enable or disable this feature within the app's settings. This offers greater control over the desktop and mobile experience, creating a cohesive or distinct look. 1 min read · ↻ Updated Sep 2026

Advanced Features and Cleanup

The advanced features include cross-device copy and paste and custom layouts for the apps you pin to the taskbar. This section also covers cleanup: removing configurations you no longer use, such as an old phone or an app you no longer want pinned.

Removing a paired phone from Phone Link means you will have to pair it again from scratch, with a new QR code or Bluetooth pairing, if you want it back.

1 Phone Link App: Enable Cross-Device Copying on Windows 11 The post details how to enable or disable cross-device copy and paste with the Phone Link app in Windows 11. This feature allows Windows 11 users to link their Android devices, transfer contents, and set up notifications seamlessly. However, it's compatible with select Android devices and Surface Duo running One UI version 2.1 or above. 4 min read · ↻ Updated Oct 2026

2 How to Remove Pinned Android Apps from My Windows Taskbar Pinned Android apps on your Windows taskbar are shortcuts created by the Phone Link app. They let you open programs from your… 5 min read · ↻ Updated Oct 2026

3 How to Turn Off Phone Link Recent Apps from Windows 11 Notification Area Phone Link Recent Apps is a feature in Windows 11 version 22H2 and later. It shows icons for the apps you recently… 3 min read · ↻ Updated Oct 2026

Common questions

How do I connect my Android phone to my 🪟 Windows 11 PC?

To make the first connection, you need an app on each device. Follow these steps for an Android phone:

1. Install the Link to Windows app on your Android phone from the Google Play Store. Some Samsung phones already have it installed.
2. On your PC, open the Start menu, type Phone Link, and open the app. It is included with Windows 11, but if it is missing or out of date, update it from the Microsoft Store.
3. Choose Android as your phone type and sign in if you are asked to.
4. When the PC shows a QR code, open Link to Windows on the phone and scan the code with the phone's camera.
5. Approve the permission prompts on the phone, such as access to contacts, messages, phone calls, and photos.

This may take a minute on the first sync. If you decline a permission, the matching feature stays unavailable until you grant it in the phone's app settings.

Can I use Phone Link with an iPhone?

Phone Link has limited functionality with iPhones. You can make calls, view notifications, and access messages normally. The connection runs over Bluetooth, so keep Bluetooth turned on for both devices and accept the pairing and sharing prompts on the iPhone when they appear. Running phone apps and browsing photos are available on Android only. The same applies to a few other features that rely on the Android app.

Why isn't Phone Link showing my apps?

If apps don't show up in Phone Link, work through these checks in order:

1. Confirm your phone supports app streaming. Apps are Android-only and not available on every model.
2. Check the permissions on both devices. On Windows 11 (version 23H2 and later), open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Mobile devices and make sure your PC is allowed to access your mobile devices. On the phone, open the Link to Windows app settings and confirm it has the permissions it asked for.
3. Restart both the PC and the phone.
4. Update both apps to their latest versions: Phone Link from the Microsoft Store, and Link to Windows from the Google Play Store.
5. Reopen Phone Link and see whether the Apps option has returned.

Restarting and updating clears most lingering glitches. If it still fails, remove the phone from Phone Link and pair it again.

How do I stop my phone's notifications from appearing on my PC?

To control which alerts reach your PC, follow these steps:

1. Open the Phone Link app on your PC.
2. Select Settings, the gear icon in the app window.
3. Choose Messages or Notifications, depending on which alerts you want to adjust.

This menu gives you granular control. You can turn off alerts for specific apps, or shut off all notifications from the phone on the computer. The phone itself keeps notifying you as usual. To bring an alert back, return to the same menu and switch it on again.

Can I copy and paste between my phone and PC?

Cross-device copy and paste only works while the feature is turned on. To enable clipboard sharing:

1. Open the Phone Link app on your PC.
2. Select Settings.
3. Find the Cross-device capabilities section and turn on the copy and paste option. In some app versions this section may be labeled differently, such as Features, so look for the cross-device copy and paste switch.

After you turn it on, text you copy on one device can be pasted on the other. It needs a working connection between the two, and it is available on supported phones only. To stop sharing the clipboard, switch the same option off.