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The standard way to connect an Android phone to a Windows 11 PC is Microsoft Phone Link on Windows paired with Link to Windows on Android. Once connected, you may be able to read and reply to messages, see notifications and recent photos, make calls, use supported Android apps, and mirror the phone screen. The available features depend on your phone model, Android version, manufacturer, market, and permissions.
What you need before pairing
- A Windows 11 PC. Microsoft recommends keeping Windows 11 updated.
- An Android phone running Android 10 or later for the current general Phone Link setup.
- The same Wi-Fi network on both devices. Avoid using separate guest networks.
- A Microsoft account signed in to both Phone Link and Link to Windows.
- Both devices powered on, nearby, and connected to the internet.
- The Link to Windows app installed, available, or preinstalled on the phone.
Compatibility is feature-specific. Basic pairing does not guarantee access to calls, Android apps, Phone screen, copy and paste, or every other feature. Check Microsoft’s current Phone Link requirements if your phone is not detected.
Phone Link vs. Link to Windows
Phone Link is the Windows app. Link to Windows is its Android companion. They are two parts of the same connection, not competing apps.
On some Samsung, HONOR, Surface Duo, and OPPO phones, Link to Windows is preinstalled or integrated into Quick Settings. On other Android phones, install it from Google Play, or open www.aka.ms/yourpc on the phone to reach Microsoft’s installation page. Microsoft also lists an alternate QR shortcut at www.aka.ms/yourphoneqrc.
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Method 1: Pair through Phone Link
- On the Windows 11 PC, open Search, type Phone Link, and launch the app.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account if prompted.
- Select Android.
- Choose Pair with QR code. Phone Link will display a QR code.
- On the Android phone, open or install Link to Windows, then sign in with the same Microsoft account.
- Select Link your phone and PC, continue, and allow camera access when requested.
- Scan the QR code on the PC.
- Approve only the permissions required for the features you want to use.
- Return to Phone Link and complete the feature setup for notifications, messages, calls, photos, or apps.
If the QR code will not scan, select Pair manually in Phone Link. Windows will show a code that you can enter or confirm on the Android device.
Method 2: Pair from Windows Settings
Some Windows 11 installations provide a second route:
Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices > Manage devices > Add device
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Windows displays a QR code for the Android phone to scan. This menu is not identical on every Windows 11 PC because Microsoft distributes some mobile-device features gradually. If the option is missing, open Phone Link directly instead. See Microsoft’s mobile-device management instructions.
Choose permissions deliberately
Permissions determine what Phone Link can show or control. Do not approve every request automatically; enable the categories you actually need.
| Permission or feature | What it enables | Privacy consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Android alerts on Windows | Private alerts become visible on the PC. |
| Messages | Reading and replying to synced texts | SMS verification and two-factor-authentication codes may appear. |
| Contacts | Names, contacts, and some call-history features | Contact information is made available to the connection. |
| Calls and Bluetooth access | Making and receiving calls from the PC | Requires a separate Bluetooth and call setup. |
| Photos or files | Recent photos and supported file-sharing functions | More phone content may be exposed to Windows. |
| Camera | Scanning the pairing QR code | Usually needed only during QR pairing. |
Android 13 and later may require explicit runtime notification permission. Without it, notification transfer and related cross-device features will not work. Android’s battery-saving rules can also restrict Link to Windows in the background.
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Turn individual Phone Link features on or off
In Phone Link, open Settings > Features. Depending on the phone and software version, you can manage:
- Notifications
- Messages
- Calls
- Photos
- Apps
- Cross-device copy and paste
- Mobile-data syncing, where available
- Audio player
- File-transfer location
- Wallpaper synchronization
Turning a feature off stops that category of content from syncing until you enable it again.
What you can do after linking
Messages
Open Messages in Phone Link to view and reply to supported text conversations. Message access is separate from the initial pairing and depends on the permissions granted on Android.
Notifications
- Open Phone Link and select Notifications.
- Select Get started.
- Follow the prompt to open Android notification permissions.
- On Android, select Link to Windows and choose Allow.
Later, manage the feature under Phone Link > Settings > Features > Notifications. Individual Android app notification settings, Windows notification settings, Focus or Do Not Disturb, and battery restrictions can all affect delivery.
Photos
Phone Link can show recent phone photos and, on supported devices, provide additional file-sharing functions. It is not necessarily a complete browser for every folder in the phone’s storage. Photos that exist only as cloud placeholders may not behave like locally available images.
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On supported Samsung phones, removing Link to Windows’ All files access permission can disable photo and file-sharing functionality.
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Calls
Calls require separate Bluetooth setup. Open Calls in Phone Link and follow the pairing prompts. Confirm that:
- Bluetooth is enabled on both devices.
- The correct phone is selected in Phone Link.
- Call permissions were approved.
- The phone is nearby.
- Old or duplicate Bluetooth pairings have been removed if necessary.
Messages and photos can work even when the separate call connection fails. Call controls also depend on the PC’s Bluetooth hardware and the phone model.
Android apps and Phone screen
Apps and Phone screen are different features:
- Apps: Opens supported Android apps through Phone Link. Microsoft lists Android 11 for the multiple-apps experience, while hardware, manufacturer, and app support still apply.
- Phone screen: Mirrors or controls the Android display on the PC. It requires a supported device, Android 10 or later, the same Wi-Fi network, compatible graphics hardware, and availability in a supported market.
Neither feature is a universal Android emulator. Some games, banking apps, DRM-protected content, and manufacturer-specific functions may not work. See Microsoft’s guides for Android apps and Phone screen.
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The QR code will not scan
- Confirm that Link to Windows has camera permission.
- Increase the brightness of the PC display.
- Hold the phone near the screen and keep both devices powered on.
- Use Pair manually.
- Update Phone Link and Link to Windows.
- Restart both devices and try again.
These steps align with Microsoft’s Phone Link setup troubleshooting.
Windows cannot find the phone
- Verify that both devices use the same Wi-Fi network.
- Sign in with the same Microsoft account on both devices.
- Check that the phone runs Android 10 or later.
- Open Link to Windows manually instead of using a manufacturer shortcut.
- Remove an old pairing, then start the setup again.
- Check whether the particular phone supports the feature you are trying to use.
Pairing works, but notifications are missing
- Open Phone Link > Notifications > Get started.
- Grant notification access to Link to Windows on Android.
- Enable notifications for the individual Android apps.
- Remove or relax Android battery restrictions for Link to Windows.
- Check Windows notifications, Focus, and Do Not Disturb.
Messages or photos are missing
- Recheck the relevant Android permissions.
- Re-enable Messages or Photos under Phone Link > Settings > Features.
- For photos, confirm that the images are available on the phone and not only represented by cloud placeholders.
- On Samsung phones, check whether Link to Windows still has All files access.
Calls fail while other features work
Repair the Bluetooth connection: remove stale or duplicate phone entries from Windows and Android, pair the devices again, confirm call permissions, and select the correct phone in Phone Link. Keep the phone nearby and unlocked during testing.
Apps or Phone screen are unavailable
This usually indicates a compatibility limit rather than a failed basic pairing. Update Windows and Android, verify the Android version requirements, and consult Microsoft’s supported-device information. Availability can differ by manufacturer, model, market, and app.
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Can you connect multiple phones or PCs?
Microsoft says one Android phone can be connected to multiple PCs when the same Microsoft account is used and each connection is authorized on the phone. Phone Link does not generally support using two phones simultaneously in one Phone Link experience, nor does it support multiple Android profiles or work/school accounts.
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Alternatives to Phone Link
| Tool | Best for | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Google Quick Share | Nearby photos, videos, documents, and folders | Does not replace Phone Link’s messages, calls, notifications, or app features. |
| KDE Connect | Cross-platform controls, clipboard integration, file transfer, notifications, and remote input | Features may vary by Windows and Android configuration. |
| AirDroid | Remote management, web access, screen casting, and business/device-management features | Broader features can add account or subscription complexity. |
Google Quick Share for Windows supports 64-bit Windows 10 or later, Android 6 or later, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Devices should be within about 5 meters. ARM-based PCs require Windows 11 or later. Samsung PCs should use Samsung’s Quick Share app rather than Google’s Windows app.
KDE Connect’s official downloads are listed at kdeconnect.kde.org/download.html. AirDroid’s personal and business plans are listed at its official pricing page; prices and limits can change.
Privacy: what to consider
Phone Link is convenient because it makes selected phone content available on the PC. That also means notifications, messages, contacts, photos, and files may become accessible according to the permissions you grant. SMS access can expose one-time passwords and other two-factor-authentication messages.
Disable features you do not need under Phone Link > Settings > Features. Avoid linking a personal phone to a shared Windows account, and use separate Windows/Microsoft accounts for different PC users.
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How to unlink the phone
- Remove or unlink the phone in Phone Link or under Windows mobile-device settings.
- On Android, open Link to Windows and sign out or remove the connected PC.
- Revoke notification, message, contact, call, photo, file, and other Android permissions you no longer want to grant.
- If the PC is shared, sold, or given away, remove the device from your Microsoft account as an additional privacy measure.
Labels can vary slightly with Windows and Android versions, but unlinking both sides and revoking Android permissions prevents the old connection from retaining unnecessary access.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Microsoft account?
Yes, Microsoft’s current general Phone Link setup uses a Microsoft account signed in on both the Windows PC and Android phone.
Can I link the phone without a QR code?
Yes. Choose Pair manually in Phone Link and use the displayed code.
Can Phone Link mirror any Android phone?
No. Phone screen is limited to supported devices, compatible hardware, supported markets, and the required Android version.
Is Phone Link the best option for file transfers?
Not necessarily. If you only need nearby file transfers, Quick Share is a more focused alternative. Phone Link is better when you also want messages, notifications, calls, photos, or supported app access.
Quick Recap
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