To open Phone Link on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC, select Start or the taskbar search box, type Phone Link, then select the app in the results. If it is not listed, search for it in Settings and install it if Windows offers that option. Opening the app is separate from pairing your phone.
Open Phone Link from Start or taskbar search
- Select Start, or click the search box on the taskbar.
- Type Phone Link.
- Select Phone Link in the search results. Microsoft documents this route for Windows 10 and Windows 11: Phone Link requirements and setup.
You can also look for Phone Link in the Start menu. It is included by default on most, but not all, Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs.
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If Phone Link is missing
Use Settings to check whether Phone Link is disabled or needs installation. Windows labels can vary by release.
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- Search Settings for Phone Link.
- Select Enable or disable Phone Link.
- Turn on the Phone Link setting. If Windows prompts you to install the app, accept the prompt and follow the on-screen steps.
If the app still does not appear, consult Microsoft’s Phone Link setup instructions for the current Windows-specific route.
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Opening the app is not the same as pairing a phone
Once Phone Link is open, choose Android or iPhone and follow the app’s setup instructions if you want to connect a phone. Pairing involves separate steps such as signing in, establishing connectivity, and granting requested permissions.
| Phone type | Microsoft’s listed baseline requirements for using Phone Link |
|---|---|
| Android | Windows 11 or Windows 10 with the October 2022 update or later; Android 10 or later. Microsoft says the PC and phone ordinarily should be on the same Wi-Fi network. |
| iPhone | Windows 11 or Windows 10 with the May 2019 update or later; iOS 16 or later; and Bluetooth Low Energy support on the PC. |
These are phone-connection requirements, not requirements just to locate or launch the Windows app. Microsoft recommends keeping Windows up to date. See its current Phone Link requirements before troubleshooting a specific device or Windows build.
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Optional: show the mobile-device pane in Windows 11 Start
Windows 11 also has a separate mobile-device companion pane in Start. It is an optional feature that Microsoft says is rolling out gradually; it is not required to open Phone Link, and its absence does not mean the app is unavailable.
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To turn the pane on or off, open Settings > Personalization > Start and toggle Show mobile device in Start. Microsoft’s listed prerequisites for this pane include Windows 11, Phone Link version 1.25032.82.0, a Microsoft account, Wi-Fi for Android or Bluetooth LE for iPhone. Availability may depend on the staged rollout. Details are in Microsoft’s mobile device in Start guidance.
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If setup or syncing does not work
The app opens, but setup fails
Microsoft says Phone Link is available only on Windows 10 or Windows 11. If code matching fails too many times during setup, its guidance is to reopen Phone Link and retry. See Microsoft’s Phone Link troubleshooting steps.
Android content does not sync after pairing
- Check for updates to both Phone Link on the PC and Link to Windows on the phone.
- Confirm both apps use the same Microsoft account.
- Check the phone’s power and network conditions. Microsoft says a trusted shared Wi-Fi connection is preferred for the fastest and most reliable link.
- If needed, check Link to Windows settings for the option to sync over mobile data; Wi-Fi is not required for every documented sync configuration.
Microsoft’s sync troubleshooting guidance covers additional checks.
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