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What Phone Link can access
Phone Link does not automatically expose every feature or item on every phone. The categories available depend on the phone platform, model, operating-system version, permissions, and Windows feature support. Microsoft’s Phone Link requirements and setup information describes the current general requirements: Android 10 or later, or iOS 16 or later, plus supported Windows versions. Individual features can have narrower availability.
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| Feature or data | What may be available | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Messages | View and send messages; on Android, enable receiving or automatically downloading MMS attachments. | On iPhone, message access is affected by Show Notifications and Sync Contacts in the Bluetooth settings for the paired PC. Android message permission can expose sensitive SMS, including two-factor authentication codes. |
| Photos and media | Phone Link Photos can show phone photos; supported access may include media such as videos and audio. | Windows 11 File Explorer access is a separate setting. Files accessed there are online-only, and deleting one from File Explorer permanently deletes it from the phone. |
| Notifications | Phone notifications can appear on the PC, with related cross-device features on supported Android devices. | Android requires notification access; iPhone sharing is managed through Bluetooth settings for the paired PC. |
| Calls and call history | Make and receive calls through Phone Link. | Microsoft says the Calls page shows calls made or received in the last 90 days. Android needs calling permissions; iPhone Sync Contacts also gives access to Call History. |
| Other Android features | Depending on the phone, features may include apps, audio player, instant hotspot, cross-device copy and paste, wallpaper, or syncing over mobile data. | Availability varies by device and support. Windows 11 Mobile devices settings separately control File Explorer access, connected-camera use, and new-photo notifications. |
| Location | An optional Link to Windows location permission may provide phone location information for Windows experiences such as local search results, time-zone adjustment, and weather. | Review the actual phone’s permission and privacy controls; behavior depends on the device and the user’s choices. |
Messages can include sensitive SMS
Microsoft warns that granting message permission can make sensitive data visible in Phone Link, including two-factor authentication SMS. Consider this before enabling Messages, especially if other people can sign in to your Windows account.
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On Windows 11, the separate “Show mobile device in File Explorer” feature can expose phone files, photos, and media. Microsoft says these files are online-only in File Explorer; deleting one there permanently removes it from the phone. Copy a file to the PC first if you want to keep a separate copy. This deletion warning applies to File Explorer access, not simply viewing a photo in Phone Link.
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Where to manage Phone Link permissions
Think of access as layered: Phone Link’s Windows feature toggles determine which Phone Link functions are active, while phone-side permissions authorize the underlying access. Windows 11’s Mobile devices settings add another, separate set of controls for supported Android features.
Turn Phone Link features on or off in Windows
- Open Phone Link on the PC.
- Open Settings > Features.
- Switch off any feature you do not want to use, such as Notifications, Messages, Calls, or Photos.
Microsoft says turning off a feature stops syncing its related content until you turn it on again. This Windows switch is not a substitute for reviewing phone permissions.
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Review Android permissions on the phone
- On Android, open Settings > Apps > Link to Windows > Permissions.
- Review the permissions listed on your phone and deny access you do not want to grant.
- Review notification access separately in Android’s settings or the Link to Windows app settings. Notification permission can be granted during pairing or later; Microsoft notes that Android 13 introduced a runtime notification permission.
Android menu names and locations vary by manufacturer and software version. Removing a phone permission can make the related Phone Link feature unavailable.
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Manage iPhone sharing with the paired PC
- On the iPhone, open Settings > Bluetooth.
- Tap the information button beside the paired PC.
- Review Show Notifications and Sync Contacts, and turn off the sharing you do not want.
These Bluetooth settings affect the Phone Link features available for the iPhone, including messages, notifications, contacts, and call history.
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Check Windows 11 Mobile devices separately
- On the PC, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices > Manage devices.
- For a linked Android device, review the available controls for File Explorer, connected-camera use, and new-photo notifications.
- Turn off any capability you do not want to use.
These controls are distinct from the Phone Link Settings > Features page, so review both areas if you want to limit access.
How to unlink a phone
If you no longer want the phone connected, remove it from Phone Link or Windows Mobile devices settings, then follow Microsoft’s device removal guidance for the phone-side Link to Windows connection as well. Microsoft notes that removal may be needed in more than one place. After the device is removed, Phone Link calls, texts, and notifications are unavailable.
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Protect Phone Link data on a shared PC
Phone-side permissions are only part of the privacy boundary: anyone able to use your Windows account may also be able to see Phone Link content available in that account. Microsoft strongly recommends separate Microsoft accounts for each PC user to protect each person’s pictures, messages, and other data.
Requirements and feature availability
Microsoft’s general setup guidance lists Android 10 or later and Windows 10 with the October 2022 update or later, or Windows 11. For iPhone, it lists iOS 16 or later and Windows 10 with the May 2019 update or later, or Windows 11; the PC also needs Bluetooth Low Energy support. These are general setup requirements, not a guarantee that every feature is available on every phone, PC, or market. Check the device’s actual settings and Microsoft’s current requirements page for feature-specific compatibility.
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