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If your phone won’t connect to Phone Link in Windows 11, first identify whether it’s an Android phone or an iPhone: standard Android linking depends on both devices communicating over the same Wi-Fi network, while iPhone pairing requires Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) on the PC. Then check that both devices are on, the right apps and permissions are in place, and the phone and PC meet Microsoft’s requirements. Work through the matching checklist below before removing and pairing the phone again.
Check which connection path your phone uses
Phone Link uses different connection requirements for Android and iPhone. A phone can also connect successfully while a particular feature remains unavailable, so troubleshoot the connection separately from feature compatibility.
| Phone | Basic requirements | Likely connection checks |
|---|---|---|
| Android | Android 10 or later; Windows 11 or Windows 10 with the October 2022 update or later. Standard setup uses the same Wi-Fi network on both devices. | Wi-Fi, Microsoft account, permissions, network isolation, app updates, and power-saving settings. |
| iPhone | iOS 16 or later; Windows 11 or Windows 10 with the May 2019 update or later; the PC must support Bluetooth Low Energy. | Bluetooth availability and pairing through Phone Link, followed by requested iPhone permissions. |
Microsoft recommends using the latest Windows 11 version. See its Phone Link requirements and setup guidance for current requirements.
Fix an Android phone that won’t connect
1. Check device state and Wi-Fi
- Make sure the phone and PC are powered on, near one another, and not in airplane mode.
- Turn off battery saver temporarily on both devices, and make sure the phone’s Wi-Fi is on and the PC has internet access.
- Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network. If your router shows separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network names, try connecting both devices to the same named network and band.
Microsoft’s Link to Windows troubleshooting guidance recommends checking these basic conditions.
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2. Verify the account and permissions
- Sign in to Phone Link on the PC and Link to Windows on the phone with the same Microsoft account.
- Grant the requested permissions in Link to Windows. If notifications are the feature that fails, allow its notifications and turn off Do Not Disturb while testing.
- On Android 13, allow notification permission if you want notifications to be sent to the PC or related data to transfer.
For a new pairing, start in Phone Link on the PC, scan its QR code with Link to Windows, or sign in with the same Microsoft account on both devices, then approve the requested permissions.
3. Check for network restrictions
Being connected to the same Wi-Fi does not always mean devices can communicate with each other. A VPN or firewall may block local traffic, and public or managed work networks may restrict communication between devices. Temporarily test without a VPN or firewall only if you can do so safely; restore your protection afterward. If the network is managed, ask its administrator whether device-to-device traffic is restricted.
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If both devices are on the same network but still cannot connect, check the router for AP Isolation or Wireless Isolation. Those settings can prevent Wi-Fi devices from communicating with one another; the router owner or administrator may need to change them. Microsoft explains this issue in its Phone Link connection troubleshooting guidance.
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- On the PC, open Phone Link > Settings > About > Check for updates.
- On Android, check for updates to Link to Windows.
- After installing updates, close and reopen both apps and try connecting again.
5. Relink only if the earlier checks fail
If a phone that was paired before will not reconnect, unlink the account in Link to Windows, then add the phone again from Phone Link > Settings > Devices. Restart Phone Link if it still fails. Microsoft also describes enabling mobile-data syncing in Link to Windows settings, but standard Android setup uses the same Wi-Fi network, so mobile data is not the first connection check.
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Fix an iPhone that won’t connect
1. Confirm Bluetooth support and availability
Check that the PC has Bluetooth, that Bluetooth is turned on, and that the PC supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The iPhone must run iOS 16 or later. If the iPhone option is unavailable in Phone Link, Microsoft says Bluetooth may be off or unavailable on the PC.
2. Pair through Phone Link
- Open Phone Link on the PC and select iPhone.
- Scan the QR code shown on the PC with the iPhone camera.
- Complete the Bluetooth pairing prompt and grant the permissions requested on the iPhone.
Allow the relevant notification-sharing, message-notification, and contact-synchronization settings for the features you want to use. If you removed the iPhone from Windows Bluetooth settings, pair it again through Phone Link: Microsoft says removing it there stops Phone Link syncing for calls, messages, and notifications. See Microsoft’s Phone Link setup instructions.
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Restart setup after repeated code mismatches
If setup codes fail to match more than three times, Microsoft says linking may be automatically prevented for security reasons. Stop retrying the same code flow: close and reopen Phone Link on the PC, then start setup again. See Microsoft’s Phone Link setup troubleshooting guidance.
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Check feature compatibility after the phone connects
A successful link does not guarantee that every Phone Link feature works with your phone. Microsoft says Android Apps is available only on select devices and in select markets; availability can depend on the phone model, Android version, and whether Link to Windows came preinstalled. Some experiences, including Apps and phone screen, are limited by device, software version, and market. Check Microsoft’s requirements and setup page and Android app availability information for the feature and device you want to use.
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