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Windows 11 connects to Android mainly through Microsoft Phone Link on the PC and Link to Windows on the phone. They can bring messages, notifications, calls and photos to Windows, but available features depend on the phone, software, permissions and—in some cases—your market or carrier. For the basic setup, Microsoft requires Android 10 or later and both devices on the same Wi-Fi network.
What Phone Link does—and what it does not promise
Phone Link is a collection of feature-specific connections, not a guarantee that every Android phone supports every integration. Depending on your device and the permissions you grant, you may be able to read and reply to texts, manage notifications, make and receive calls, browse phone photos, share files, or use selected phone apps on the PC. Microsoft’s Phone Link requirements and setup and supported-device list are the best places to check a specific combination.
What you need to connect an Android phone
- A PC running Windows 11, with Phone Link available.
- An Android phone running Android 10 or later.
- Both devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network for the standard setup.
- A Microsoft account for the documented pairing flow.
Microsoft says multiple Android profiles and work or school accounts are not currently supported in its general requirements guidance. Requirements and supported combinations can change, so check Microsoft’s live pages for your particular phone and the feature you want.
How to link the phone and PC
- On the PC, open Phone Link from the Start menu and choose the Android option.
- On the phone, open or install Link to Windows. Sign in with the same Microsoft account used in the PC flow.
- Scan the QR code shown in Phone Link. Microsoft also offers a manual pairing option.
- When Android prompts you, allow only the permissions needed for the features you want to use. Some features require additional setup or confirmation.
Microsoft’s setup guidance says account credentials are transferred to the phone for seamless access to content when you give permission to link the phone and PC. That explanation should not be taken as a broader account of every data flow.
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Which features work, and where the limits are
| Feature | What you can do | Important limits |
|---|---|---|
| Messages and notifications | Read and reply to text messages and manage phone notifications from the PC. | Feature settings and Android permissions control what appears. Message permission can make sensitive SMS, including two-factor authentication messages, visible in Phone Link. |
| Calls | Use Phone Link to make and receive calls through the phone. | Requires Bluetooth between the phone and PC, along with permissions and pairing confirmation. Wi-Fi alone does not provide the calls connection. |
| Photos and phone folders | Browse phone photos and folders from Windows 11 File Explorer; copy, paste, drag and drop, or handle multiple items. | Microsoft says the Windows 11 mobile photos experience is moving to File Explorer. Linked items are online-only; deleting one in File Explorer permanently removes it from the phone. Copy a file to the PC first if you want a separate local copy. |
| App access and phone screen | On supported combinations, access selected phone apps or view the phone screen on the PC. | These experiences are limited to supported devices and, for phone screen, select markets. The multiple-app experience has additional Android-version and device requirements. |
| File sharing | Share files between a Windows 11 PC and Android phone using Microsoft’s supported file-sharing flow. | Microsoft specifies minimum app versions; check its current file-sharing instructions before relying on the feature. |
| RCS messages | RCS can work in Phone Link when Samsung Messages is the phone’s default messaging app. | Availability varies by carrier and country. Confirm the current supported-device guidance before assuming it is available. |
| Start menu mobile integration | Windows can surface mobile-device integration in the Start menu. | Microsoft says the rollout is gradual, so the feature may not yet appear for everyone. |
Microsoft’s pages for supported devices, phone screen and apps, app requirements, and RCS availability describe combinations that can vary by model, Android version, market or carrier.
How to manage permissions and privacy
Link to Windows may request access to phone content and notifications during setup. In Phone Link, open Settings and review the feature controls for notifications, messages, calls and photos. Turning a feature off stops that related content from syncing until you turn it back on; removing its Android permission also disables the associated feature. You can unlink the devices if you no longer want them connected.
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Pay particular attention to message access: Microsoft warns that granting message permission can make sensitive SMS, including two-factor authentication messages, visible in Phone Link. On a shared or work PC, consider who can access your Windows session before enabling messages or notifications. Grant only permissions that match the features you intend to use. Microsoft’s optional location-permission explanation says location data is de-identified before upload and not associated with the Link to Windows account; that is Microsoft’s representation, not an independent audit finding.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to check compatibility before relying on a feature
- Identify the exact feature you need—such as calls, app streaming, file transfer or RCS—rather than checking only whether Phone Link opens.
- Look up the exact phone model on Microsoft’s current supported-device list, including any model-specific restrictions.
- Check the Android and app-version requirements shown for that feature.
- For market- or carrier-dependent features, confirm availability in your country and with your carrier; for RCS, also verify the required default messaging app.
- Confirm the PC has Wi-Fi for the basic connection and Bluetooth if you want calls.
- Review requested permissions and decide whether the convenience is worth having that content visible on the PC.
Compatibility claims should be tied to the exact model, feature and market. For example, Microsoft’s list includes Samsung Galaxy S24, but that does not mean every Phone Link feature is supported on every S24 in every region.
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- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
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