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Start by identifying what is failing: Android and iPhone use different Phone Link connections, and a successful pairing does not guarantee that every feature is available. For Android, check Wi-Fi, the Microsoft account, app permissions, and battery settings. For iPhone, check Bluetooth, the PC’s Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support, and pairing permissions. Then follow the matching section below.
Microsoft’s current Phone Link requirements and setup page lists Windows 10 (October 2022 update or later) or Windows 11 and Android 10 or later for Android use. For iPhone, it lists Windows 10 (May 2019 update or later) or Windows 11, iOS 16 or later, and BLE support on the PC. Requirements and feature support can change; this guide was reviewed October 11, 2026.
First, identify the kind of Phone Link problem
- First-time setup fails: use the setup steps for Android or iPhone below.
- A previously linked phone will not reconnect: check the platform basics, then unlink and pair again.
- The phone is linked but one feature fails: check that feature’s separate requirements and permissions. Pairing alone does not establish eligibility for Apps, Phone screen, calls, or notifications.
On Android, Microsoft lists the PC and phone being on the same Wi-Fi network as a requirement. Some supported Android devices have Link to Windows preinstalled. On iPhone, the setup is based on Bluetooth pairing rather than the Android Wi-Fi setup flow. See Microsoft’s requirements and setup instructions for the current steps.
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Fix Android connection or sync problems
Check the connection, account, and app versions
- Turn on both devices and connect them to the same trusted Wi-Fi network.
- Update Phone Link on the PC and Link to Windows on the phone. Check the app stores or Windows update mechanisms available for your devices.
- Confirm that Phone Link and Link to Windows are signed in to the same Microsoft account.
- Turn off Battery Saver on both devices while testing. On the PC, check that Phone Link is allowed to run in the background. If your Windows version has a shared experiences or account status setting relevant to connected devices, verify it is enabled and signed in.
Public Wi-Fi, workplace networks, VPNs, or firewall rules can prevent devices from communicating. Do not bypass workplace security controls; ask the network administrator whether device-to-device traffic is allowed. Microsoft’s Phone Link troubleshooting guide and Phone Link FAQ cover connection checks.
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Check Android permissions and notification settings
- Allow Link to Windows notifications on the phone and turn off Do Not Disturb temporarily while testing.
- On Android 13, notification access requires an explicit permission on the phone.
- For missing notifications, check Android notification access and battery optimization. Notifications Android blocks as sensitive will not appear in Phone Link; see Microsoft’s notification troubleshooting.
Unlink and reconnect a phone that used to work
- Update Link to Windows, then sign out and unlink the account in the phone app.
- On the PC, open Phone Link and choose Add new device to begin setup again.
- If the connection still fails, close and reopen Phone Link, then retry. Microsoft describes this reconnection sequence in its troubleshooting instructions.
Link to Windows also has an option to sync over mobile data. Use it only if needed: it may consume your cellular data allowance. It is an optional workaround, not the default connection path.
Fix iPhone pairing or syncing problems
Check Bluetooth, BLE, and permissions
- Turn on Bluetooth on both the iPhone and the PC, and keep the devices nearby.
- Confirm that the PC supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which Microsoft requires for iPhone use with Phone Link.
- Start setup in Phone Link, scan the QR code with the iPhone camera, and complete the Bluetooth pairing prompts.
- Approve the permissions you want Phone Link to use, including notifications, messages, contacts, and call history. Also check the iPhone Bluetooth device’s notification-related toggles if a feature is missing.
Microsoft’s current setup page has the iPhone requirements and pairing instructions.
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Remove an incomplete pairing and try again
- Remove the PC from the iPhone’s Bluetooth devices, and remove the iPhone from Windows Bluetooth settings.
- On the iPhone, forget the PC. Turn Bluetooth off on both devices for ten seconds, then turn it back on.
- Retry setup in Phone Link and complete the pairing and permission prompts.
If the PC does not support BLE, the stated iPhone requirement is not met. A Bluetooth adapter is not guaranteed to resolve every pairing problem; Microsoft’s requirement does not endorse a specific adapter.
Resolve a setup code mismatch
When the pairing codes do not match, stop rather than repeatedly guessing. Microsoft says more than three failed code-matching attempts can automatically prevent linking. Close and reopen Phone Link on the PC, restart setup, and follow the new prompts; permission prompts may appear instead of another code match. See Microsoft’s setup troubleshooting guide.
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Fix one feature that does not work after pairing
Phone screen or Android apps
Phone screen is limited to supported Android devices in select markets and requires Android 10 or later, with Link to Windows installed or preinstalled. Phone Link Apps and multiple-app use have additional device and software requirements. Microsoft’s Apps guidance lists Android 11 and at least 8 GB of PC RAM for multiple apps. Check the current supported-device list, Phone screen setup instructions, and Apps setup instructions. Some mobile apps block screen casting; a black screen in one app can therefore be an app restriction rather than a broken Phone Link connection. For Apps-specific issues, use Microsoft’s Apps troubleshooting guide.
Calls
Check that the phone and PC are paired over Bluetooth. Another phone-linking utility or a manufacturer app may already have paired the devices and cause a conflict. Microsoft lists this as a possible cause in its calls troubleshooting guide.
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Notifications
On Android, verify Link to Windows notification access and battery optimization settings; blocked sensitive notifications will not be shown. On iPhone, check the permissions and Bluetooth notification toggles approved during setup. Microsoft’s notification troubleshooting page provides Android-specific checks.
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Open Phone Link Settings > Feedback & Community, or use Feedback Hub, and include the exact error, whether the phone is Android or iPhone, whether setup ever completed, and which feature fails. Those details help distinguish a pairing problem from a feature or permission issue; avoid assuming that hardware replacement is necessary.
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