Microsoft Phone Link connects your phone to your Windows PC so you can see notifications, send texts, and access photos without picking up your device
Phone Link is a Windows application that mirrors some of your phone's functions directly onto your computer. It works with Android phones and iPhones, though the features available differ between the two. The app sits on your Windows taskbar and lets you read text messages, respond to them, see incoming calls, access your phone's photos, and run Android apps (on Android only) — all from your PC screen.
The main reason people use it is to stay connected without constantly switching between devices. If you are working on your computer and your phone buzzes in another room, Phone Link shows you the notification right there on your screen. You can reply to a text without leaving your desk, or quickly grab a photo from your phone's camera roll without unlocking your device.
Key Takeaways
- Phone Link requires a Windows PC running Windows 10 or later and either an Android phone or iPhone with the Phone Link app installed.
- On Android, you can send and receive texts, see calls, access photos, and run Android apps from your PC; on iPhone, you can see calls and access photos but cannot send texts or run apps.
- Your phone and PC must be on the same Wi-Fi network and signed into the same Microsoft account for Phone Link to work.
- Phone Link does not cost money and comes built into Windows, but it does require you to grant the app permission to access your phone's contacts, messages, and photos.
What Phone Link can do on Android versus iPhone
Android phones get the full feature set. You can read and send text messages, see who is calling and answer or decline calls, view your phone's photo library, and even launch Android apps directly from your PC. This means if you have an Android app installed on your phone, you can open it on your computer screen without touching your phone. You also see notifications from your phone's apps pop up on your PC.
iPhones have a narrower set of features. You can see incoming calls and access your photos, but you cannot send or receive text messages through Phone Link, and you cannot run iPhone apps on your PC. Apple's restrictions on how third-party apps can interact with iPhones are the reason for this difference. If texting from your computer is important to you, an Android phone works better with Phone Link.
How to set up Phone Link on your Windows PC
Start by opening the Phone Link app on your Windows PC. You can find it by typing "Phone Link" into the Windows search bar, or it may already be pinned to your taskbar. When you open it for the first time, you will see a button to link your phone.
The app will ask you to sign in with your Microsoft account — the same one you use for Windows. After you sign in, it will show you a QR code. On your phone, download the Phone Link app from the Google Play Store (for Android) or the App Store (for iPhone), open it, and scan the QR code with your phone's camera. This links the two devices together.
Once the QR code is scanned, your phone will ask you to grant Phone Link permission to access your contacts, messages, photos, and notifications. You must allow these permissions for the app to work. Your phone and PC must be on the same Wi-Fi network and stay signed into the same Microsoft account for the connection to stay active.
What permissions Phone Link needs and why
Phone Link asks for several permissions on your phone, and understanding what each one does helps you decide whether you are comfortable using the app. The app needs access to your contacts so it can show you who is texting or calling. It needs access to your messages to display text conversations on your PC. It needs access to your photos to show your phone's photo library on your computer screen.
The app also requests notification access, which lets it show you alerts from other apps on your PC. This is how you see a notification from Instagram or a calendar reminder without looking at your phone. All of these permissions stay within your own devices — the data does not leave your phone and PC unless you actively choose to share it with someone else through the app.
Common reasons Phone Link stops working
The most frequent issue is that your phone and PC are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Phone Link needs both devices connected to the internet and on the same network to communicate. If you move your phone to a different Wi-Fi network or turn off Wi-Fi entirely, the connection drops. Reconnecting to the same network usually fixes it.
Another common problem is that one of the devices is signed into a different Microsoft account. Phone Link requires both your phone and PC to be signed into the same Microsoft account. If you recently changed your password or signed out, you may need to sign back in on one of the devices. You can check which account you are signed into by opening Settings on your PC or your phone.
If Phone Link still will not connect after checking the network and accounts, try restarting both devices. Close the Phone Link app completely on your PC, restart your computer, and restart your phone. Then open Phone Link again and wait a few seconds for it to reconnect.
Privacy and security considerations
Phone Link stores your messages, photos, and contact information on your devices, not on Microsoft's servers. The connection between your phone and PC is encrypted, meaning the data traveling between them is scrambled so others cannot read it. However, you are still trusting Microsoft with the ability to sync this data, so if you have concerns about any company having access to your messages or photos, Phone Link may not be right for you.
You can revoke Phone Link's access at any time by going into your phone's app permissions and turning off access to contacts, messages, or photos. You can also unlink your phone from your PC by opening Phone Link settings and selecting the option to remove your phone. This stops the connection immediately and prevents Phone Link from accessing your phone's data going forward.
Alternatives if Phone Link does not fit your needs
If you want to see phone notifications on your PC but do not want to grant Phone Link access to your messages and photos, Windows Notifications can show you alerts from some apps without needing to link your phone. You can also use your phone's native features — most Android phones and iPhones let you send texts from a web browser or another app without using Phone Link.
If you need to access files from your phone on your PC, you can use cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive instead of Phone Link. These services let you upload photos and documents to the cloud and access them from any device without needing to link your phone directly to your computer. This approach gives you more control over which files are shared and when.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Phone Link work if my phone and PC are on different Wi-Fi networks?
No. Phone Link requires both devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network to communicate. If you are away from home or at a different location with a different network, the connection will not work. You can reconnect when both devices are on the same network again.
Can I use Phone Link if I do not have a Microsoft account?
No. Phone Link requires you to sign in with a Microsoft account on both your PC and your phone. If you do not have one, you can create one for free at account.microsoft.com. You will need the same account on both devices for Phone Link to work.
Will Phone Link drain my phone's battery?
Phone Link uses some battery because it keeps a connection open between your phone and PC while both are on the same Wi-Fi network. The drain is usually small, but if you notice your phone's battery dropping faster than normal, you can turn off Phone Link when you are not using it by closing the app on your PC or disabling Wi-Fi on your phone.
Can I text from my iPhone using Phone Link?
No. Apple does not allow third-party apps like Phone Link to send or receive text messages on iPhones. You can see incoming calls and access photos, but texting requires an Android phone. This is a limitation of how iPhone apps work, not a choice by Microsoft.
What happens to my data if I unlink my phone from Phone Link?
Your data stays on your phone and PC. Unlinking just stops the connection between the two devices. Phone Link will no longer be able to access your messages, photos, or contacts. If you link your phone again later, the app will ask for permissions again before it can access your data.