Complete guide to using Phone Link on Windows 11: setup, requirements, and all its features

Would you like to have all the content and notifications from your Android or iPhone mobile directly on your computer with Windows 11? More and more users want real integration between their devices, and Microsoft has bet heavily on this trend with the app phone link (also known as Mobile Link). Thanks to this tool, you can reply to messages, make calls, check your photos, receive notifications and even use apps from your mobile device from the comfort of your PC. If you haven't tried it yet, you're missing out on a much smoother experience across all your devices!

In this article, you will discover Everything you need to know about Phone Link for Windows 11: from what it is exactly and how it works, to how to set it up step by step so you can enjoy its benefits without complications. We'll also explain its compatibility with Android and iPhone phones, the detailed technical requirements, and many other features and functions. Tricks that you probably didn't know about. Pay attention because this can revolutionize your daily productivity, especially if you spend a lot of time in front of a computer.

What is Phone Link and how does it work?

phone link It is the official Microsoft solution to synchronize your smartphone with your Windows computer, allowing you to access your phone's features and content directly from your PC. Formerly known as "Your Phone Companion," the app has been rebranded and redesigned to better suit Windows 11 users, with a revamped interface and performance improvements. The goal? You don't have to constantly switch between your phone and PC.

Phone Link works based on two applications that work hand in hand:

• The own phone link o Mobile Link installed on your PC running Windows 10 (from the May 2019 Update) or Windows 11, which usually comes pre-installed, although it can be easily installed from the Microsoft Store if needed.
• La app “Link to Windows app. o Windows connection that is installed on your Android mobile from Google Play, Galaxy Store or other stores, and that in some devices from Samsung, HONOR, OPPO, ASUS and vivo will already come pre-integrated from the factory.

Once the connection is configured, the user can manage SMS messages, reply WhatsApp or text messages, view and transfer photos, access calls, use mobile applications from the PC, and control all notifications, among many other possibilities.

Phone Link Technical Requirements on Windows 11 and Mobile: Compatibility

For an optimal experience, it's essential that both your PC and mobile device meet several requirements. If you have a Windows 11 computer, virtually all modern models are ready. But what should you check in detail?

• Windows 11 PC: Compatible with all versions, although it is highly recommended to have the latest updates installed to take full advantage of the features.
• Windows 10: You need at least the May 2019 Update (version 1903). If your device is older, update it for security and compatibility reasons.
• Android phones: Starting with Android 8.0 for basic functions, although for best compatibility and all advanced features it is better to use Android 10 or higherSome Samsung, HONOR, OPPO, ASUS, vivo, and Realme devices offer extended features.
• iPhone: caps be worn. iOS 15 or higher, and support for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) on your computer. Although support is limited on iOS, you can manage messages, calls, and notifications.
• WiFi connection: It is essential that the PC and mobile are connected to the same Wi-Fi network for stable content transfer and synchronization. Some functions also make use of Bluetooth (such as calling or pairing with iOS).
• Microsoft Account: You must log in with the same account on both the Windows and mobile apps to take advantage of maximum integration and synchronization.

Which phones are 100% compatible? Any recent Android will work for sending messages, viewing photos, and managing notifications. But more advanced features, such as screen sharing, drag-and-drop file transfers, or running mobile apps on your PC, are only available on selected devices of the aforementioned brands, and always with the latest versions of the operating system and the Link to Windows app.

Main features and benefits offered by Phone Link

Among the features that make Phone Link a must-have tool for Windows and mobile users are:

• Managing and responding to SMS and app messages: From your PC, you can write and reply to text messages from your mobile phone, including SMS and, on some models, WhatsApp messages and other messaging apps.
• Accessing and viewing recent photos: Forget about emailing photos. You can drag and drop images between your phone and PC, view them full screen, and even edit them right from your computer.
• Making and answering calls: If you have your phone nearby and Bluetooth turned on, you can make and answer calls directly from your PC without touching your phone.
• Managing mobile notifications: Receive all your smartphone notifications on your desktop and interact with them (dismiss, reply, etc.) without switching devices.
• Accessing and using mobile apps from your PC: If you have a compatible Samsung Galaxy, HONOR or similar mobile, you will be able to run and use Android apps on your computer, multiplying your work possibilities.
• Contacts and call log synchronization: Check your contacts list, quickly search, and call from the same Windows environment.
• Transferring files and documents: Drag documents and files between devices freely, without size limits or cables.
• Customizing Sync Options: Decide what you want to receive or manage from your PC: photos, messages, notifications, calls, apps, etc.
• Using your mobile camera as a webcam in Windows 11: In the most recent versions you can transform your mobile camera into a quality webcam for video calling apps or streaming.
• Instant Wi-Fi Hotspot: Some Samsung, HONOR, OPPO, and Vivo phones allow you to turn your phone into a hotspot for your PC without entering a password every time.

These constantly evolving features provide almost complete integration between mobile and computer.

Installing and configuring Phone Link on Windows 11

If you have Windows 11, the good news is that it usually You will already have Phone Link pre-installedIf you can't find it, you can easily install it from the Microsoft Store. Here's how to do it step by step:

• Open the start menu and search for "Phone Link." Click to open it.
• If it doesn't appear, open it Microsoft Store, search for "Phone Link" and tap install. The process will only take a few minutes.
• Once opened, you'll need to sign in with your Microsoft account (the same one you'll use on your phone).

To install the companion app on your phone, search for “Link to Windows” in the Google Play Store, Samsung Galaxy Store or even the iOS App Store if you have an iPhone (although on iOS it is optional, as the process is mainly managed from the PC and via Bluetooth).

After installing both apps, make sure both devices are nearby, connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and have Bluetooth enabled (for calls or iOS).

How to link your Android or iOS phone with Phone Link: a step-by-step guide

Pair an Android

1. On your PC, open Phone Link and select the Android pairing option.
2. On mobile, open the Link to Windows app or, if your terminal If it's Samsung, HONOR, OPPO, ASUS or vivo, look for the option from the quick settings or advanced settings screen.
3. From the PC, a will appear unit’s QR code on screen. On your mobile phone, select the option to link with a QR code and scan it with the camera.
4. You'll be asked to sign in with your Microsoft account on your phone and grant the app permission to access messages, photos, calls, and notifications.
5. Once granted, the link will be automatic and you'll be able to use all the features on your PC.

If you're adding another Android device

1. Download the Link to Windows app on your new phone (if it isn't pre-installed).
2. From your PC, open a browser and go to www.aka.ms/yourphoneqrc to display a new QR code.
3. Scan that QR code with your phone and accept the requested permissions.
4. You'll automatically see your other phone added to the list of devices managed from Phone Link.

Pair an iPhone with Phone Link in Windows 11

1. On your PC, open Phone Link and select “iPhone” as your device.
2. Make sure you have Bluetooth turned on on both your PC and iPhone.
3. Follow the pairing wizard and scan the generated QR code with your iPhone's camera. This initiates a direct Bluetooth connection.
4. Grant permissions on your iPhone to share messages, notifications, and contacts. You must enable notifications and contact syncing to access all available features.
5. After completing the process, you'll have access to your iPhone's notifications, messages, and call logs from your PC.

Remember that integration with iOS is still under development compared to Android, but it's very useful for anyone who wants to answer messages or receive calls without touching their phone.

Necessary Permissions and Privacy: What Data Are You Actually Sharing?

Phone Link and Link to Windows require a number of permissions to function properly, but privacy is guaranteed As long as you use the official Microsoft app and grant only the requested permissions:

• Permission to access messages, notifications and calls: It is essential to be able to view and respond to messages, receive notifications, or make/answer calls from your PC.
• Access permission to photos and files: You need to grant it if you want to transfer images, videos, and other documents between devices.
• Camera access permission: It's only required if you want to use your phone as a webcam for your computer or scan QR codes.
• Special permissions on Android 13 or higher: To properly manage notifications, you'll need to go to your system settings, find the Link to Windows app, and manually enable notification permissions if it's not requested during pairing.

Data transfers are always encrypted and are not stored on external servers beyond what's necessary for synchronization. Your Microsoft account credentials are transferred securely, and you can revoke permissions or unlink devices at any time.

How to manage features and customize the Phone Link experience

One of the strengths of Phone Link is that you can customize what you want to sync and how. From the settings in the Windows app You can activate or deactivate functions such as:

• Posts: Enable or disable synchronization of SMS and compatible apps.
• Photos: Decide whether you want the latest images from your phone to be available on your PC.
• Calls: Allows or blocks call handling from the computer.
• Notifications: Control which notifications appear and whether you want to interact with them.
• Applications: On supported phones, you can choose whether you want to view and use mobile apps on your PC.
• Instant Wi-Fi Hotspot: Enable or disable automatic hotspot between mobile and PC.
• Copy and paste between devices: Enable the clipboard shared to copy text, images or files between mobile and PC instantly.
• Wallpaper Sync: You can have your mobile wallpaper automatically sync with your computer wallpaper.
• File transfer via mobile data: Decide whether to allow synchronization only via Wi-Fi or also via mobile data (be careful with data usage).

Additionally, you can choose the folder where transferred files will be saved and customize other settings such as photo notifications and camera integration.

Managing and Unlinking Devices: How to Add or Remove Mobile Devices

If you want to manage multiple phones or delete an old one you no longer use, the process is simple:

• From the PC, enter the Phone Link app, go to Settings – My Devices and tap the phone you want to unlink. Select "Delete" and confirm.
• On Android or iOS, go to your Bluetooth settings and unpair your PC if you want to forget the relationship completely.
• To add a new device, simply repeat the pairing process and scan the new QR code generated by the app on your PC.

Advanced features: mobile camera as webcam and instant Wi-Fi hotspot

Using your mobile phone as a webcam

Don't have a webcam on your PC or want better image quality? Phone Link lets you use your Android phone's camera as a webcam for Windows, ideal for video calls or streaming. To do this:

• Open Phone Link settings and activate Use as a connected camera.
• Select your phone as the camera in the video calling app you're using (Teams, Zoom, etc.).
• Accept the permission notification on your phone the first time, and your camera will appear available in Windows.

Instant Hotspot

This feature allows you to connect your PC to the Wi-Fi network of your Samsung, HONOR, OPPO, or Vivo mobile phone instantly, without passwords. Simply:

• Open Phone Link on your PC and enable “Set up instant hotspot.”
• You'll receive a notification on your phone, which you'll need to accept so your PC can connect.
• Your PC will be added as an authorized device and will always appear as a quick option when searching for Wi-Fi networks.