- Microsoft’s Phone Link app allows users to easily connect their Android or iOS device to Windows 11 or 10.
- Phone Link comes pre-installed on Windows 11 and can be quickly downloaded from the Microsoft Store if needed.
- Phone Link has basic features such as sending text messages, managing notifications, viewing photos, and making and receiving calls.
What is Phone Link (and where can I download it)?
Phone Link is Microsoft’s answer to interacting with your mobile device from your Windows PC. This app covers your daily needs like viewing text messages, replying to notifications, managing photos and making calls. You don’t need to pick up your Android or iOS phone and unlock it.
That said, Phone Link lacks some features compared to superior syncing options like direct Android screen mirroring or using Samsung Flow with a compatible Samsung device.
System Requirements for Phone Link
In this part of how to use Phone Link, we check the system required to use Phone Link. Phone Link doesn’t require much, other than a computer running Windows 11 and an active Microsoft account. You’ll need to install a companion app on your phone to link it, and which mobile device you’re using will decide what kind of hardware you’ll need.
- Android: To use Phone Link, the phone and the Windows computer must be on the same Wi-Fi network. In addition, you can connect with Bluetooth for additional features such as calling. The minimum required specification is Android 7.0 or higher.
- iOS: An iPhone can only connect via Bluetooth, so make sure Bluetooth is turned on and the iPhone is in range. Your iPhone must have at least iOS 14 or higher.
In this part of how to use Phone Link, we will check how to set it up. You have to choose between pairing Android or iPhone. To pair your computer with your phone, install the companion app for Android or iOS. Download and install Link to Windows for Android or Link to Windows for iOS from Google Play or Apple Store, respectively. Then, run Phone Link on your computer or find it from the Windows 11 taskbar search.
Phone Link generates a QR code on the screen that you need to scan using the Link to Windows app on your phone. Alternatively, there is a web option that you can use to generate the same QR code.
After scanning this QR code, you will be presented with a link code on your phone and asked to sign in to your Microsoft account. Type this alphanumeric code in the Phone Link window to complete the pairing.
Next, you will be asked to grant some system permissions on your device. Allow or disallow managing the items you want to sync. Also, not granting full permissions or enabling battery-saver mode on your phone can cause errors in syncing with Phone Link.
Basic features of Phone Link application
In this part of how to use Phone Link, we will check its features. Assuming you’re connected to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, Phone Link has these main features:
- Texting: Manage and reply to your text messages. This is useful for those who prefer typing to texting.
- Notification management: All your notification banners can be viewed from Phone Link and even display a notification event in Windows. Any banner with interactive elements (such as answer fields) can be used.
- Photos (Android only): View 2,000 of your most recent photos and screenshots from your Android phone. They can be viewed in their original full size, saved, or deleted from your phone via Phone Link.
- Make and receive calls: With the appropriate permissions and Bluetooth enabled, answer calls using your computer’s hardware.
- Synchronize contacts: You can synchronize all your phone contacts and search for the name or phone number from the computer.
More advanced features, such as screen mirroring, using Android apps on a computer, and dragging and dropping files between devices are also available. However, they are limited to some compatible phones, mostly under the Samsung brand. This feature is likely to disappoint anyone who doesn’t have a compatible device. However, you don’t lose much and the bridge between the two devices is still effective, easy, and free.
Source: MAKEUSEOF.COM