In early 2022, Microsoft renamed the Your Phone app for Windows to Phone Link and the Your Phone Companion app for Android and iPhone to Link to Windows. Using those apps, you can connect your Android or iPhone to Windows and sync basic data between devices. The idea is to connect the Android phone or iPhone to a Windows PC and transfer data seamlessly. Instead of relying on a third-party solution, you can use apps that Microsoft made for that.
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Install the Apps on Android or iPhone and Windows 11 PC
Before connecting both devices, you’ll need to install the relevant apps on your Android phone or iPhone and a Windows 11 PC. Grab the link to the Windows app from the Google Play Store for your Android phone or App Store for iPhone.
Download: Link to Windows (Android) | Link to Windows (iPhone)
After that, install the Phone Link app on your Windows 11 computer.
Download: Phone Link (Windows)
Before you sync your phone with your computer, check for and install the latest system updates on both devices.
Connect Your Android or iPhone With Your Windows 11 PC
Next, you’ll need to connect your Android phone to the Windows 11 PC. You can use a USB cable or make sure both devices are on the same network.
1. Launch the Phone Link app on your computer and click the Android or iPhone button.
2. You might have to sign in with your Microsoft account details. After that, the Phone Link app will generate a QR code.
3. Open the Link to Windows app on your Android phone or iPhone and tap on Sign in using the QR code on your PC option under the Sign in button.
4. Use the Link to Windows app on your Android phone or iPhone to scan the QR code.
5. Next, tap Continue in the Link to Windows app on your phone.
6. The Phone Link app on your computer will generate a 6-digit alpha-numeric code. Enter the code into the Link to Windows app on your Android or iPhone.
7. Enter your Microsoft account password in the Link to Windows app on Android ori PHone. When done, tap Done in the Link to Windows app on Android or iPhone and hit Continue in the Phone Link app on your computer.
Photos
You can access the photos of your Android or iPhone on your Windows computer through the Phone Link app. The Photos tab gives direct access to your Android phone’s Gallery app or iPhone’s Photo app. Depending on the permissions, you’ll get access to photos accordingly. You can click on a photo and use the editing options above it.
Text: Automatically selects the text and you can copy it from the photos.
Open: You can use the default Photo Viewer app on Windows to check the picture on your phone.
Copy: Make a copy of the photo and paste it into an image editing app directly.
Save as: Directly save the picture to your computer.
Delete: You must allow the Link to Windows app to access and manage the files on your Android phone or iPhone.
Messages
This tab lets you access phone texts in the Phone Link app window. You can check and respond to the messages and even delete some. When composing messages, you also get the option to add emojis, images, and GIFs.
But that’ll turn your regular SMS into an MMS and your cellular service provider will charge you accordingly.
Calls
To enable the Phone Link app to make calls using your Android, you’ll need to pair your phone using Bluetooth with the Windows computer. On the Calls tab, you can view the call history.
You’ll also get a dialer with a search box to look up the contacts for faster dialing.
Enable Features in Phone Link
The Phone Link’s setting also hosts several features that let you apply and adjust different settings on your Android right from the computer. For starters, you can enable or disable the Notifications, Calls, Messages, and Photos details from appearing in the Phone Link app.
You can also enable the Audio Player option by using the Phone Link app to control the playback of the music playing on your phone. Besides that, you can change the download folder location on your computer for the files you transfer from your phone.
