Your phone companion link to windows

• Link to Windows (LTW) app for most Android devices.
• Link to Windows (LTW) app preinstalled on select Samsung and HONOR phones.
• You’ll see the name Link to Windows in the Google Play Store and in the Galaxy Store. In the Microsoft Store, you’ll see Phone Link. This link between your device and PC gives you instant access to everything you love. Read and reply to messages with ease, view recent photos from your Android device, use your favorite mobile apps⁶, make and receive calls, and manage your Android device’s notifications right on your PC.^{4 5}
• Phone Link requires the following to work:
  • A PC running Windows 10 May 2019 Update or later.
    • If you’re currently running the May 2019 Update, you will need to install the Phone Link app from the Microsoft Store. Any Windows version after the May 2019 Update will have the app preinstalled.
  • An Android device running Android 7.0 (Nougat) or above.

You’ll find Phone Link preinstalled if you have the Windows 10 October 2019 Update or later. When you open the app, you’ll be guided through a few extra steps you’ll need to take to finish setting things up.

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type Phone Link, and then select Phone Link app from the results.
2. Select Android.
3. You’ll be asked to sign into your Microsoft account (you’ll need to be signed into the same Microsoft account on both your Android device and PC in order to link your devices.)
4. Once you’re signed in, you’ll be prompted to install or open the companion app on your Android device. To do this, open a web browser on your Android device and then enter the link that’s displayed on your PC (aka.ms/yourpc).
5. Sign into the companion app with the same Microsoft account that you’re signed in to on your PC. The app will then open to a screen that displays a QR code for you to scan—we’ll come back to that.
6. Once you’ve signed in, go back to your PC and select the I have the Link to Windows app installed on my phone check box. Then select the Pair with QR code button.

   Note: If you’d like to pair your device without using a QR code, select the Pair manually button on your PC instead. On your Android device, you’ll be prompted to enter the code displayed on your PC.

7. A QR code will appear on your PC screen. On your Android device, the companion app should be open to a screen with a camera on it. Use this screen to scan the QR code that’s displayed on your PC.
8. Once your devices are linked, your Android device will prompt you for several device permissions. These permissions help you access content from your phone on your PC.

If you start from your Android device:

1. Open a browser on your Android device, type aka.ms/yourpc in the browser, and then download the Link to Windows app. For select Samsung devices.
2. You’ll be prompted to open Link to Windows instead, which is preinstalled on your Android device.
3. Sign into the companion app with the same Microsoft account you’re signed into on your PC (you need to be signed in with your Microsoft account on your PC in order to link your devices even though you’re starting from your phone).
4. After signing in, you’ll be prompted to scan a QR code that’s displayed on your PC. To get to it, on your PC, open a browser to aka.ms/linkphone.
5. Use the companion app’s camera to scan the QR code that’s displayed on your PC with your Android device to link your devices.
6. You’ll be asked for a series of device permissions to allow you to access content from your phone and on your PC.

If you encounter issues installing the app, troubleshoot them here.

You can use Phone Link to complete convenient smartphone tasks from your Windows PC, such as:

• Make and take phone calls on cellular networks (this will require your phone to be paired to your PC).^{4 5 8 9}
• View your photo gallery (up to your most recent 2,000 pictures and screenshots from your camera roll and screenshots folder).^{4 5}
• Write and reply to SMS text messages, send photos, emojis, GIFs, and media content.^{4 5}
• Message history and group chats.^{4 5}
• Your phone’s contact list when you search for names or phone numbers.^{4 5}
• View, dismiss, pin, or clear all notifications. (You can also manage which apps have notification privileges).^{4 5}
• Put your phone into “Do Not Disturb” mode.^{4 5}
• Mute your phone if sound is playing from it.^{4 5}
• Play, pause, and skip songs that are “now playing” (like if you have Spotify or another music player open on your phone).^{4 5}
• See battery percentage, if Bluetooth is on, current Wi-Fi network connectivity, current mobile data network and strength.^{4 5 8 9}

Sometimes your phone needs to charge more before you go out. Phone Link enables you to still use it with your PC while it’s plugged in and by the outlet. Or perhaps you’re in a meeting and having your phone out will look unprofessional. Phone Link will give you a heads up of any important calls you need to take or texts you need to see.

Phone Link gives you the added versatility of being able to access and transfer information from an extra device. Instead of looking away from your screen and pulling out your phone to see notifications, it’s a notification on your PC, increasing the chances your attention stays focused on what you need to do.

In addition to browsing, you can also drag and drop them from Phone Link into open message windows or PowerPoint presentations. You can save them to any folder on your PC or your OneDrive for backing up. You can share the files to your contacts and you can delete them.^{4 5}

Simply go to Settings > My Devices in Phone Link on your PC and remove your linked device from the list. You can relink at any time. When pairing is removed, your personal content does not remain anywhere on your PC.

Go to Settings > Features in Phone Link on your PC. It’s there you can customize options like which apps can send notifications to you. Removing permissions for a feature will also disable the feature.

If you have Windows 11, Phone Link will come preinstalled.

If you have Windows 10, it must run Windows 10, May 2019 Update at the least.

Your phone must be running Android 8.0 (Oreo) or later. To guarantee optimal compatibility and performance, we strongly recommend using Android 10 (Q) or newer.

Phone Link help & learning

Troubleshoot issues, receive tech support, and learn how to get the most out of device syncing.

Meet Windows 11

Faster, more powerful, and more intuitive. That’s Windows 11. Discover how you can unlock greater productivity and creativity with Windows 11. Devices with Windows 11 also have the Phone Link app preinstalled.

Tips & tricks

Android users with Windows 10 and 11 can use Phone Link. Customize individual app settings to get the most out of your devices.