Phone Link: How do you synchronise Windows with your Android?

Phone Link (formerly known as "Your Phone") is Microsoft's application that allows you to synchronise calls, messages and notifications from your Android mobile phone to your Windows PC screen. Today we tell you how it works.

One of the most popular features of Apple products is the way all your Apple devices can sync their information with each other. You take a photo with your phone and can instantly share it with your computer for professional editing. When you get a call, you can decide whether to take it on your iPhone or your MacBook - everything is connected.

To balance things out a bit, a Windows 10 update in October 2018 brought with it the introduction of Microsoft's Your Phone app. This allows you to view messages, calls and other notifications that come in on your phone from your computer.

Since its launch, this app has been constantly improved and if you use Android and Windows, you should definitely install it to see how much you will gain in productivity. Since the launch of Windows 11, the app has been renamed "Phone Link" and has a better design and features for a change.

How do I set up Phone Link?

First you need to install the app by downloading it from the Microsoft Store. The mobile app is called "Link to Windows". To be able to use all the functions, you must meet at least the following requirements:

• A computer with Windows 10 (from the May 2019 update or later) or Windows 11.
• An Android device with Android 7.0 (Nougat) or higher.
• Both the mobile phone and the PC must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Once everything is installed, you need to start the set-up process to pair your phone: but don't worry, it's easy. They are even working on implementing a QR code to make pairing easier (just like WhatsApp and WhatsApp Desktop). If you still have doubts about pairing the devices, you can see how it's done on Microsoft's support website

What functions does it have?

The new Phone Link interface focuses on notifications and offers tab-based navigation so that you as a user don't miss anything. But do you know what you can do?

Instantly view all photos on your mobile phone, on your computer

You no longer need a cable to connect and transfer images, and Bluetooth is not required either. If you give the app on your Android device the appropriate permissions, the images are instantly transferred to Phone Link and you can see them on your computer so you can copy, edit and share them wherever you want.

Making and receiving calls

If Bluetooth is activated and the app is configured correctly, you have to pair the devices again with a pin and you have access to your Android call list and contacts. From then on, you can make and receive calls from your computer as if you were using your mobile phone.

Send and receive SMS

When a message arrives, you see the notification in Phone Link and can also reply from there and even attach multimedia content and emojis. You also have access to your phone's entire SMS history.

Android notifications on your computer

Another interesting feature is that you can receive the rest of your Android notifications on your computer. You can choose which ones you want to receive depending on the apps you have on your phone. So if you're focused on your computer but waiting for an important Instagram DM, you can find out right away .

Common browser

If you use Microsoft Edge as a browser on your computer, you have the option to share any link, content or web page you have opened on your desktop directly on your Android phone... and vice versa.

And more...

If you also install other applications such as Microsoft Launcher or Microsoft To Do, you get more functions that complement Phone Link.

For example, you can use Launcher to open a file on your mobile phone and then share it on your computer using the Next button on the PC to continue working with the same file on your desktop. Similarly, you can use Launcher to access sticky notes when working with them on your computer.

With Microsoft To Do, you can create a to-do list that you can synchronise between your computer and your mobile phone to keep track of everything you have to do for the day. So there's nothing left to do .

Do you have any questions?

Remember, you can buy any Windows licence directly from our website. And if you have any questions, our support team will help you whenever you need it.

Write us a comment or give us a call

Yours sincerely,

Your Licendi team.