Phone Link Won’t Connect to Android? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• Battery saver running on your PC or Android phone
• Battery optimization on your phone interrupting Link to Windows
• An older version of Phone Link or Link to Windows, which brings up the “Update Required” page
• Wireless Isolation, or AP Isolation, turned on in your router
• Phone Link and Samsung DeX open at the same time
• More than 3 failed attempts to match the codes during setup

Step-by-Step Solutions

Start with the quick checks at the top, try connecting again after each step, and leave unlinking for last.

1. 1

   Step 1: Check your account, Wi-Fi and profile

   Both devices need the same Microsoft account and the same Wi-Fi network.

   Make sure your PC and Android phone are both nearby, turned on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Check that your Wi-Fi works by opening your browser and going to a website.

   Sign in to the same Microsoft account in Phone Link on your PC and in the Link to Windows app on your phone. To check, open your browser on your PC, sign in at your Microsoft account’s devices page and see whether your Android phone is listed. In the downloaded Link to Windows app on your phone, the account is under Settings, then Accounts.

   If your phone has more than one profile, Phone Link only works when the phone is set to the default profile.

   Good to know

   Phone Link doesn’t support two phone mode, which you may have if your mobile provider is in Korea. Contact your mobile provider to turn it off.

2. 2

   Step 2: Turn off Battery saver

   Battery saver on your PC or phone might affect the connection.

   Make sure Battery saver isn’t running on your PC or your Android phone, as it might affect connectivity.

   To keep content synced, both devices need to be turned on and connected to the internet, and Microsoft recommends keeping Battery saver turned off.

3. 3

   Step 3: Stop battery optimization for Link to Windows

   On some Android phones, Battery Optimization settings may interrupt the connection.

   Microsoft recommends turning battery optimization off for the Link to Windows app on your phone. The steps depend on your phone:

   • Open Android Settings, then Apps & notifications, then App info, then Link to Windows, then Advanced, then Battery, then Manage Battery Usage, then Battery optimization. Scroll down to Link to Windows and select Don’t optimize.
   • On some phones, open Android Settings, then Apps, then Link to Windows, then Battery, then Optimize battery usage. Select All from the drop-down list, scroll to Link to Windows and turn the toggle off.
4. 4

   Step 4: Let Phone Link run in the background

   On your PC, allow Phone Link to run in the background and check Shared experiences.

   Select Start, or press the Windows logo key, then select Settings, then Privacy, then Background apps. In the list Choose which apps can run in the background, make sure Phone Link is enabled.

   Next, select Start, then Settings, then System, then Shared experiences. If you see Fix now in Accounts, select it and follow the instructions.

5. 5

   Step 5: Update Phone Link and Link to Windows

   An older version of either app brings up the “Update Required” page.

   If you see the “Update Required” page, your PC, your phone or both are running an older version of Phone Link or Link to Windows. The page shows whether to update Phone Link, Link to Windows or both. Update the app on the device it names. Before you update, make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

   On your phone, open the Link to Windows app, tap Settings, then tap Check for Updates. When the update finishes, close and reopen Phone Link on your PC. On select Samsung phones, go to Settings, then Advanced features, then Link to Windows, tap More, then Link to Windows, and tap Update if an update is available.

   On your PC, open Phone Link and go to Settings, then About, then Updates. If an update is available, select the Update button.

   It can take a few minutes for the apps to recognize an update. If Phone Link is still updating, wait a few minutes, restart your phone, then close and reopen Phone Link on your PC.

   Good to know

   If you already have the latest updates but still see the page, check that each app meets the minimum version. Phone Link needs version 1.23112.85.0 or later, and Link to Windows needs 1.24021.164.0 or later. If an app is below this and no updates are available, report it in the Feedback Hub app on your PC.

6. 6

   Step 6: Close Samsung DeX

   Having Phone Link and DeX open together may cause issues with both apps.

   If you use Samsung DeX, keep only one of the two apps open at a time.

7. 7

   Step 7: Turn off Wireless Isolation on your router

   If both devices are on the same Wi-Fi and you still see an error, a router setting could be the cause.

   Many routers have a Wireless Isolation feature, also called AP Isolation. When it’s on, devices on the Wi-Fi network are blocked from communicating with each other.

   On most routers, look for Wireless, then Advanced Wireless Setting, and uncheck or toggle off AP Isolation.

8. 8

   Step 8: Start setup again from your PC

   More than 3 failed attempts to match the codes on your PC and phone blocks linking.

   For security reasons, too many failed attempts to match the codes during setup automatically prevent you from linking your devices.

   To try again, close and reopen Phone Link on your PC and begin the setup from there. You’re asked to accept permissions instead of matching codes.

9. 9

   Step 9: Reconnect with the QR code

   If Phone Link says your linked device can’t be found and asks you to scan a QR code, scan it with your phone.

   First, make sure Link to Windows on your phone and Phone Link on your PC are updated to the latest version.

   Open the Camera app on your phone and scan the QR code shown in Phone Link on your PC. Link to Windows opens on your phone and starts linking. Follow the prompts on both devices and sign in with your Microsoft account in Link to Windows.

   You may need to select the refresh button next to the connection status indicator in Phone Link.

10. 10

    Step 10: Unlink and link your phone again

    If your devices connected before but won’t reconnect now, unlink your account and pair the phone again.

    On your phone, make sure Link to Windows is updated to the latest version and open it. Tap your Microsoft account name under Linked Account, go to Account Settings, then Sign out and unlink account, and tap Unlink to confirm.

    On your PC, open Phone Link, go to Settings, then Devices, and select Add new device. Follow the on-screen steps to pair your phone.

    If the problem continues, restart Phone Link on your PC.

    Good to know

    If you still can’t reconnect, open Link to Windows and check under Linked Account that you’re signed in. If you are, tap your account, tap Sign out and confirm. The app closes. Reopen it, sign in and follow the steps to relink your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

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