Win 11 will not allow me to pair with my Android mobile

Tee Spicer 0 Reputation points
2026-10-16T06:36:49.49+00:00

I am trying to connect my Android mobile device to my Win11 PC but it will not connect. And yes my device is turned on and discoverable.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Connect Phone and PC
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  1. GsN5034 - IA 78,870 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-16T07:37:28.2166667+00:00

    Hello,

    1. Have you connected your Android device to your Windows PC using the Phone Link app before, or is this your first time trying to connect them?

    If the devices were previously paired, remove your Android device from the Bluetooth & devices settings on your Windows PC.

    (Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices> Mobile devices).

    Then, remove your Windows PC from the Bluetooth settings on your Android device.

    Then, reset the Phone Link app on Windows and try pairing the devices again.

    • Search for Phone Link in the search bar on the taskbar, right-click the results, and select 'App Settings'.
    • Scroll down and select 'Reset'.

    Once the Phone Link components are repaired,

    1. Launch the Phone Link app on your PC.
    2. Make sure both devices are connected to the Same Wi-Fi network, and Bluetooth is turned on.
    3. Select 'Android' in the Phone Link app.
    4. This will display a QR code.
    5. Launch the "Link to Windows" app on your smartphone.
    6. Scan the QR code to connect your device.

    See if your Android device is being detected by the Phone Link app on Windows.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-16T06:37:56.7866667+00:00

    Use Bluetooth & devices for ordinary Bluetooth pairing, or use Phone Link if the goal is to access Android messages, photos, calls, apps, and notifications.

    For ordinary Bluetooth pairing

    Since the phone is already turned on and discoverable:

    1. On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
    2. Select Add device > Bluetooth.
    3. Select the Android phone when it appears.
    4. If a pairing code appears, confirm that the same code is displayed on both devices and accept it on each.

    If the phone is listed but pairing fails:

    1. Under Settings > Bluetooth & devices, find the phone.
    2. Select More options (…) > Remove device.
    3. Turn Windows Bluetooth off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it on again.
    4. Select Add device and retry pairing. ^1^

    If the phone does not appear in the Add device list, change discovery from Default to Advanced:

    1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices.
    2. Under Device settings, set Bluetooth devices discovery to Advanced.
    3. Return to Add device > Bluetooth and check again. ^2^

    Phone Link is separate from basic Bluetooth pairing. It requires Android 10 or later, and the PC and phone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. ^3^

    1. On the PC, search for and open Phone Link.
    2. Select Android and sign in when prompted.
    3. On Android, install or open Link to Windows and sign in with the same Microsoft account.
    4. On the PC, select I have the Link to Windows app ready > Pair with QR code.
    5. On Android, select Link your phone and PC > Continue, then scan the QR code shown on the PC.
    6. Approve the requested Android permissions and select Done.

    If code matching has failed more than three times, close and reopen Phone Link on the PC, then restart setup. Microsoft documents that repeated failed matches can temporarily prevent linking; restarting setup changes the flow to permission approval. ^4^

    If Bluetooth pairing still fails

    1. Run Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Bluetooth > Run.
    2. Install Windows updates from Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, then restart.
    3. Update the Bluetooth adapter:
      • Open Device Manager.
      • Expand Bluetooth.
      • Right-click the Bluetooth adapter and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
      • Restart the PC.
    4. If Windows finds nothing newer, install the Windows 11 Bluetooth driver for the exact PC model from the PC manufacturer’s support site.
    5. If updating does not help, in Device Manager right-click the Bluetooth adapter, select Uninstall device, and restart. Windows should reinstall the adapter automatically. ^5^

    References

    1. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/bluetooth/troubleshoot-bluetooth-not-connecting-in-windows#solution-6-check-for-windows-updates)
    2. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/bluetooth/fix-bluetooth-problems-in-windows)
    3. [Android](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/apps/phonelink/phone-link-requirements-and-setup#how-to-link-your-devices-starting-from-phone-link)
    4. Troubleshooting setup for the Phone Link | Microsoft Support
    5. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/bluetooth/update-bluetooth-drivers-in-windows)
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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