how to fix phone link

The fix depends on whether Phone Link is connected to Android or iPhone; restore the messaging permission for the applicable phone first, then update and reset the connection only if sending still fails.

If you use Android

1. On the Windows 11 PC, open Phone Link → Settings → Features → Messages.
2. Turn on:
   • Allow this app to show text messages from my phone
   • Allow this app to send MMS attachments from my phone
   • Allow this app to receive MMS attachments from my phone
   • Automatically download MMS attachments from my phone
     These are Phone Link’s documented messaging controls.^1^
3. On the phone, open Settings → Apps → Link to Windows → Permissions and allow SMS, Contacts, and Phone. Menu names can vary by Android manufacturer.^2^
4. Test with a new SMS from Phone Link → Messages → New message.^3^

If ordinary SMS works but particular conversations do not, check the phone’s default messaging app:

• Phone Link supports normal SMS/MMS.
• RCS support is limited to select Samsung devices and requires Samsung Messages as the default messaging app.
• A third-party default messaging app can cause messages to be missing from Phone Link.^4^

If you use iPhone

On the iPhone:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Find the Windows PC and tap the (i) information button.
3. Enable Show Notifications and Sync Contacts.^1^
4. Keep Bluetooth enabled and the iPhone paired while testing a new message from Phone Link.

Phone Link’s iPhone messaging is more limited than Android messaging. In particular, messages sent directly from the iPhone may not appear in Phone Link; only messages sent and received while the devices are paired and connected can be displayed, and group messages are not supported.^4^

Update and connection checks

If permissions are correct but sending still fails:

1. On the PC, open Phone Link → Settings → About → Updates, install any available update, and reopen Phone Link.
2. On Android, open Link to Windows → Settings → Check for updates.
3. Confirm the PC and phone:
   • Are signed in with the same Microsoft account.
   • Are connected to the Internet.
   • Do not have Battery saver enabled.
4. For Android, set Link to Windows not to be battery-optimized, because Android battery optimization can interrupt the connection.^2^

Final fallback for Android: reset and relink

Resetting removes the existing Phone Link pairing, so be prepared to pair the devices again.

1. First try the non-destructive soft reset:
   • Windows Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Phone Link
   • Turn Phone Link Off, then On
   • Select Open Phone Link
2. If that does not work:
   • On Android: Settings → Apps → Link to Windows → Force stop
   • On Windows: Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Phone Link → Advanced options → Reset
   • Remove the existing phone association when prompted, then open Phone Link and complete pairing again.

Microsoft recommends this reset-and-relink procedure for persistent Android connectivity problems after the other checks fail.^5^

If the failure remains after relinking, open Phone Link → Settings → Feedback & Community → Send feedback and include diagnostic data when prompted.^2^

References

1. [Android](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/apps/phonelink/setting-up-messages-in-the-phone-link)
2. Troubleshooting the Phone Link | Microsoft Support
3. [Android](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/apps/phonelink/send-and-receive-text-messages-from-your-pc#sending-a-message)
4. Troubleshooting for messages in the Phone Link
5. Reset your Android device and PC with the Phone Link | Microsoft Support