phone link will not connect

Hi Jill Strachan,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

I understand how frustrating it can be when Phone Link doesn’t connect as expected. To ensure I provide the most accurate guidance, could you please clarify if this is your first time setting up the devices, or if a previous pair has become disconnected?

For the former scenario, you need to confirm if your device is compatible by visiting Supported devices for Phone Link experiences. In the latter case, please refer to this Troubleshooting the Phone Link - Microsoft Support first. If the connectivity issue still persists, let's try:

1 - Restart Phone Link connection:

• Right-click the Taskbar > select Task Manager > Processes tab
• Search for Phone Link > Right-click it and select End task
• Open Phone Link app and reconnect to your phone

2 - Repair/Reset the application:

• Open Settings > System > System components
• Click three-dot to Phone Link > Advanced options
• Scroll down and click Terminate, then click Repair first
• If the issue persists, click Reset next > reestablish connection.

3 - On your phone (for Android system):

• Hold Link to Windows app > click Details > Allow its background activity.
• Give all permissions and Disable any battery optimization for this app.
• Uninstall updates for Link to Windows services:
  • Open Settings > Apps > search for Link to Windows Services
  • If found, choose that app > press the three-dot on top right
  • Select Uninstall updates to put the app the default version
  • Open Phone Link on PC and re-add your phone like new.

Note: The uninstall option location and wording can be different based on your phone model. The app is not guaranteed to present on iOS phone, consider reinstalling it instead.

If the issue persists, let me know if you are attempting a first-time setup or if you are trying to reconnect a device. Also, it'd be helpful for further analysis if you can share your Windows version, phone model and system edition, as well as any error message you see in Phone Link. Thanks for your time!

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