Phone Link stopped syncing messages properly

Rory Middleton 0 Reputation points
2026-09-18T20:05:16.4733333+00:00

This just started seemingly after I updated Phone Link a few days ago. It is not syncing messages for threads that already exist on my phone. I got a message in an existing thread and it did not sync with Phone Link I deleted that thread on my phone and it deleted from Phone Link. That person then sent me a new message and that appeared on my phone and in Phone Link as a new message. But when I replied and that person replied back, it does not appear.

I have tried completely disconnecting Phone Link with my device on my PC, and on the phone by signing out, and then set it back up again, but it is still not working properly.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Connect Phone and PC
0 comments

1 answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Emma1-N 12,625 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-19T03:18:57.79+00:00

    Welcome Rory Middleton,

    Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum. I understand that Phone Link is no longer syncing updates within existing message threads, even after unlinking and reconnecting your phone.

    Before suggesting more advanced troubleshooting, could you please let me know:

    • What phone model and Android version are you using?
    • Are the affected conversations using SMS/MMS only, or are they RCS chats in Google Messages?

    In the meantime, you can try these steps:

    Option 1: Clear the messaging cache used by Link to Windows on the phone.

    • Open Android Settings > Apps > Link to Windows > Storage
    • Select Clear cache
    • Restart the phone

    Option 2: Refresh Phone Link permissions.

    • Open Android Settings > Apps > Link to Windows > Permissions
    • Turn off SMS permission
    • Restart the phone
    • Re-enable SMS permission

    Option 3: Re-sync message history.

    • Open Phone Link on the PC
    • Go to Settings > Features > Messages
    • Turn Messages off, wait a minute, then turn it back on

    Option 4: Repair the Phone Link app.

    • Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Phone Link
    • Select Advanced options
    • Choose Repair

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Yes". If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".    

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.  

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.