Phone link stopped linking

Completely remove the existing phone association from Phone Link, Windows, and the phone itself, then pair it again as a new device. ^1^

The menus differ for Android and iPhone, so follow only the applicable phone branch below.

1. Completely unlink both sides

1. On the PC, open Phone Link → Settings → Devices.
2. Open the three-dot overflow menu beside the phone, select Remove, and confirm.
3. Open Windows Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mobile devices → Manage devices.
4. If the phone remains listed, select Remove.
5. Also open Settings → Bluetooth & devices and remove any remaining Bluetooth entry for that phone.

Then clean up the phone:

• Android with Link to Windows preinstalled:
  Open Settings → Connected devices → Link to Windows, select the Microsoft account, and choose Sign out.
• Android with the downloaded app:
  Open Link to Windows → Settings → Accounts → Sign out.
• iPhone:
  Open Link to Windows → Menu → Settings → Account → Sign out, then open iPhone Settings → Bluetooth, select the PC, and tap Forget This Device.

Restart both devices, open Phone Link on the PC, and perform pairing again. Accept all requested permissions on the phone. If code matching has failed more than three times, close and reopen Phone Link and restart setup from the PC; Microsoft documents that this changes the flow to permission approval rather than another code match. ^2^

2. If an Android phone still alternates between connected and disconnected

Since restoring and updating did not help, check the connection controls that can suspend Link to Windows:

1. Turn Airplane mode off and Battery Saver off on the phone.
2. Turn Battery Saver off on the PC.
3. Confirm that Phone Link and Link to Windows use the same Microsoft account.
4. On Android, open:
   • Settings → Apps → Link to Windows → Battery → Optimize battery usage
   • Display All apps, locate Link to Windows, and turn optimization off.
     Some phones instead show Don’t optimize.
5. If the Windows build exposes a background-app control for Phone Link, permit it to run in the background.
6. On the PC, open Settings → System → Shared experiences. If Fix now appears under Accounts, select it and complete the account repair. ^3^

3. Isolate a network communication problem

For Android, put both devices on the same trusted, private Wi-Fi network and ensure they are connected to the same network name. Temporarily disconnect any VPN and test again. Public, guest, hotel, and workplace networks can block communication between local devices. ^3^

If both devices are on the same home Wi-Fi but still cannot communicate, check a personally managed router for AP Isolation, Wireless Isolation, or Client Isolation under a menu such as Wireless → Advanced Wireless Settings.

Security warning: Disabling isolation permits devices on that Wi-Fi network to communicate with one another and can increase lateral-access risk. Change it only temporarily on a trusted private network, test Phone Link, and re-enable it afterward if isolation is required. Do not change it on guest, shared, public, or workplace networks; contact the network administrator instead. ^4^

If the clean pairing succeeds but only calls fail, remove every Bluetooth entry for the phone from both devices and configure Calls again inside Phone Link. ^5^

References

1. Remove your mobile device from Phone Link, Link to Windows, and Windows Settings | Microsoft Support
2. Troubleshooting setup for the Phone Link | Microsoft Support
3. Troubleshoot Apps in the Phone Link | Microsoft Support
4. Troubleshooting the Phone Link
5. [Android](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/apps/phonelink/troubleshooting-calls-in-the-phone-link#i'm-still-unable-to-use-calls)