Cannot connect my PC and iPhone 18 using phone link

Valerie Mitsunaga 0 Reputation points
2026-10-29T21:15:32.62+00:00

I want to connect my new iPhone 18 using phone link but they will not connect

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Connect Phone and PC
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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-29T21:16:15.3333333+00:00

    Remove the existing Bluetooth pairing from both devices, cycle Bluetooth for 10 seconds, and then initiate a fresh iPhone pairing from Phone Link on the PC.

    1. Confirm the PC meets the requirements

    Phone Link with iPhone requires:

    • Windows 10 with the May 2019 Update or later
    • A Bluetooth adapter that supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
    • iOS 16 or later
    • A personal Microsoft account; work or school accounts are not supported ^1^

    Check the Windows version at Start → Settings → System → About → Windows specifications. If the iPhone option in Phone Link is greyed out, Bluetooth may be off, unavailable, or missing the required BLE support.

    2. Clear the incomplete pairing from both devices

    1. On the Windows 10 PC:
      • Open Phone Link → Settings → My Devices.
      • Remove the iPhone if it appears there.
      • Open Start → Settings → Devices → Bluetooth & other devices.
      • Select the iPhone and choose Remove device.
    2. On the iPhone:
      • Open Settings → Bluetooth.
      • Tap the information ⓘ button beside the PC’s name.
      • Select Forget This Device.
    3. Turn Bluetooth off on both devices, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on.

    This removes stale pairing information from both sides; deleting the device from only Windows is insufficient for a clean re-pair. ^1^

    1. Keep the PC and iPhone close together.
    2. On the PC, open Start → Phone Link.
    3. Under Pick your phone, select iPhone.
    4. Scan the QR code shown on the PC using the iPhone’s standard Camera app.
    5. Approve the matching Bluetooth pairing prompts on both devices.
    6. Finish the guided setup in Phone Link.

    After pairing, open iPhone Settings → Bluetooth → ⓘ beside the PC and enable the available permissions, including:

    • Share System Notifications
    • Show Notifications
    • Sync Contacts

    These permissions provide access to messages, notifications, contacts, call history, and calling features. ^1^ Calls specifically require an active Bluetooth connection and the contacts-sync permission. ^2^

    If it still will not connect

    • Install pending updates from Start → Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → Check for updates. ^3^
    • If the iPhone pairs in Windows Bluetooth settings but does not appear in Phone Link, verify that the PC’s Bluetooth hardware supports BLE. An older desktop adapter or Bluetooth dongle may support ordinary Bluetooth pairing without meeting Phone Link’s BLE requirement.
    • If all requirements are met and fresh pairing still fails, open Phone Link → Settings → Feedback & Community and submit the exact error and where pairing stops. Alternatively, search for Feedback Hub from the Windows taskbar. ^1^

    References

    1. iOS
    2. iOS
    3. Windows 10
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  2. Hendrix-V 20,785 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-10-30T06:05:17.29+00:00

    Hi Valerie Mitsunaga,

    Since the Bluetooth re-pairing, permissions, updates, and Phone Link setup steps have already been covered, at this point, I would suggest checking whether the issue is specific to the PC:

    • If possible, try pairing the iPhone with another Windows 10/11 PC running Phone Link.
    • If it works there, the issue is likely isolated to the original PC's Bluetooth/Phone Link environment.

    If it fails on another compatible PC as well, use Feedback Hub (Windows + F) to report the behavior with the iPhone model and Windows version.

    This comparison should help narrow down which side of the connection needs further investigation.

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