Phone Link on my windows 11 pro pc does not receive messages from my Samsung S24 phone. However Win11/Phone Link does successfully SEND messages to my S24

The first check is whether only RCS conversations are missing: send a plain SMS to the S24, because Phone Link reliably supports SMS/MMS while RCS support depends on the Samsung messaging app, device, carrier, and region.^1^

1. Isolate RCS from general synchronization

On the S24, identify the default messaging app and whether the affected conversations say RCS message or Chat message.

• If ordinary SMS arrives in Phone Link but RCS does not: this is an RCS compatibility path, not a general connection failure.
  • Microsoft documents Phone Link RCS support only for select Samsung devices and mobile networks.
  • Phone Link’s supported RCS integration requires Samsung Messages as the default messaging app. Google Messages is treated as a third-party messaging platform for this integration and can result in missing messages.^1^
  • If available on your S24, set Settings → Apps → Choose default apps → SMS app → Samsung Messages, then test an incoming message.
  • If Samsung Messages is unavailable or you want to retain Google Messages, temporarily disable RCS/chat features in Google Messages and test again. A closely matching Windows 11/Samsung report—outgoing messages worked while replies did not populate the thread—was resolved by turning off RCS.^2^
• If plain SMS also fails, continue below.

2. Restore the receive-side permissions and controls

Sending successfully does not prove that Phone Link still has permission to read and synchronize incoming messages.

1. On the PC, open Phone Link → Settings → Features → Messages.
2. Turn on:
   • Allow this app to show text messages from my phone
   • Allow this app to receive MMS attachments from my phone
   • The notification options, if you also want message alerts.^3^
3. On the S24, open Settings → Apps → Link to Windows → Permissions.
4. Allow SMS, Contacts, Phone, and Notifications. These are the permissions Microsoft identifies for message and notification access.^4^
5. In Settings → Apps → Link to Windows → Battery, select Unrestricted or disable battery optimization for Link to Windows. Also turn off Battery Saver while testing. Background restrictions can interrupt synchronization even though an outgoing action still succeeds.^4^
6. If incoming-message notifications are also absent, search the S24 Settings for Notification access, toggle Link to Windows off and back on, and select Allow.^5^

Send a new SMS from another phone and leave Phone Link open on Messages. The expected result is that the new message appears in its conversation rather than only as a notification.

3. Update both halves of the connection

Because this started recently, update both components rather than only Windows:

• PC: Phone Link → Settings → About → Check for updates.
• S24: Settings → Advanced features → Link to Windows → More (…) → About Link to Windows, then install any offered update.
• Close and reopen Phone Link after both updates complete.^4^

There is no documented current S24-specific outage in the available Microsoft guidance.

4. Repair without immediately deleting the pairing

Try the nondestructive soft reset first:

1. Windows Settings → Bluetooth & devices.
2. Select Phone Link.
3. Toggle Phone Link Off, then On.
4. Select Open Phone Link and test another incoming SMS.^6^

If that fails:

1. Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Phone Link → Advanced options.
2. Select Repair first; this attempts a fix without removing app data.
3. Test again before using Reset, because Reset can remove Phone Link’s local data and require pairing again.^7^

As the final local recovery step, force-stop Link to Windows on the S24, reset Phone Link on the PC, unlink the devices, and pair them again. Microsoft reserves this full reset for persistent issues after other troubleshooting.^6^

If plain SMS still cannot synchronize afterward, submit diagnostics through Phone Link → Settings → Feedback & Community → Send feedback and allow mobile diagnostic data when prompted.^4^

References

1. Troubleshooting for messages in the Phone Link | Microsoft Support
2. Problems with Phone Link - Microsoft Q&A
3. Setting up messages in the Phone Link | Microsoft Support
4. Troubleshooting the Phone Link | Microsoft Support
5. [Android](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/apps/phonelink/troubleshooting-notifications-in-the-phone-link#i%E2%80%99m-not-receiving-any-notifications)
6. Reset your Android device and PC with the Phone Link | Microsoft Support
7. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/apps/repair-apps-and-programs-in-windows#summary)