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You usually need your smartphone to make phone calls, check text messages, and access your photos. But wouldn’t it be convenient if you could do all these things and more on your Windows PC? Well, you can.
By connecting and syncing your Android phone with your Windows computer, you essentially unite the two. Your PC can then handle some features and functions from your phone – a handy option if you’re in front of your computer but your phone is out of reach.
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Your phone and PC are linked through Microsoft phone link appYou can use Windows to make and answer phone calls, read and reply to text messages, view photos on your phone, and receive notifications.
How to use Microsoft’s Phone Link
Linking and syncing your Android phone to Microsoft’s Phone Link works similarly in Windows 10 and 11, although there are some differences. Here, I will cover the process specifically for Windows 11.
Then a QR code pops up in the phone link. Scan that code with your phone’s camera and tap on the corresponding link. This will take you to the Google Play page to install the Link to Windows app on your phone. Open the app after installation is complete. Enter the code you see in the Phone Link app in Windows and submit. A message will then appear telling you that the devices are paired.
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Next, you’ll need to grant Phone Link permission to access your contacts, make and manage phone calls, and send and view SMS messages.
You may also be asked if you want the Phone app to refresh while running in the background, which can keep your text and photos up to date but may affect your battery charge. If this notification appears, either deny or allow background refresh as per your preference.
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Tap Done on your phone and Tap Continue on your computer. Now your phone and PC are linked.
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The Welcome to Phone Link screen appears. If you want the app to launch automatically every time Windows loads, check the box for “Open phone link when signed in to Windows.” Click on the Get Started button to proceed.
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Now let’s take a look at each of the tasks you can accomplish on a computer connected to your phone.
Send or receive text messages on your PC
Click the message title at the top, and the latest text messages from your phone should appear. If not, click the Refresh icon next to the word Connection in the left pane.
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Select any text to read it. To respond, type your message below, and insert an emoji, GIF, or image to add some charm.
To create a new text, click the New Message button. Type the name, phone number, or email address of the person you want to send the message. Then write your message and send it.
Make or take calls on your PC
For a phone call, click the call title, and then click Start. You may be asked to enable Bluetooth on your phone. If yes, allow access and then complete pairing by confirming the PIN. Next, click the Send permission button to allow recent calls on your phone to be displayed in the Phone Link app on your PC.
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Select a phone number for recent calls and click the phone icon to call that number. To make a new call, type a contact’s name in the contact field or dial the number on the keypad.
Incoming phone calls will appear on your Android phone and in the Phone Link app on your PC, so you can answer them on either device. If you’ve checked the option to start an app every time you sign in to Windows, you don’t need to keep the app open on your PC.
Access your photos
Click on title for photo. You should see all the recent photos shot on your Android phone. If not, click Refresh. Click on a specific photo, and you can open it in the Photos app, copy, save, share, or delete it.
view notifications
After this, you can view your phone’s notifications on your PC. Click the notification icon on the vertical toolbar on the left. The first time you do this, you’ll have to grant permissions through your phone. Your notifications will then appear in the left pane.
Manage Settings
Finally, you can manage your linked phones in the Phone Link app. Click the gear icon at the top right. On the Settings screen, you can change individual options for different categories, enable copy and paste between your phone and PC, and add or remove linked phones.
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