Windows and Android are very popular, so naturally a lot of people use them at the same time. Microsoft’s “Phone Link” app integrates your Android phone with your PC, allowing you to access your phone’s notifications, text messages, photos, and more directly from your PC.
We’ll start with the Android app. Download the “Link to Windows” app from the Google Play Store on your Android phone or tablet. Select a Samsung Galaxy device that has the app installed.
Open the app and tap “Link your phone and PC” to get started.
Next, open the Phone Link app on your Windows 10 PC and click Get Started.
On the next screen, select “I’ve linked to a Windows app” and click “Pair with QR code”.
Back on your Android device, click the “Continue” screen on “Is the QR code on your computer ready?” and point the camera at the QR code on your computer.
Once connected, you need to grant the Android app some permissions. Click “Continue” to continue.
You need to give the app permission to access contacts, make and manage phone calls, access media, and send and receive text messages. Click “Allow” to continue all of this.
With permission, you may be asked to keep the app running in the background to stay connected to your PC. Click “Continue” to continue.
A popup will ask if you want to allow the app to always run in the background. Select “Allow”.
That’s all there is to do on the Android side right now. Back on your Windows 10 PC, the Phone Link app will have a “Continue” button to click.
The Phone Link app will now guide you through the setup of some features. We’ll also show you how. First, tap “View My Notifications.”
In order for this to work, we have to give the “Link to Windows” app permission to see Android notifications. Click “Open Phone Settings” to get started.
On your Android device, a notification will appear prompting you to turn on notification settings. Click “Open” to go there.
The Device and App Notifications setting will open. Find “Link to Windows” from the list and make sure “Allow notification access” is enabled.
That’s it! You will now see your notifications appear in the Notifications sidebar in the Windows application. When a notification appears, you can remove it from your Android device by clicking the “X” icon.
The Messages tab will automatically display text messages from your phone, no setup required. Just type a reply message in the text box, or click New Message.
The Photos tab also doesn’t require any setup. It will show recent photos from your device.
In the sidebar, you can view the battery level of a connected device, adjust some device settings, and control the media being played.
You now have the basics up and running. Phone Link is a very handy app, especially if you spend a lot of time on your Windows 10 PC all day. You don’t need to pick up your phone multiple times now.
related: Why Android users need the Your Phone app for Windows 10
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