Windows 11 Phone Link Lets Users Make and Receive Calls on a PC

Engadget said users should first open the Microsoft Store app, check for downloads and update Phone Link to the latest release if needed. It also recommended checking Settings > Windows Update if Windows has not been patched recently. To pair an iPhone, users open Phone Link on the PC, select iPhone and scan a QR code with the phone. That process includes installing the Link to Windows iOS app and pairing the phone via Bluetooth. Bluetooth must be enabled on both the phone and the PC. When a pairing code appears on the PC, users click Pair, then can go to Settings > Bluetooth on the iPhone and tap the information icon next to the PC’s name to change options including contact syncing.

Android pairing is largely similar. Android devices pair to Windows over Wi-Fi or cellular, but Bluetooth is still required to make calls. Users can begin in the Link to Windows Android app, and they need to grant any permissions required for the features they want to use.

After pairing, users can make calls from the Calls tab by searching for a synced contact or using the dial pad for one-off calls. Incoming calls should ring on the computer without additional steps, according to Engadget, which advised keeping the phone nearby for a clean signal. It also said a gaming headset or similar device can be useful for frequent computer calls, keeping the call private and providing a microphone.

Phone Link’s features differ by phone platform. On iPhone, the app is limited to calling, texting and viewing or dismissing phone notifications. Users can enable or disable those functions by opening Phone Link on the PC, clicking the gear icon and choosing Features. Android users can also view and copy the last 2,000 photos in their camera roll, put the phone into Do Not Disturb, mute the device when it is playing sound and use Now Playing controls for music.

Engadget said users of either platform should review Settings > General in Phone Link to adjust how much private data appears in banners and whether numbered badges appear for unread messages and notifications. Phone Link labels items as unread until the user checks or dismisses them, the report said.

Other options include desktop versions of chat apps such as WhatsApp for voice calls, or Google Voice for calls from a separate number. Engadget said Phone Link is the best choice for standard calls using an existing number.