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Phone Link
Developer(s)Microsoft
Initial releaseOctober 2, 2018; 5 years ago (2018-10-02)
Operating systemWindows 10, Windows 11, Android, iOS
PredecessorPhone Companion
TypePhone and PC driver
LicenseProprietary freeware
WebsitePhone Link

Phone Link, previously Your Phone, is a syncing software developed by Microsoft to connect Windows PCs to Android and iOS mobile devices to view notifications, make phone calls, use mobile apps amongst others, via the PC.[1] It is a native component of Windows 10 (since version 1809) and Windows 11, where it is a UWP app and consists of a driver that communicates with the mobile device, where it is named the Link to Windows app.[2] Phone Link makes use of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth for voice calls, or mobile data;[2] it syncs via Microsoft servers, meaning that an internet connection is required.

Features

Phone Link enables a PC to send (and receive) text messaging, including both SMS and MMS.[3] It can also access the 2000 most recent photos on the connected phone.

Audio that is played on the phone can also be controlled on the Phone Link interface, so long as the playing apps have media controls in the Android notification area.[4]

Phone Link can also be used to mirror the screen of an Android device; however this feature is currently only available on select devices with the Link to Windows service pre-installed.[5][6] The app also has a cross-device copy and paste feature allowing users to send copied text and images between devices using the same copy and paste shortcuts on each device.[7]

History

At its Build 2018 event on May 7, 2018, Microsoft presented the Your Phone app, which allowed users to use their PCs to see recent photos on their Android based phones, and to send SMS messages.[8] Your Phone was released as part of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (1809), as a replacement of the legacy Phone Companion app.[9]

At Samsung's Galaxy Note10 launch event, Microsoft previewed the additional Your Phone feature of receiving phone calls directly on a PC via Bluetooth. The feature was made available for all Android phones on February 20, 2020.[10] At the same event it was revealed that Your Phone will ship on most Samsung Galaxy devices as part of a partnership with Samsung Electronics.[11]

On March 31, 2022, Your Phone was rebranded to Phone Link[12] and the interface was changed.[13] At the same time, the Your Phone Companion app on mobile was also renamed, to Link to Windows.[14]

On April 27, 2023, Microsoft started rolling out support for the iPhone on Windows 11 only.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Windows 10's new Your Phone app lets you access phone texts & photos | On MSFT". On MSFT. 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  2. ^ a b "Phone Link requirements and setup - Microsoft Support". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  3. ^ "Send and receive text messages from your PC - Microsoft Support". support.microsoft.com.
  4. ^ Warren, Tom (April 29, 2020). "Microsoft's Your Phone app now lets you control music on a phone from your PC". The Verge.
  5. ^ "Microsoft begins testing phone screen mirroring with the Your Phone app". Windows Central. 2019-03-12. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  6. ^ "Setting up and using phone screen in the Phone Link app - Microsoft Support". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  7. ^ "How to Copy and Paste Text Between Your Android Phone and Windows PC". PCMAG. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  8. ^ "New 'Your Phone' feature in Windows 10 further links your smartphone and PC". Windows Central. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  9. ^ "Your Windows 10 PC will love all the devices you own". blogs.windows.com. 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  10. ^ "Windows 10 Your Phone call support is now available for everyone". www.windowslatest.com. February 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
  11. ^ "Samsung to bundle Your Phone with its Galaxy Note 10 as part of its extended Microsoft partnership". ZDNET. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  12. ^ Warren, Tom (31 March 2022). "Microsoft rebrands its Android Your Phone companion app to Phone Link". The Verge. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  13. ^ Schoon, Ben (March 31, 2022). "Windows 11 revamps 'Phone Link' tool for pairing your Android phone w/ new branding, redesign". 9to5Google.
  14. ^ Blog, Windows Experience; Team, Gerald Haslhofer, General Manager, Mobile and Cross Device (2022-03-31). "Evolving the connection between your phone and your Windows PC". Windows Experience Blog. Retrieved 2023-11-08.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "Microsoft starts rolling out iOS support for Phone Link syncing to all Windows 11 users". Engadget. Retrieved 2023-04-28.


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