–IAN EVENDEN

BEING ABLE TO LINK your phone to your PC is nothing new, but there have been some improvements in recent Windows 11 releases that mean it’s worth taking another look at.

Not only can you view your photos, call logs and text messages, and deal with notifications; you can control music playback and move your phone in and out of silent mode. It is possible to interact with some of your Android apps, too, but only if you’re using specific Samsung models.

Much of this functionality is still Android-only. This is a shame, as the capabilities of an Apple Mac to communicate with an iPhone, and use it as a remote camera via its Continuity Camera feature, is an example of the way cellphones and laptops can work together.

So here’s how to get started with Windows 11’s Phone Link with Android, and a look at what has been added to the software in recent updates.

1 P HONE LINK

We’re going to use Windows 11’s Phone Link here, specifically the updated version found in version 24H2 of the OS. It updates through the Microsoft Store rather than Windows Update, so it’s worth opening the app and clicking Downloads > Get Updates > Update All to make sure you’ve got the latest version, though it may also update itself the first time you open it. If you installed Windows from scratch or set up a new PC recently, you’ll have been asked to link your phone during the setup process, but you can also do it by opening the app and clicking Add Device. You’ll need your phone’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on, and it helps if both it and your PC are connected to the same network, although this isn’t mandatory. You’ll also need the Link to Windows app on your phone, which you’ll find in the Google Play Store, and be signed in with the same Microsoft account on both devices. You may also need to open Settings > Bluetooth and Devices > Mobile Devices, and switch on both ‘Allow this PC to access your mobile devices’ and ‘Phone Link’.