Gone were the days when Windows seemed to be an altogether alien territory from the prism of an iPhone. With the arrival of Windows 11 and the much-friendly versions of iOS, an iPhone and a Windows device can play more seamlessly with each other than ever before. Case in point, you can now link and sync your iPhone with Windows 11 using the Phone Link app to access your contacts, send messages, and even make a call – right from your PC.
Unfortunately, some PC users can’t sync their iPhones with the Windows 11 devices. If this issue has also prevented you from making your iPhone sync with your PC, this detailed guide has got you covered with reliable fixes. Keep reading…
Fix Unable to Link & Sync iPhone with Windows 11 Using the Phone Link App
From the faulty pairing to the Bluetooth ill-functioning to a software glitch to the malfunctioning syncing, there are many villains of this issue. The good thing is nabbing the usual suspects and taking them for a task is not a big deal – provided you follow the recommended tips – meticulously.
1. Go Through the Set Up Process from Scratch
To get going, hit the Start menu -> search for Phone Link to ensure that the app is available on your PC. If it’s not been installed, head over to Microsoft Store -> search for Phone Link and install it.
- On your iPhone, navigate to the App Store -> search for Phone Link and install the app.
- After that, open the Phone Link app on your iPhone and select iPhone.
- Now, launch the Phone Link app on your iPhone and scan the QR code displayed on your PC. When prompted, make sure to confirm the connection.
- Alternatively, you can also connect your iPhone to your PC manually. Click on Continue Manually on your PC and then go through on-screen instructions to complete the pairing process.
- On your iPhone, be sure to grant permission to allow access to your messages, notifications, and contacts in order to integrate the two devices.
- Once the pairing is successful, you can track your iPhone notifications in the Windows 11 Notification Center, reply to messages, and even make calls using your contacts or the dialer in the Phone Link app – right from your PC.
2. Disable/Enable Bluetooth
If the “Phone Link” is ill-functioning due to a minor Bluetooth glitch, turning the Bluetooth toggle off/on may eliminate the glitch.
- On your iPhone, navigate to the Settings app -> Bluetooth -> Turn off the toggle -> Wait for a few seconds and turn the toggle back on.
- On your PC, press the Win+A keys to bring up the Quick Settings -> Find the Bluetooth icon and turn it off/on.
3. Reboot Your Devices
At times, a simple reboot works to bring the Phone Link app back on track.
- On your PC: hit the Start menu > power icon -> Restart.
- On your iPhone > Hold down the side button and the volume up button -> slide to power off.
- Then, press the side button to restart your device.
4. Force Quit the Phone Link App
Whether the Phone Link is freezing or doesn’t show the synced messages, force quitting may help resolve this issue.
- Simply, press the Shift+Ctrl+Esc keys to bring up the Task Manager > Select Phone Link app in the left sidebar > hit the End task button in the top row of options.
5. Disable VPN on Your PC and iPhone
VPN and unwanted interference go hand-in-hand. So, if you recently activated a VPN service on your device, turn it off as I suspect that it’s playing the spoilsport.
- Go to the Settings app on your PC -> Network & internet -> VPN and turn it off.
- Head into the Settings app on your iOS device -> VPN and turn off the VPN service.
- After that, check if the Phone Link app has begun to work as usual.
6. Unable to Sync Messages and Contacts from Your iPhone to your PC? Try These Quick Tips
Just in case the messages and contacts are not syncing with the Windows device, soft reset their key toggles.
- On your iPhone, head over to the Bluetooth section via the Settings app -> hit the tiny info button next to the connected Windows device > Now, turn off the toggles for “Show Message Notifications”, “Sync Contacts”, and “Share System Notifications”.
- To ward off any confusion, ensure that the “All Contacts” option is selected.
- Up next, reboot your iPhone -> return to the same Bluetooth setting, and turn all these toggles back on.
7. Update the Phone Link App
If it’s been ages since you updated the Phone Link app, putting the entire blame on the outdated version of the app wouldn’t be wrong.
- On your Windows device: Launch the Microsoft Store app -> Library -> find the app in question and update it.
- On your iOS device, dive into the App Store -> your profile at the top right -> Find the Phone Link app and update it.
8. Reset Network Settings
If your PC or iPhone is embroiled in some sort of network-related glitches, the Phone Link app may struggle to work as expected.
- On your Windows PC: Open the Settings -> Network & Internet -> Advanced network settings -> Network reset -> Hit the Reset Now button and restart your PC.
- On your iOS device: Launch the Settings app > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings and confirm.
9. Update Your Devices
Many a time, it’s the outdated updates that tend to come in the way and begin to prevent a feature from working properly.
- On your PC: Go to the Settings app > Windows Updates > Download and install the update.
- On your iPhone: Head over to the Settings app -> General -> Software Update -> Install the update.
10. Re-Pair Your Device
No luck as yet? Now, we will go for the nuclear solution that involves re-pairing the devices for a fresh start.
- Launch the Settings app on your PC -> Bluetooth & devices -> click on the triple-dot icon at the top of your connected iPhone -> Remove device and confirm.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone > Bluetooth > tap on the info icon right next to the connected Windows PC name -> Scroll down to the bottom of the screen -> tap on Forget This Device and confirm.
- Then, open the Phone Link app on your PC and iPhone > go through the pairing process from scratch.
- If you are unable to pair the devices through the QR code, take the manual route and follow the instructions.
Signing off…
There you have it, friends! I hope your Windows device and iPhone have begun to work with each other without any hindrance at all. Now that the beloved syncing is back on track, feel free to shoot your feedback via the comments section below.
