4 Ways to Fix Phone Link App Not Working With iPhone

Quick Tips

• Ensure Background App Refresh is enabled on your iPhone to sync Phone Link app information even when the app is not in use.
• You can repair or reset the Phone Link app on Windows 11 if you can’t connect your iPhone.
• If the Phone Link app is connected but not working, un-pair and re-pair your iPhone with your Phone Link Windows app. Then, check again.

Basic Fixes:

• Close and reopen the Phone Link app: Closing and reopening any app helps to close all app functions and restart them. So, close and reopen the Phone Link app on your Windows 11 device and iPhone. Then, use it again.
• Check for app updates on Windows and iPhone: Intermittent app bugs can cause the Phone Link app not to work properly. So, check and install the latest app updates on your Windows 11 device and iPhone. Then, reopen the Phone Link app and check again.
• Reinstall the Phone Link app on iPhone: Uninstalling the Phone Link app from your iPhone will delete any custom settings preventing it from working properly. Then, reinstall a fresh copy of the app on your iPhone and connect it again with your Windows device.

Fix 1: Enable Background App Refresh on iPhone

Enabling Background App Refresh on iPhone ensures installed apps can still check for updates and operate in the background. So, you can enable it system-wide to see if it helps fix the issue of Microsoft Phone Link not working on your iPhone. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open Settings > tap on General > Background App Refresh.

Step 2: Again, tap on Background App Refresh > select Wi-Fi & Mobile Data.

Fix 2: Update Windows 11 Bluetooth Drivers

Out-of-date drivers can also cause problems, as they might become incompatible with other devices. Since the Phone Link app uses your device’s Bluetooth services, check and install the latest Bluetooth driver on your Windows 11 device. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open Device Manager and click on Bluetooth. Once the options appear, right-click on your Bluetooth driver.

Step 2: Here, click on Update driver.

Step 3: When prompted, click on Search automatically for drivers.

Wait for your Windows 11 device to check and install the latest driver updates. Then, restart the Phone Link app and see if this fixes the issue.

Also Read: How to fix Phone Link app not working on Windows 11

Fix 3: Repair or Reset Phone Link on Windows

If the problem is with the Windows 11 Phone Link app, try repairing it and see if it works. This will scan for app problems and give you the relevant ways to fix them. You can also reset the Phone Link app if you don’t mind losing all the data stored on it.

Follow the below steps to repair and reset the Phone Link app on Windows 11.

Step 1: Use the Windows + I key to open Settings. From the menu options, click on Apps > Installed apps.

Step 2: From this list, locate the Phone Link app and click on the three-dot icon. Here, select Advanced options.

Step 3: Scroll down to the Reset section and click on Repair.

Wait for the repair process to finish. If you still can’t use the Phone Link app, reset the app. Please note that doing this will delete all app data.

Step 4: From the Reset section, click on Reset.

Step 5: Again, click on Reset to confirm.

Once the reset is finished, a little tick sign will appear beside the Reset option. Then, open the Phone Link app again and use the below-mentioned steps to relink your device and check if the app is working.

Also Read: How to Fix Phone Link app not showing notifications on Windows 11

Fix 4: Unlink and Relink iPhone

The Phone Link app uses Bluetooth to link your Windows device and iPhone. So, if there were issues when establishing a connection the first time, it might cause trouble when using the Phone Link app. To fix this, unlink and relink your iPhone with the Windows Phone Link app. Here’s how.

Unlink iPhone From the Phone Link App

Step 1: Open the Phone Link app on Windows 11 and click on the cogwheel icon at the top-right corner.

Step 2: From the menu options, click on My Devices.

Step 3: Once the list of devices opens, go to your iPhone and click on the three-dot icon > select Remove.

Step 4: Check the undertaking and click on Yes, remove.

This will unlink your iPhone from your Windows device. Now, to completely remove your Windows device from your iPhone, follow the below steps.

Step 1: Open Settings and tap on Bluetooth. Then, tap on your Windows device.

Step 2: Here, tap on Forget This Device > Forget Device to confirm.

Once both devices have been unlinked, relink them and see if the issue has been resolved. Refer to the next section to do it.

Relink iPhone With the Phone Link App

Step 1: Open the Phone Link app on your Windows device and click on iPhone.

Once the QR code appears, open the Link to Windows app on your iPhone and follow the below steps.

Step 2: On the Link to Windows app on your iPhone, tap on Scan QR code.

Step 3: Verify the code by matching it with the code displayed on your Windows device. Once you have done this, tap on Pair.

This will instantly re-link your iPhone with your Windows device. Now, check and see if the Phone Link app is working as expected.