Phone to laptop · Connect guide
How to connect your phone to a laptop
Sources checked · how we check
Windows connects to phones through Phone Link, which comes with Windows. Android phones link over Wi-Fi with the Link to Windows app; iPhones link over Bluetooth. To get your laptop online through the phone instead, use a hotspot.
01 · Before you start
Check these first
- Your PC needs Windows 10 with the October 2022 update or later, or Windows 11.
- Android phones need Android 10 or later and must be on the same Wi-Fi network as the PC.
- iPhones need iOS 16 or later, and the PC needs Bluetooth Low Energy. Turn on Bluetooth on both.
02 · Connect
Step by step, by device
Android phone
Phone Link on PC → Android → Link to Windows app → Pair with QR code
- On the PC, type Phone Link in the taskbar search, open it and choose Android.
- On the phone, install Link to Windows from Google Play if it isn't already there. Sign in to the same Microsoft account on both.
- On the PC, select Pair with QR code, then scan the code with the Link to Windows camera on your phone.
- Allow the permissions the phone asks for and follow the prompts on both devices.
iPhone
Phone Link on PC → iPhone → scan QR code → allow permissions
- On the PC, open Phone Link and choose iPhone. Make sure Bluetooth is on for both devices.
- Scan the QR code with your iPhone's camera and follow the pairing prompts.
- On the iPhone, allow Share System Notifications, Show Notifications and Sync Contacts so messages and calls work.
Use the phone's internet on the laptop
Turn on the phone's hotspot → join it from the laptop's Wi-Fi list
- On an iPhone, go to Settings → Personal Hotspot and turn on Allow Others to Join.
- On the laptop, choose the iPhone from the list of Wi-Fi networks and enter the hotspot password.
Android and USB options are on the hotspot guide.
Source: Apple: connect to the Personal Hotspot of an iPhone or iPad
If it still won't connect
Check the requirements first: an Android phone must be on the same Wi-Fi as the PC, and an iPhone needs Bluetooth on at both ends and a PC with Bluetooth Low Energy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I connect my iPhone to a Windows laptop?
Yes. Phone Link supports iPhones on iOS 16 or later over Bluetooth, for messages, calls and notifications.
Do I need to install anything on the PC?
Phone Link comes with Windows 10 (October 2022 update or later) and Windows 11. Android phones use the Link to Windows app.