Phone Link is constatnly disconnecting and showing as "offline"

Question

Phone Link is constatnly disconnecting and showing as "offline"

Adam C 50

Since a recent update to either Phone Link on Windows or Link to Windows on Android, the connection has become unstable. The app often shows my phone as offline, even while I'm actively using the PC.

If the computer sleeps for even a moment, it disconnects and requires a manual refresh to reconnect. Sometimes it says it’s connected, but the status bar icons (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, network, battery) are grayed out, meaning it’s not actually connected. This causes missed calls, messages, and sync failures.

These issues started about a week ago and although the app wasn't perfect, it wasn't nearly as this bad before the update. This feature is important to my workflow and isn’t working properly right now at all.

Phone Link is hands down the buggiest, most unreliable app I’ve ever used. How has Microsoft still not gotten this together? It’s basically useless.

Scott Simpson 0 Reputation points

2025-08-15T18:27:34.3+00:00

same thing here...the only thing that seems to work is rebooting computer
G. Holmes 0 Reputation points

2025-09-02T13:58:48.33+00:00

I had similar issues for well over a year now. I tried every suggestion I could find on the web. The uninstall reinstall, shut off all power saving in android or even windows. Nothing worked although they could in certain circumstances work it was not my problem. My problem that constantly disconnected my phone was my Linksys E9450 Router. I switched to a Netgear RAXE5400 and now have almost no disconnects. The point is it was the router I put the models here for a specific example. I also use the same Dell 7730 PC and Samsung S24 Ultra phone on a Windstream DSL Modem Router combo and have almost no disconnects. Believe me I tried almost every thing listed on the web. I'm an engineer that's very technical so I really was more than slightly upset when I by chance figured it out. Someone with more networking knowledge should clarify this issue. It has to be happening with other routers as well. I did see changes as Microsoft updated the App and it got worse. I was sure it was their fault. Its easy to blame Microsoft and for all I know they may be implementing it in a way that makes it more difficult. BUT The ROUTER definitely the ROUTER for my issue.
Edward Glenn, SET 0 Reputation points

2025-12-11T15:50:08.97+00:00

I'm having the same problem, but I'm new to the program.

I thought the connection between the cell phone and PC was through bluetooth, not the router/IP?

4 answers

Your answer

Scott Simpson 0 Reputation points

2025-08-15T18:27:34.3+00:00

same thing here...the only thing that seems to work is rebooting computer
G. Holmes 0 Reputation points

2025-09-02T13:58:48.33+00:00

I had similar issues for well over a year now. I tried every suggestion I could find on the web. The uninstall reinstall, shut off all power saving in android or even windows. Nothing worked although they could in certain circumstances work it was not my problem. My problem that constantly disconnected my phone was my Linksys E9450 Router. I switched to a Netgear RAXE5400 and now have almost no disconnects. The point is it was the router I put the models here for a specific example. I also use the same Dell 7730 PC and Samsung S24 Ultra phone on a Windstream DSL Modem Router combo and have almost no disconnects. Believe me I tried almost every thing listed on the web. I'm an engineer that's very technical so I really was more than slightly upset when I by chance figured it out. Someone with more networking knowledge should clarify this issue. It has to be happening with other routers as well. I did see changes as Microsoft updated the App and it got worse. I was sure it was their fault. Its easy to blame Microsoft and for all I know they may be implementing it in a way that makes it more difficult. BUT The ROUTER definitely the ROUTER for my issue.
Edward Glenn, SET 0 Reputation points

2025-12-11T15:50:08.97+00:00

I'm having the same problem, but I'm new to the program.

I thought the connection between the cell phone and PC was through bluetooth, not the router/IP?

Answer 1

Estrella721 29,300 Independent Advisor

Hi,

Please try the suggestions below as they usually resolve this issue:

Try resetting the Phone Link app to see if it helps: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.

Find the Phone Link app and click on it.

Select Advanced options.

Scroll down and look for the Reset button.

Click Reset.

Or

In your search bar, type "Phone Link."

From the results, right-click on Phone Link and select App settings.

Scroll down and look for Repair, then click the Repair button.

If the issue persists, click the Reset button.

Uninstall and Reinstall the Phone link app:

Right-click the Start Menu and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin)

Copy and paste the command below and hit Enter:

get-appxpackage Microsoft.YourPhone | remove-appxpackage

After that, Reinstall the Phone Link app.

Right-click the Start Menu and choose Windows PowerShell

Copy and paste the command below and hit Enter:

Get-AppXPackage Microsoft.YourPhone -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Restart your computer.

Adam C 50 Reputation points

2025-08-01T21:55:27.85+00:00

Thanks for the response, but unfortunately, this doesn't solve the issue. I've already tried all these steps, and nothing works. The app is just full of bugs. From what I've seen in forums and posts, it's been like this since it launched and hasn't improved. I haven't used a Windows PC in 15 years, but I got a new Windows laptop last month, so this is my first time trying Phone Link, and the experience has been terrible. It's the most unreliable and buggy app I've ever encountered.
Estrella721 29,300 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-08-01T22:58:03.2966667+00:00

Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry to hear that none of the solutions worked for you. If I understand correctly, you mentioned in your original post that the issue started after a recent update. Do you still remember which KB update caused the issue?
Edward Glenn, SET 0 Reputation points

2025-12-11T15:51:10.5733333+00:00

Uninstalling and re-installing the software, to fix a bug, is unacceptable.

Do we have to keep doing that?

Answer 2

Deleted

This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

Comments have been turned off. Learn more

Answer 3

Deleted

This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

Comments have been turned off. Learn more

Answer 4

WhenLarryHadABaby 5

HI man, for me changing my computer's Wi-Fi adapter's band from 5GHZ to 2.4GHZ solved my problem. Hope it helps.

Edward Glenn, SET 0 Reputation points

2025-12-11T15:51:35.84+00:00

I thought the connection between the cell phone and the PC was via bluetooth?
WhenLarryHadABaby 5 Reputation points

2025-12-11T16:06:42.0133333+00:00

Only for calls. The rest is via Wi-Fi

Share via

Phone Link is constatnly disconnecting and showing as "offline"

4 answers

Your answer