How to Use Link to Windows on Galaxy S26: Calls, Texts, Apps

Link to Windows is built into the Galaxy S26. It connects to Microsoft's Phone Link app on a Windows PC so you can see notifications, reply to texts, take calls and open phone apps on the computer. To start, sign in to the PC with a Microsoft account, open Phone Link, and turn on Link to Windows on the phone.

Short Answer

On the Galaxy S26, go to Settings > Connected devices > Link to Windows, turn it on and follow the prompts. Then open Phone Link on the PC, select Android, scan the QR code with the phone and enter the code shown on the PC. Calls also need a Bluetooth connection between the phone and the PC.

What You Need

You need a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC with a Microsoft account added to it, plus your Galaxy S26. According to Samsung's Phone Link setup guide, newer Galaxy models have Link to Windows built in, so there's nothing to install on the phone.

Brand/OS	Minimum version	Supported?	Notes
Samsung Galaxy S26 (Android 16)	Android 10 or later	Yes	Link to Windows is built in
Windows 10	October 2022 update or later	Yes	Microsoft's calls page lists the Windows 10 May 2019 Update and a PC with Bluetooth support for calling
Windows 11	Windows 11	Yes	If Phone Link is missing, get it from the Microsoft Store
Mac	Not confirmed	No	The Phone Link app isn't available on Mac

Microsoft says the phone and the PC both need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Phone Link also doesn't currently support multiple Android profiles or work/school accounts.

Method 1: Link Your Galaxy S26 to Your PC

Start on the PC, because pairing begins with a QR code that Phone Link shows. Make sure the phone is unlocked and nearby.

On the PC, select Start, type "Check for updates", open it, select Check for updates and let all updates install.
Go to Start > Settings > Accounts > Your info. If you're using a local account, select Sign in with a Microsoft account instead and follow the prompts.
Visit www.aka.ms/linkphone in a browser and select Open Phone Link in the pop-up. If Phone Link isn't installed, get it from the Microsoft Store.
In Phone Link, select Android. Sign in to your Microsoft account if asked, and enter your PC's lock screen credentials if prompted.
On the phone, open Settings > Connected devices and turn on the switch next to Link to Windows.
Scan the QR code on the PC with the phone, then tap Continue.
Enter the code shown on the PC into the phone, tap Next, then tap Continue.
If asked, enter your Outlook password and tap Next.
Review the permissions, allow them, tap Continue, then tap Done.

When it's done, Phone Link on the PC shows your Galaxy S26 as connected, with tabs for its messages, calls and apps.

Method 2: See Phone Notifications on Your PC

Phone notifications need a separate permission on the phone. Android 13 introduced a runtime notification permission, so check that Link to Windows is allowed here.

In Phone Link on the PC, select Notifications.
Select Get started.
When asked to allow Android permissions, select Open settings for me.
On the phone, find Link to Windows in the list and select it.
Select Allow in the pop-up on the phone.

New phone notifications now appear in the Notifications section of Phone Link on the PC.

Method 3: Read and Reply to Texts From Your PC

Messages work once the phone is linked. You can type with the PC keyboard and add emojis, GIFs and images.

In Phone Link, open the Messages tab.
Select a recent conversation, or select the + icon to start a new one.
Type your message and send it.

Your conversation appears in the Messages tab and the text goes out from your phone. Phone Link shows only the first 1,000 messages or 30 days' worth of messages, whichever comes first.

RCS chats are a mixed case: Microsoft's Phone Link messaging page says RCS messaging is available for select Samsung devices, while Samsung's own help page still says Phone Link doesn't support RCS. If your RCS chats don't show up in Phone Link, reply to them on the phone.

Method 4: Make and Answer Calls on Your PC

Calls run over a Bluetooth connection between the Galaxy S26 and the PC, so the PC needs Bluetooth support.

In Phone Link on the PC, select Calls.
Select Get Started.
Follow the instructions on the PC. If you're asked to make the phone discoverable, do it.
Check that the PIN on the phone matches the one shown on the PC, and confirm it.
On the phone, select Allow when the pop-up appears.
To call someone, search recent calls by name or number on the Calls tab, or use the keypad to dial a new number.
Select a contact to call. When a call comes in, answer it from the PC.

The call plays through your PC, and you can use the mute button during it. Phone Link doesn't support * or # during calls, and you can't search contacts alphabetically.

Method 5: Mirror Your Screen and Run Phone Apps

You can open the whole phone screen on the PC or open single apps in their own windows. Samsung says the phone and PC must be connected to the same network or use mobile data for this.

In Phone Link, select Apps at the top.
To mirror the whole phone, select Open phone screen.
To open one app instead, select it from the list.
If the phone asks, tap Start Now to let Phone Link stream the screen.
To add an app to the PC's Start menu, right-click it and select Add to Start.
To keep an app at the top of the Phone Link list, select Add to favorites.

The phone screen or app opens in a window on the PC, with your battery status at the top. The phone's own screen goes blank while you're mirroring. To use the phone directly, swipe the screen or press the Side button.

Method 6: Use Your Phone From the Windows 11 Start Menu

On Windows 11, a linked Galaxy S26 can also show up right in the Start menu, so you don't have to open Phone Link first. According to Microsoft's Mobile device in Start page, the panel shows your phone's battery and connection status, gives quick access to Messages, Calls and Photos, lists recent activity and lets you send files to the phone.

On the PC, open Settings.
Go to Personalization > Start.
Turn on Show mobile device in Start.

Microsoft lists Windows 11, Phone Link version 1.25032.82.0 or later, a Microsoft account and a Wi-Fi connection between the phone and the PC. The feature is rolling out gradually, so the switch may not be on every PC yet. To hide the panel, turn the same switch off.

Differences by Brand or OS Version

This guide is only for the Galaxy S26, where Link to Windows is built into One UI. Besides the Settings menu, you can open it from the Quick Panel: swipe down and select Link to Windows. Some Samsung help pages list the switch under Settings > Connections > Link to Windows, so check there if you don't see it under Connected devices.

The PC side does differ: Microsoft's requirements page asks for the October 2022 update or later on Windows 10.

How to Turn It Off or Undo It

To fully unlink, remove the phone on the PC and then sign out on the phone. If you remove it in only one place, the link may not be fully removed.

In Phone Link on the PC, go to Settings > Devices, find your Galaxy S26, select the overflow menu and select Remove. Select Remove again to confirm.
Open Windows Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices > Manage devices. If your phone is listed, select Remove.
On the phone, go to Settings > Connected devices > Link to Windows, tap your Microsoft account, then tap Sign out.
If you paired the devices over Bluetooth for calls, remove the phone under Windows Settings > Bluetooth & devices, then unpair the PC in the phone's Bluetooth settings.

To use the phone with the PC again later, go through the pairing in Method 1 again.

Tips

To stay connected when you're away from Wi-Fi, go to Settings > Connected devices > Link to Windows and turn on Use mobile data.
You can open up to 5 phone apps at once on the PC, so close one before you open a sixth.
To hear app audio from the phone instead of the PC, open Phone Link, select the Settings icon, then Features and Apps, and set Hear audio from to Mobile device.
Messages you delete on the phone still show in Phone Link, and you can't delete messages from the PC.
If you keep private apps on the phone, here's how to hide apps on the Galaxy S26 with Secure Folder.

Not Working?

First, check that the phone and the PC are on the same Wi-Fi network. If calls don't connect, check that Bluetooth is on for both devices and that the PC has Bluetooth support. If notifications are missing, run Method 2 again and make sure you selected Allow on the phone.

FAQ

Do I need to download Link to Windows on the Galaxy S26?

No. Link to Windows is built in, and you turn it on under Settings > Connected devices > Link to Windows. On the PC you only need Phone Link, which you can get from the Microsoft Store if it's missing.

Can I send RCS messages from my PC?

It depends on your phone. Microsoft says RCS messaging is available for select Samsung devices, but Samsung's help page says Phone Link doesn't support RCS and shows a notification when you're using RCS. Plain SMS texts work either way.

Does Link to Windows work with a Mac?

No. The Microsoft Phone Link app isn't available on Mac, so you need a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC.

Last updated: November 13, 2026. Steps checked against One UI 9 (Android 17).