Why Isn’t My Phone Link Showing Notifications?
Why Isn’t My Phone Link Showing Notifications?
4 Answers

The Phone Link app has been a game-changer for folks looking to connect their phones to their Windows PCs, making it super easy to handle notifications, messages, photos, and more right from your computer. But sometimes, notifications just don’t show up. If you’ve been pulling your hair out over this, I’ve got you covered.
First off, let’s get into why this happens:
What’s the deal?
- Notification Settings Oops: You might have accidentally switched off notifications for the app in Windows or in the app settings.
- Do Not Disturb Might Be On: If Do Not Disturb mode is on, well, good luck getting any notifications.
- Background Permissions: If the Phone Link can’t run in the background, notifications won’t sync.
- Connection Woes: Dodgy Wi-Fi or Bluetooth can mess up the app’s ability to sync.
- Outdated Apps or Systems: An out-of-date app or system update could throw a wrench in the works. Android 15, for instance, has some strict privacy features that hide certain notifications.
- Battery Saver Mode: Battery saver on your Windows device might kill notifications from Phone Link.
How to fix it:
- Check Notification Settings on Windows:
- Hit the Windows key + I -> System -> Notifications. Make sure the Notifications toggle is on.
- Scroll down, find Phone Link, and turn the Notification toggle on. Check the boxes for showing banners and notifications in the center, and enable sound.
- Check Phone Link’s In-App Settings:
- Open Phone Link -> Settings (cogwheel icon) -> Features -> Notifications. Ensure all necessary toggles are on.
- Go to “Choose which apps I get notifications from” and set them to Notification feed + banner.
- Turn Off Do Not Disturb:
- Windows + I -> System -> Notifications. Toggle off Do Not Disturb.
- Enable Background App Permissions:
- On Windows: Settings -> Apps -> Installed apps -> Phone Link -> Advanced options -> Background app permissions to Always.
- On Android: Settings -> Apps -> Link to Windows -> Battery -> Unrestricted.
- On iPhone: Settings -> General -> Background App Refresh -> Wi-Fi & Mobile Data.
- Ensure Stable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth:
- Make sure your Wi-Fi is solid and Bluetooth is enabled and running smoothly.
- Update Everything:
- On your phone, update the Phone Link app via the app store.
- On Windows: Settings -> Windows Update -> install the latest updates.
- Tweak Android 15 Notification Settings:
- Got Android 15? Settings -> Apps -> Notification access -> Link to Windows. Toggle it off, then on. Grant permission.
- Or disable Enhanced Notifications in Android 15 settings to see those sensitive ones in Phone Link.
- Turn Off Battery Saver:
- Click the battery icon in your system tray -> turn off Battery saver.
- Unlink and Relink Devices:
- On Android: Phone Link -> Settings (cogwheel icon) -> My Devices -> Remove. Then in Link to Windows app -> Settings -> sign out and unlink. Relink using the QR code.
- On iPhone: Phone Link -> Settings (cogwheel icon) -> My Devices -> Remove. Settings -> Bluetooth on iPhone -> Forget This Device. Relink via Phone Link.
Avoid the headache next time:
- Regularly Check Settings: Make it a habit to review notification settings every now and then.
- Stay Updated: Enable automatic updates for the app on your phone and for Windows.
- Monitor Battery and Connection: Keep an eye on your battery levels and connection stability. Adjust settings if necessary to maintain sync.

Sometimes technology decides to act up, and if your Phone Link isn’t showing notifications, it’s the sort of annoyance that can make anyone cranky. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and take a few steps to get those alerts back in action.
Hey, did you know your PC’s battery saver mode and Focus Assist could be the culprits here? They love to play hide-and-seek with your notifications.
- Battery Saver: When your laptop’s feeling low and goes into Battery Saver mode, boom—no notifications. To fix it:
- Hit Win + I to open Settings.
- Head to System > Power & battery.
- Flick the Battery saver off if it’s being cheeky.
- Focus Assist: This feature’s like a good friend who stays quiet when you need it but might be a little too hush-hush sometimes. To shush it:
- Go to Settings > System > Notifications.
- Toggle Do Not Disturb off—let those notifications shout loud!
Are we giving Phone Link the green light to bug you with notifications?
- Open Settings with Win + I.
- Navigate to System > Notifications.
- Scroll to find Phone Link, then make sure those notification switches aren’t being shy.
Ever poked around in Phone Link’s own settings? It might be playing keep-away games with some alerts.
- Boot up Phone Link on your PC.
- Click that gear icon in the corner (settings, silly).
- Hop over to Features > Notifications.
- Make sure everything’s lit up so you hear from your calls, messages, all that jazz.
If Phone Link’s been grounded from running in the background, it’ll miss the memo on notifications:
- Right-click Start and hit Settings.
- Find Apps > Installed apps.
- Trawl around for Phone Link, click its menu, and hit Advanced options.
- Under Background apps permissions, give it the royal treatment—always on.
If you’re on Android, try resetting the notification access—it’s like a quick restart for the system:
- On your Android, go off to Settings and search for Notification access.
- Locate Link to Windows, toggle it off, and turn it back on to show who’s boss.
For some Android gadgets, battery optimization is guilty of breaking connections:
- Swing by Android Settings > Apps & notifications > App info > Link to Windows > Advanced > Battery > Manage Battery Usage.
- Set Battery optimization to “Don’t optimize” when dealing with Link to Windows.
Want to bust the cobwebs? Unlink your phone from the PC and then relink, just like restarting your old GameBoy!
- Fire up Phone Link and head to settings (gear it is!).
- Find My Devices, kick out your phone from this list, restart both gadgets, and re-link them—they’ll thank you!
Time for updates! Keep both your PC and Phone Link happy with the latest patches:
- For Windows updates:
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and let it work its magic.
- Need to update Phone Link?
- Pop into Microsoft Store or have a peek in the app itself for any new shiny updates.
Running Android 15? Some notifications might play it cool due to new privacy rules:
- Any sensitive alerts keep themselves tucked away in Phone Link but can be found directly on your mobile device.
By following all these steps, you should be able to untangle the issue and get those notifications back on track.
If your Phone Link is being stubborn about showing notifications, give a once-over on battery settings, notification permissions, background app permissions, unlink and relink devices, apply software updates, and keep an eye on sensitive notification rules with Android 15.

So, you’re having trouble with your phone link not showing notifications, huh? That can be a real headache when you rely on those cross-device alerts for your daily grind. Let’s dive into why this might be happening and what you can do about it.
First, check those notification permissions. Sometimes, your phone or PC just needs a little nudge to play nice together. On your Android, head to Settings, go into Apps, find Link to Windows (or Your Phone Companion), and make sure notifications are turned on. For Windows, pop into Settings, hit System, and then Notifications & Actions to ensure it’s all set there too. Oh, and don’t let battery optimization get in the way—turn off any restrictions for these apps that might be holding you back.
Now, here’s the kicker: a dodgy connection can cause all sorts of chaos. Whether it’s Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, both need to be stable as a rock. Sometimes just toggling them off and back on again can solve the issue. Make sure there’s nothing funky going on with your network, like a VPN or proxy messing things up.
Outdated software? Been there, done that. Your devices need the latest updates to work together without a hitch. Check for any Windows updates you might have missed and keep your mobile apps fresh from the Play Store. If your phone’s standing still on older software, it’s time for an update there too.
Battery optimization can be a real pain, can’t it? Phones and PCs sometimes think they’re doing you a favor by saving power but end up cutting vital background processes. If your device likes to snooze apps when you’re not looking, dive into your settings and make exceptions for the Link to Windows app.
And don’t let security software throw a wrench in the works. Sometimes your firewall or antivirus gets a little too uptight about what’s safe and what’s not. Make sure you’ve got permissions sorted in your firewall settings, and maybe try switching off your antivirus for a minute to see if that changes the game.
Now, if you’ve tried all that and still find yourself locked out of sync, it might be worth looking into your Microsoft account. Double-check your logins and multi-factor authentication settings to ensure they’re all shipshape. Sometimes a good ol’ sign-out and re-sign-in can work wonders.
For the Samsung squad out there, keep an eye on Smart Switch integrations—there’s a chance it could be clashing with your phone-to-PC link.
If all else fails, reaching out to support from Microsoft or Samsung might just hold the key. They can often help with the trickier bits.
With these tips, you’ll have notifications popping up where they should be in no time. Just take it step by step, and don’t be afraid to give your devices the reboot they might desperately need. Happy syncing!

Having trouble with your Phone Link app not showing notifications? No worries, let’s sort it out together with some simple steps that’ll hopefully do the trick.
First up, take a gander at your app permissions. You’ve got to make sure your Phone Link app is all set to show notifications on your Android device. A quick trip over to Settings, Apps, Phone Link, then Permissions should do the job—just flick those notification permissions on.
Next, it’s worth checking out the notification settings. Make sure your Android device is letting Phone Link notifications come through loud and clear by heading to Settings, Notifications, and then Phone Link. If it’s not toggled on, give it the flip.
Moving along, you’ll want to keep those apps fresh. It’s crucial to update your Phone Link app both on your Android phone and on your Windows PC. It’s a quick pit stop at the Google Play Store and Microsoft Store to check for the latest updates.
Now, here’s a classic for you—restart your devices. Sometimes, all the gizmos need is a little nap. Give your Android device and your Windows PC a restart and see if that gets them back on speaking terms.
If things are still a bit off, try reconnecting your devices. Disconnect your Android device in the Phone Link app on your PC, then ride through the reconnection process. This can often clear up any confusion between the two.
Don’t forget to ditch battery optimization for Phone Link. On your Android, swing by Settings, Battery, then Battery Optimization. Locate Phone Link and choose Don’t optimize. It might help keep the app from getting hampered on your device.
Also, let’s double-check those connections because, trust me, a shaky Wi-Fi can throw everything whack. Ensure both gadgets are soaking up stable internet.
Finally, give a nod to background app permissions on your Windows PC. Navigate to Settings, Privacy, Background apps, and make sure the Phone Link app is free to work its magic in the background.
If you’ve still got your struggles, reaching out to Microsoft Support might be the best bet. Hopefully, with these steps, the notifications will start rolling in. Good luck!