Android Phone Not Showing Up on Windows 11 PC ? Here’s How to Fix It
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Key notes
- Users can access their Android device from their PC using Phone Link (formerly Your Phone).
- Smartphones can be connected to a PC using a USB cable, but users will not have the ability to see or reply to texts and phone calls.
- Blocking features, like airplane mode and battery saver, can prevent Phone Link from working properly and connecting to your device.
Connecting your Android phone to a Windows 11 PC should let you transfer files, sync notifications, or even mirror your screen using Phone Link (formerly Your Phone). But for many users, Windows 11 won’t detect the device, making it impossible to access anything.
If your phone is plugged in but doesn’t appear in File Explorer, or you’re unable to browse your phone’s files from your PC, the steps below will help restore access.
How do I fix Windows 11 not recognizing Android phone?
1. Check system requirements
For Phone Link to work properly, users need a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC and an Android device running Android 7.0 or later. Users can check what version of Android they have in the About Phone section in their settings.
Users also need to make sure their smartphone and PC are connected to the same WIFI network. Phone Link on your PC and Link to Windows app on Android need to have the same Microsoft account login information to connect properly.
2. Reinstall drivers
- Right-click on Start and select Run (or press Windows + R).
- Type devmgmt.msc and click OK.
- Make sure your Android device is plugged in via USB and locate Portable Devices, then expand it to find your device.
- Right-click and select Uninstall device.
- Unplug your device and restart your PC.
- Connect your Android device.
Sometimes Windows 11 may not have the most recent drivers for your device, or they’re not properly installed. Performing a clean reset of the driver may get your PC to recognize your Android device.
To ensure all your drivers are running properly, we recommend using specialized driver updating software. This software automatically checks for faulty drivers and useless files that may impact your PC.
3. Adjust battery optimization features
- On your Android device, open Settings.
- Open Apps & notifications then See all apps.
- Search for Link to Windows and tap the app.
- Expand Advanced the tap on Battery.
- Select Don’t optimize.
On some Android devices, battery optimization features might cause issues or prevent your device from connecting to Phone Link. Disabling battery features may solve the problem.
Battery saver has also been reported to impact the connection between your smartphone and PC so make sure this feature is turned off.
4. Disable blocking features
- On your Android device, open your notification menu. Usually, this is accessed by swiping down from the top of your screen.
- Make sure features like Airplane mode, Battery Saver, and Do Not Disturb are disabled.
- On your PC, open the menu in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar.
- Make sure Airplane mode, Battery Saver, and Focus Assist are disabled.
Blocking features may impact the connection between your smartphone and PC. Try connecting your device after disabling these features.
5. Adjust USB configuration settings
- On your Android device, open Settings.
- Tap Bluetooth & Device connection.
- Open USB.
- Select File Transfer and then plug your phone into your PC via USB.
If you need to share files or media, adjusting your phone settings to allow the transfer via USB may allow you to have access to your phone from your PC.
6. Repair and reset the Phone Link
- Click on Start and open Settings (or press Windows + I).
- Select Apps then Apps & features.
- Under App list search for Phone Link.
- Click the three dots and select Advanced options.
- Scroll down to Reset and select Repair.
- After the repair is complete, click Reset.
- Restart your PC.
- Register your device on Phone Link.
How do I connect my Android phone to my PC with Phone Link?
- Click Start and open Settings (or press Windows + I).
- Select Bluetooth & devices and scroll down to Your Phone.
- Click Open Your Phone and select Get started.
- Sign in with your Microsoft Account.
- On your mobile device go to www.aka.ms/yourpc and hit enter.
- If this takes you to the Google Play store, then install the Link to Windows app.
- Follow the prompts on the app until the QR code is ready to be scanned.
- On your PC, check I have the Link to Windows app ready, then Pair with QR code.
Wrapping up
Connecting your phone to your PC makes accessing texts, photos, and calls much easier. If Windows 11 wasn’t recognizing your Android device, these steps, especially repairing the Phone Link app, should help restore the connection, whether you’re using USB or wireless sync.
Still having issues? You might also want to check out what to do if your Windows laptop doesn’t recognize Lumia phones—some solutions apply to Android as well.
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