Which aka.ms link are you stuck on?

Phone Link and Link to Windows throw out short aka.ms links that people get stuck on — usually because the link is meant for the other device. Find the one you're seeing below and I'll take you straight to the fix. Every guide here is tested first-hand, not copied from Microsoft.

The tag tells you which device the link is actually meant for.

www.aka.ms/LinkPhoneQRType on PC

The QR code is blank or won't scan. Reopens Phone Link on your PC for a fresh code — or link with no QR at all.

Fix the QR code →
www.aka.ms/PhoneLinkType on PC

You tapped "Add PC" in Link to Windows. Opens Phone Link on the computer you're adding.

Add a PC →
aka.ms/PairPCOpen on Android

Shown on your PC after "Continue without a QR code." Open it on your Android phone to finish pairing.

Link Android →
https://aka.ms/startLinkingOpen on iPhone

Shown on your PC for iPhone setup. Open it on your iPhone to pair over Bluetooth.

Pair iPhone →
aka.ms/MobileDeviceSettingsOpen on PC

Clipboard / cross-device copy-paste won't work. Opens the Windows setting that turns it on.

Enable clipboard →

Not sure which it is? Go by your screen

You're seeing it on…It's meant for…Most likely link
PCyour phonePairPC / startlinking
Phoneyour PCPhoneLink / linkphoneqr
In the Clipboard tabyour PCMobileDeviceSettings

Golden rule: if you're seeing the link on one device, it's almost always meant to be opened on the other one. That single mix-up strands more people than any bug.

Quick answers & deeper guides

Requirements & specsSame network, updated apps, supported devices, VPNs, work accounts. iPhone vs AndroidWhat each can actually do — and why iPhone gets less. Features & real limitsTested findings: file limits, battery, mirroring heat, and more. What's new in Phone LinkA hand-tested timeline of what actually changed, newest first. Device modesWindows S Mode, Samsung Easy mode, iOS Assistive Access. iPhone file sharingaka.ms/addAccount — turn on iPhone ↔ PC file sharing. Won't connect? FixesThe tested fix ladder — from quick checks to the full reset. AlternativesIntel Unison, KDE Connect, Smart Connect, Sefirah & more — tested. Is Phone Link safe?What it can see, what it can't — and the work-PC warning. Disconnect / removeUnlink cleanly on Android & iPhone — and fix the sync-after-removal glitch.

The three fixes that solve most problems

Before anything complicated, these cleared the large majority of connection trouble in my testing: restart both devices, restart both apps, and as a last resort reset the connection (clear app data and re-link). And remember Phone Link is Windows-only — it doesn't work on Mac, Chromebook or Linux. More on compatibility →

Aaron Kransdorf, founder of SyncYourDevice

Aaron Kransdorf

A curious techy from Traverse City, Michigan. I started SyncYourDevice.com after getting stuck on these exact links myself — if someone comfortable with tech was struggling, most people were struggling worse. Everything here comes from my own hands-on testing of Phone Link and Link to Windows, backed by Microsoft's official documentation and issues I've reported through their feedback channels, and I keep it current as the apps change.

Tested on: Link to Windows (Android) 1.26071.104.0 · (iOS) 1.26081.28 · Phone Link (Windows) 1.26071.164.0 — verified August 30, 2026.

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