New issue with unlocking my Samsung phone via phone link app on PC

Hi everyone,

Found a new solution that actually works, and I doubt anyone can mess with it in the foreseeable future. It takes just a few minutes to set up. I've only tested it on Samsung, since that's the device I use, and it goes like this:

1. Settings> Modes and Routines
2. Select "Routines" from the bottom of the screen, then press the + button on top.
3. Press to add an "If" condition, then scroll down and select "Bluetooth Device".
4. Select the device (Your PC) and select "Connected", then press "Done" and go back.
5. Press to add a "Then" condition, scroll to "Lock Screen" and select "Keep your phone unlocked".

Save this and you're done.

That's it. What it does is basically keep your phone's screen unlocked, while it's connected to your PC. If for example you put your PC to sleep, and walk around the house, then it reverts to its' normal mode. Unlike the "Smart Lock" feature that keeps your phone unlocked all the time while it's in a certain location.

Hope this helps!

yep. pretty sorry....

i'm seeing now that, if i connect to the S22 U while it's unlocked, then navigate phone to lock screen settings, choosing 'screen lock type', 'smart lock', 'secure lock settings' will blank the display until you back out to the main 'lock screen' page...

i had removed updates to the 'Link to Windows' bit, as with previous comment, but don't see any way to do anything about the 'Link to Windows Service' either.

surely be interested in rolling back to the previous version, too.

Was about 10 days ago I first noticed the loss of a visible PIN keypad - probably coincidental with my upgrade to OneUI 5.1 and likely when the updated service was pushed on me.

I was running a November version of the Windows app - which had previously given me the remote PIN keypad. Then after the update the keypad was blank when trying to connect (but there was no "Unlock from your phone" message either).

In the settings>features on the Window's Phone Link app - you can disable hiding the screen on the phone and watch what's happening on it.

When I connected to the phone - the window on the PC was blank, while the phone displayed the PIN keypad. I could click inside the blank space on my PC - and a touch would register on the phone and I could unlock the phone with lucky-guess clicking.

I've let all the apps update - and got back the "unlock from your phone" screen on my PC - and confirm what you've seen once connected (the PIN keypads display blank on the PC)... but the keyboard still displays on the phone - and accepts clicks from your PC.

Through all of this, messages and notifications still came through as intended- only the remote control got fubar'd. For the most part, Smart Lock to location or a local device solves this, but it's not 100% YMMV.

Seems, we could downgrade to a November version of the Windows app (uninstall via Powershell - reinstall old version from UptoDown) - and rid the "Unlock from phone" screen... leaving a blank box on connect and overlaying a numeric keypad on our PCs screen to click the proper PIN key. 🙄

Cheers,

Chipster

Clearly intentional. But sideloading older (November) versions of either the Android app or the Windows app used to restore the remote PIN unlock.

But since the recent OneUI 5.1 update on my S22 U, no combination of sideloading old Link to Windows app (Android) or Phone Link app on Windows works anymore - perhaps due to an updated Link to Windows Service (which can't be downgraded and sideloaded - as far as I can tell). Partial workaround is to setup Smart Lock for home location and my Smartwatch - which is even less secure than the remote PIN entry that's now blocked.

yep. pretty sorry....

i'm seeing now that, if i connect to the S22 U while it's unlocked, then navigate phone to lock screen settings, choosing 'screen lock type', 'smart lock', 'secure lock settings' will blank the display until you back out to the main 'lock screen' page...

i had removed updates to the 'Link to Windows' bit, as with previous comment, but don't see any way to do anything about the 'Link to Windows Service' either.

surely be interested in rolling back to the previous version, too.

I agree with you 100%. This is so stupid. The app is half useless to me now because I always have to have phone next to me (if i choose to keep updated version). I might as well just delete it and use the phone. Intel has similar app called Unison. I might try it out. Hopefully Microsoft will fix this "update" or perhaps there is workaround for it through ADB.

I legit don't get it. Phone Link used to be amazing for keeping me focused on my work. Just checking messages via phone link eliminates the need to pick up the phone and potentially get side tracked. I can just keep it in another room. No longer an option. I have two phones, the Fold3, and an Iphone14Pro. I actually switched to daily drive the fold for the reason of the phone link. Switched back after the entire chain started breaking down. This one change was enough to make it useless.

To me, Phone Link was such a better version of apple's non-sense handoff(I use a Mac sometimes, but I just don't find this part of the apple ecosystem intutive).