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

Has anyone had any luck getting the modes and routine option to work and unlock their phone so that they don't need to have the phone on them to unlock the screen and use Link to windows? (Or any other unlocking options?) Thanks

I had no luck with Modes and Routines. The problem is that all of the activation events you might choose revert their actions after 4 hours. Meaning that if your activation event action was to unlock the screen, the screen gets re-locked 4 hours later.

I'm getting good results having downloaded and clicked to install (on my PC) from this link:

https://phone-link.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/86620888

Finish up on your PC, by clicking the Search function of the Taskbar. Search for "Microsoft Store." Open the Microsoft Store app. In the top right hand corner, there's a widget to modify your Profile. Click Profile | App Settings. In App Settings, there's a slider for "App Updates Update Apps Automatically." Click the slider to the off position.

With this setup, when I open Phone Link on my PC and try to access Messages, Apps, or Photos, I get the popup pasted in below. Click it and you'll get a black screen. Just (blindly) enter your phone PIN manually on the PC and hit <Enter>. Voila -- your phone unlocks and your in.

YMMV.

-Steve

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!

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).

Same issue, I have Z Fold 3 too. It happened after I upgraded to Android 13 if I am not mistaken. Even if the screen is black, all I have to do is to type the pin number on the keyboard and hit Enter key to unlock the phone.