Phone Link App Missing from Installed Apps—Cannot Reset or Reinstall

G 25 Reputation points
2025-09-16T08:55:59.52+00:00

Hello,

I’m experiencing an issue with the Phone Link app on Windows 11. The app is not listed in the Installed Apps (Settings > Apps > Installed apps), yet it appears in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Mobile Devices and is visible on my toolbar—however, it cannot be opened.

Microsoft Store cannot detect or resolve this problem, and the app does not show up in Task Manager, so I am unable to reset, uninstall, or reinstall it.

I have followed the official Microsoft troubleshooting guide to reset the Phone Link app, but the process cannot be completed because the app is missing from the Installed Apps list: Reset your Android device and PC with the Phone Link

Additionally, I submitted feedback with a screen recording via the Feedback Hub, but have not received any response. Attempts to use the Get Help app and the Microsoft Support website to submit a formal support request result in loops that prevent completing the submission.

Has anyone encountered this issue, or does anyone from Microsoft have guidance on how to resolve it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Apps

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Answer accepted by question author
Lychee-Ng 28,125 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2025-09-16T13:29:33.7633333+00:00

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A, G!

I totally understand your confusion regarding PhoneLink, as I'm a user myself, and I also took a while figuring out where the app could be. Microsoft has moved the app to a different place:

  • Open Settings > System > Scroll down to System components
  • You will now see Phone Link > three-dot > Advanced options
  • There are Terminate, Repair and Reset options there

If the troubleshooting steps you previously found or the other suggested can't help with your issue, consider sharing your exact PhoneLink problem here to Q&A. We are happy to assist you in resolving it!

If this reply is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it to assist others who might face similar problem. If the issue persists or you have extra questions, please click "Comment" instead.

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  1. alan foos 0 Reputation points
    2025-12-11T12:08:01.2333333+00:00

    Sorry, I really should have first explained that for a while I had all the same problems re the inability of Phone Link to load at all. In my case the problem turned out to be a corrupted Windows 11 local user account. I made a new administrator account and Phone Link came up fine except the AMD drivers on my machine won't load Calls, though Messages and Photos are fine as explained in my earlier comment. Try a different user account!

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