How to fix deleted text messages from my phone still showing up on Phone Link

Question

How to fix deleted text messages from my phone still showing up on Phone Link

Michael Montana 25

Up until a few days ago, if I deleted a text message on my android phone, it also was deleted on phone link, now I have several deleted messages still showing up on phone link. What has changed and how do I fix it?

Michael Montana 25 Reputation points

2026-05-07T17:22:41.85+00:00
I went to the Microsoft store and through its AI I got this answer and it deleted all my old messages that were still showing up on phone link.

On many phones, Google Messages is just labeled “Messages”, so you’re very likely using it even if it doesn’t say “Google” in the name.

Let’s confirm and then clear deleted texts so Phone Link stops showing them:

Confirm it’s the default SMS app

Open Settings on your phone.

Go to Apps (or Apps & notifications).

Tap Default apps (you may need to tap the three dots ⋮ first).

Tap SMS app – if it shows Messages with a blue chat bubble icon, that’s Google Messages.

Empty the Trash in Messages (Google Messages)
- **Open the Messages app.** - **Tap your profile icon or the three dots ⋮ in the top‑right.** - **Look for Trash.** - **Open Trash, then either Empty trash or press‑and‑hold each conversation and tap Delete.** **Resync Phone Link** - **Close Phone Link on your PC completely.** - **Reopen it and wait a minute to refresh the message list.**

If you don’t see a Trash option anywhere in Messages, tell me what phone brand you’re using (for example, Samsung, Pixel, Motorola), and I’ll tailor the steps.
PA86 Steeler 20 Reputation points

2026-08-17T12:37:44.71+00:00

I use a messaging app called ZenSMS which is for the most part doing a good job at mimicking the Samsung Messages that I loved. I dislike Google messages royally. I had deleted my trash and still had an issue. Turns out there is a separate Spam Trash in this app - once I emptied that too then Phone Link cleaned itself up nicely.

I have older messages that I have kept in main message folder just to refer to them later if needed, and those do not show up in Phone Link, but I actually like that. I just use Phone Link during the morning when I am often on my laptop for a while.

1 answer

Your answer

Michael Montana 25 Reputation points

2026-05-07T17:22:41.85+00:00

I went to the Microsoft store and through its AI I got this answer and it deleted all my old messages that were still showing up on phone link.

On many phones, Google Messages is just labeled “Messages”, so you’re very likely using it even if it doesn’t say “Google” in the name.

Let’s confirm and then clear deleted texts so Phone Link stops showing them:

Confirm it’s the default SMS app

Open Settings on your phone.

Go to Apps (or Apps & notifications).

Tap Default apps (you may need to tap the three dots ⋮ first).

Tap SMS app – if it shows Messages with a blue chat bubble icon, that’s Google Messages.

Empty the Trash in Messages (Google Messages)
- **Open the Messages app.** - **Tap your profile icon or the three dots ⋮ in the top‑right.** - **Look for Trash.** - **Open Trash, then either Empty trash or press‑and‑hold each conversation and tap Delete.** **Resync Phone Link** - **Close Phone Link on your PC completely.** - **Reopen it and wait a minute to refresh the message list.**

If you don’t see a Trash option anywhere in Messages, tell me what phone brand you’re using (for example, Samsung, Pixel, Motorola), and I’ll tailor the steps.
PA86 Steeler 20 Reputation points

2026-08-17T12:37:44.71+00:00

I use a messaging app called ZenSMS which is for the most part doing a good job at mimicking the Samsung Messages that I loved. I dislike Google messages royally. I had deleted my trash and still had an issue. Turns out there is a separate Spam Trash in this app - once I emptied that too then Phone Link cleaned itself up nicely.

I have older messages that I have kept in main message folder just to refer to them later if needed, and those do not show up in Phone Link, but I actually like that. I just use Phone Link during the morning when I am often on my laptop for a while.

Answer 1

Deleted or missing messages behavior in Phone Link is controlled by how Phone Link syncs with the phone and by which messaging app is set as default.

Based on the documented behavior, the most likely causes and fixes are:

Check that the default SMS app on Android has not changed
- Phone Link works reliably with the phone’s default SMS/MMS app.
- If a third‑party app was recently set as the primary messaging platform, Phone Link may no longer track deletions correctly and can show “stale” conversations.
- On the Android phone, set the original stock SMS app (for example, Samsung Messages or Google Messages) back as the default, then reopen Phone Link.
Update Phone Link and Link to Windows
- On the Windows PC, open Phone Link → Settings → About → Check for updates and install any pending updates.
- On the Android device, open Link to Windows → Settings → Check for updates (or Details → … (More) → About Link to Windows) and update if available.
- Out‑of‑date apps can cause sync issues where deletions on the phone are not reflected on the PC.
Ensure both devices can sync properly
- Make sure both the Windows PC and Android phone are powered on and connected to the Internet.
- Turn Battery saver off on the phone, as it can interfere with important notifications and background sync for Link to Windows.
- If the connection has been unreliable, connect both devices to the same trusted (private) Wi‑Fi network to improve sync stability.
Force a fresh sync
- Close Phone Link on the PC.
- On the Android phone, force close Link to Windows, then reopen it.
- Reopen Phone Link on the PC and allow a few minutes for messages to resync.
If messages are still out of sync
- Use the dedicated messaging troubleshooting guidance for Phone Link to check for any known issues or additional steps: see Troubleshooting for messages in the Phone Link from the Phone Link troubleshooting hub.

If, after these steps, deleted messages still appear in Phone Link, the behavior may be due to current limitations in how Phone Link mirrors and retains message history. In that case, focus on using Phone Link primarily to send/receive going forward; older threads that were deleted on the phone may remain visible in Phone Link until a future update changes that behavior.

References: