Phone Link does not display pinned contacts/conversations for Samsung Galaxy S26 using Google Messages

Phil Nickerson 0 Reputation points
2026-05-14T20:59:28.6333333+00:00

Issue Summary

Phone Link on Windows does not display pinned contacts/conversations for my Samsung Galaxy S26 when using Google Messages, even though pinned conversations are clearly visible on the phone itself.

Environment

  • Windows version: Windows 11 (latest updates applied)
  • Phone Link version: Latest from Microsoft Store
  • Device: Samsung Galaxy S26
  • Messaging app: Google Messages
  • Previous device: Samsung Galaxy S22 (Phone Link displayed pinned contacts correctly on this device)

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Connect Samsung Galaxy S26 to Phone Link on Windows via the Link to Windows feature.
  2. Open the Messages section in Phone Link on Windows.
  3. Observe that conversations are displayed but pinned conversations are NOT shown at the top — they appear mixed in with unpinned conversations or not prioritized at all.
  4. Check the same conversations on the Samsung Galaxy S26 directly — pinned conversations are clearly shown at the top of the Google Messages app on the phone.

Expected Behavior

Pinned conversations should appear at the top of the Messages list in Phone Link on Windows, matching the order displayed on the phone — as was the case when using a Samsung Galaxy S22 with Google Messages.

Actual Behavior

Pinned conversations are not shown or not prioritized in Phone Link on Windows when connected to the Samsung Galaxy S26. The only sorting options available are "Recent" and "Invert Recent" — there is no way to replicate the phone's pinned conversation order.

Impact

I rely on pinned contacts for quick access to my most important conversations. Without this feature working correctly, Phone Link is significantly less useful as a productivity tool.

Regression / Feature Gap

This appears to be a regression or a missing feature for newer Samsung devices. The Samsung Galaxy S22 with Google Messages displayed pinned contacts correctly in Phone Link. The Samsung Galaxy S26 does not — suggesting the behavior was either broken during an update or was never implemented for the S26 model.

Request

  1. Please clarify whether pinned conversation sync is officially supported for the Samsung Galaxy S26 and newer Samsung devices using Google Messages.
  2. If it was previously supported and is now broken, please treat this as a regression and restore the functionality.
  3. If it was never supported for this device/app combination, please add support for pinned conversation display so that Phone Link accurately reflects the pinned conversations shown on the phone.

Thank you for your attention to this issue.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Connect Phone and PC
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  1. AI answer

    2026-05-14T20:59:54.8933333+00:00

    Pinned conversation ordering for Google Messages on specific Android devices is not documented as a supported or configurable feature of Phone Link. The available, documented behavior for message lists in Phone Link is limited to sorting options such as “Recent” and “Invert Recent,” and there is no documented setting to sync or honor the “pinned” state from the messaging app on the phone.

    The provided documentation for Phone Link and Link to Windows covers:

    • Supported devices and pre‑installed Link to Windows experiences.
    • Version requirements and update checks for Phone Link and Link to Windows.
    • General troubleshooting for messages and other features.

    However, it does not describe:

    • Any guarantee that pinned conversations from Google Messages (or other SMS apps) will appear pinned in Phone Link.
    • Any device‑specific behavior for pinned conversations (for example, differences between Galaxy S22 and newer Galaxy models).

    Based on the available information, the behavior described (pinned conversations not appearing at the top in Phone Link, only “Recent/Invert Recent” sorting) is not covered as a supported feature or regression in the documentation. There is no documented way to enable or restore pinned‑conversation ordering for the Samsung Galaxy S26 with Google Messages via Phone Link.

    If the app versions and device firmware are already up to date, the only documented next step for unexpected Phone Link behavior is to submit feedback/bug reports so the product team can investigate:

    On the Windows PC:

    1. Open Phone Link.
    2. Go to Settings > Feedback & Community.
    3. Select Send feedback and follow the instructions to file a bug, including details about the Galaxy S26, Google Messages, and the difference from the Galaxy S22 behavior.
    4. When prompted, allow sharing diagnostic data to help the team analyze the issue.
    5. In the Feedback Hub app, select Give new feedback, describe the pinned‑conversation issue, and submit.

    Also ensure both apps meet the documented minimum versions, as newer builds may change behavior:

    On the PC (Phone Link):

    1. Open Phone Link → Settings > About.
    2. Confirm the version is 1.23112.85.0 or later.

    On the Android device (Link to Windows):

    1. Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Link to Windows → Advanced.
    2. Confirm the version is 1.24021.164.0 or later.

    If the versions are below these levels, update them and re‑check behavior. If they already meet or exceed these versions and the issue persists, reporting it through Feedback Hub is the documented path to request support or a feature change.

    References:

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