lose access to your connected phone or portable device

gerald maclang 0 Reputation points
2026-08-18T07:44:33+00:00

lose access to your connected phone or portable device

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Connect Phone and PC
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  1. Alex-L 12,555 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-08-18T14:19:18.2333333+00:00

    Hi gerald maclang

    Could you provide a bit more detail about what you're seeing?

    1. Are you using a USB connection or the Phone Link app?
    2. Does the phone still appear in File Explorer or Device Manager?
    3. In Phone Link, does the device show as connected, disconnected, or is it no longer listed?
    4. Are you signed in with a personal Microsoft account or a work/school account?

    In the meantime, if you're connecting by USB, unlock the phone after connecting it and make sure File Transfer (MTP) is selected instead of Charging only. Also check for pending Windows updates and restart both the PC and phone.

    With those details, the community can help narrow down the cause and suggest more specific troubleshooting steps.

    Was this answer helpful?

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