The Phone Link app on your Windows PC let's you get instant access to everything you love on your phone, right from your PC. Link your Android phone and PC to view and reply to text messages, make and receive calls, and more - all right on your PC.
The Phone Link experience starts on your PC with Windows 10 or Windows 11 and the Your Phone app. From your PC you can connect to select Android and Samsung devices with these two apps:
- Link to Windows (YPC) app for most Android devices
- Link to Windows (LTW) app preinstalled on Surface Duo and selected Samsung phones
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to link an Android phone with the Phone Link app for all users in Windows 11.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable the ability to link an Android phone with the Phone Link app.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Link Android Phone with Phone Link app in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Link Android Phone with Phone Link app using REG file
EXAMPLE: Phone Link app disabled
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Group Policy
3 In the right pane of Group Policy in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Phone-PC linking on this device policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
5 To Enable Link Android Phone with Phone Link app for All Users
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
6 To Disable Link Android Phone with Phone Link app for All Users
A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 To Enable Link Android Phone with Phone Link app for All Users
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_Phone-PC_linking_with_Your_Phone_app_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System]
"EnableMmx"=-3 To Disable Link Android Phone with Phone Link app for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_Phone-PC_linking_with_Your_Phone_app_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System]
"EnableMmx"=dword:000000004 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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