Solved Phone Link | We Weren't Able To Connect To Your Mobile Device

Dude · Nov 2, 2023

Stigg said:
Where is that setting?

I don't have "Instant Hotspot" on. I didn't see a need for it.

Phone link requires bluetooth and wifi on Android but only bluetooth on iphone - Microsoft Q&A

On my iphone, the phone link app on my windows 11 computer requires wifi and bluetooth to be enabled to pair the two devices. Once that is done, the iphone does not need to be conencted to the internet and only requires bluetooth to be enabled. However,…

answers.microsoft.com

Stigg · Nov 2, 2023

Dude said:
Phone link requires bluetooth and wifi on Android but only bluetooth on iphone - Microsoft Q&A

On my iphone, the phone link app on my windows 11 computer requires wifi and bluetooth to be enabled to pair the two devices. Once that is done, the iphone does not need to be conencted to the internet and only requires bluetooth to be enabled. However,…

answers.microsoft.com

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both turned on in the phone and the computer.
Connection Optimization is also turned on in Phone Link.

Dude · Nov 3, 2023

I wish I knew something else to tell you. I have a cheaper model, Galaxy A71 and works for me. I did have to repair Bluetooth again after last update

antspants · Nov 3, 2023

Stigg said:
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both turned on in the phone and the computer.
Connection Optimization is also turned on in Phone Link.

If you have the time and have recently updated Bluetooth/WiFi drivers — Roll them back to an earlier/prior version, just to rule that out.

Stigg · Nov 3, 2023

I think the problem is going to be a permissions issue.
The reason is because it is showing "Connected", and the Messages, Photos and Apps tabs are all working. It's only the Calls tab that isn't working.

Stigg · Nov 3, 2023

I've got it working. At least partially.
Under Bluetooth devices on my phone, I clicked on my computer that was listed and noticed that "Calls" was disabled. I enabled it and now it seems to be working. I tried enabling "Audio", but it keeps turning off as soon as I enable it. Does anyone know why "Audio" won't turn on?

antspants · Nov 3, 2023

Progress

Could it be some kind of security setting in Windows, the phone or firewall/antivirus protections?

MisterEd · Nov 3, 2023

Stigg said:
I've got it working. At least partially.
Under Bluetooth devices on my phone, I clicked on my computer that was listed and noticed that "Calls" was disabled. I enabled it and now it seems to be working. I tried enabling "Audio", but it keeps turning off as soon as I enable it. Does anyone know why "Audio" won't turn on?

View attachment 76517

I can't enable Audio either. This has nothing to do with phone calls because audio works fine with the calls. The Audio setting is for the PC to receive audio for apps running on the phone. Normally it has no way to do that.

I first realized the audio problem when I used Phone Link to try to play a game on my phone. The game appeared OK on my PC screen but the audio was was still coming out of the phone. The solution was an app I downloaded from the Microsoft store called Bluetooth Audio Receiver.

If I ran the app and Connected to my Samsung S21, the audio for the game started coming out of my PC speakers. Also, when I did this the Bluetooth Audio setting on my phone was turned on. If I disconnected the Bluetooth Audio setting on my phone was turned off again.

Stigg · Nov 3, 2023

MisterEd said:
I can't enable Audio either. This has nothing to do with phone calls because audio works fine with the calls. The Audio setting is for the PC to receive audio for apps running on the phone. Normally it has no way to do that.

I first realized the audio problem when I used Phone Link to try to play a game on my phone. The game appeared OK on my PC screen but the audio was was still coming out of the phone. The solution was an app I downloaded from the Microsoft store called Bluetooth Audio Receiver.

View attachment 76529

If I ran the app and Connected to my Samsung S21, the audio for the game started coming out of my PC speakers. Also, when I did this the Bluetooth Audio setting on my phone was turned on. If I disconnected the Bluetooth Audio setting on my phone was turned off again.

View attachment 76530

That's excellent information, MisterEd.

It's still strange how the Audio setting doesn't work. Maybe it has something to do with our phones.

MisterEd · Nov 3, 2023

Stigg said:
That's excellent information, MisterEd.
It's still strange how the Audio setting doesn't work. Maybe it has something to do with our phones.

Look at the screenshots in my last post. It seems that the Phone Link app was only meant to connect to the phone using Bluetooth for calls. When it is connected this way the audio works for calls. The Audio setting is not used.

However, when I use the Bluetooth Audio Receiver app on my PC and use it to connect to my phone, the Audio setting is enabled. The Audio setting is only enabled when I use this app.

Stigg · Nov 4, 2023

Thank you @MisterEd , @antspants and @Dude .
Your help is greatly appreciated.

I'm still unsure whether the "Audio" setting that requires a third party app to work is a bug or normal functionality.

Edit: I'll mark this thread as "Solved" once someone confirms that the Android "Audio" functionality is normal behaviour.

antspants · Nov 4, 2023

Stigg said:
Edit: I'll mark this thread as "Solved" once someone confirms that the Android "Audio" functionality is normal behaviour.

Are you on any Android or Samsung forums, Stigg?

Stigg · Nov 4, 2023

antspants said:
Are you on any Android or Samsung forums, Stigg?

No, I'm not, Ants.

I'm not much of a phone enthusiast. I'm more into Windows.

antspants · Nov 4, 2023

@Stigg not that this is of any help to you at all, but thanks for this thread. I was just trying to find an answer to your Audio issue and discovered that Windows 11 phone link now works with iPhones. In the past I've always known it to only work with Android. It's something I am interested in taking a good look at, especially in regards to text messages.
Calls are something else also, although having iPhone headphones isn't a chore, it is if I am wearing my PC headphones, hopefully with some testing, I can work out how or if Windows will interrupt my current audio with an incoming call.
So thanks

Stigg · Nov 4, 2023

@antspants If you'd like an easy way to manage text messages, then Google Messages For Web is great.
I use it all the time. It's a lot quicker and easier to send and receive text messages using it than using your phone.
You can even delete text messages using it, which you can't do with Phone Link.

https://messages.google.com/web/

antspants · Nov 4, 2023

Stigg said:
@antspants If you'd like an easy way to manage text messages, then Google Messages For Web is great.
I use it all the time. It's a lot quicker and easier to send and receive text messages using it than using your phone.
You can even delete text messages using it, which you can't do with Phone Link.

https://messages.google.com/web/

Yes, you're right, I cant delete messages from my computer after just now checking, but sending works well, as does calls. I believe that link/app is for Android only not my iPhone

I tend not to delete messages, I used to but during a minor court case and finding that some of the info I needed was gone, I never have since.

kelper · Nov 5, 2023

The calls feature needs Bluetooth. My phone and laptop can connect by Bluetooth, but Phone Link does not think they are linked. I have been trying to fix this for two days.

MisterEd · Nov 5, 2023

kelper said:
The calls feature needs Bluetooth. My phone and laptop can connect by Bluetooth, bot Phone Link does not think they are linked. I have been trying to fix this for two days.

On your phone check both the Bluetooth and Link to Windows settings. On your PC check the Phone Link settings.

My PC laptop is called Starship and my phone is called Edward's S21.

Here is what you should see on your phone in the Bluetooth settings:

Here is what you should see on your phone in the Link to Windows settings:

Here is what you should see on your PC in the Phone Link settings:

kelper · Nov 5, 2023

MisterEd said:
On your phone check both the Bluetooth and Link to Windows settings. On your PC check the Phone Link settings.

My PC laptop is called Starship and my phone is called Edward's S21.

Here is what you should see on your phone in the Bluetooth settings:

View attachment 76681

View attachment 76682

Here is what you should see on your phone in the Link to Windows settings:

View attachment 76683

View attachment 76684

Here is what you should see on your PC in the Phone Link settings:

View attachment 76686

I know what it should look like but it is not like that on my phone!

MisterEd · Nov 5, 2023

kelper said:
I know what it should look like but it is not like that on my phone!

Then what does it look like. How about some screenshots like I had. I tried really hard but I can't see your screens from where I live

Solved Phone Link | We Weren't Able To Connect To Your Mobile Device

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Like a rolling drone.

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