What is Going on With Link to Windows? Why Does it Keep Duplicating My Computer?

Maidvelia · Aug 2, 2024

Signing out from the Samsung portal did not change it. I do believe at this point the Link to Windows system app itself is broken and the only fix is rooting the phone or factory resetting. All the changes I have made to the app so far have not fixed it (deleting cache, data, uninstalling updates, etc.).

OAT · Aug 3, 2024

Maidvelia said:
Signing out from the Samsung portal did not change it. I do believe at this point the Link to Windows system app itself is broken and the only fix is rooting the phone or factory resetting. All the changes I have made to the app so far have not fixed it (deleting cache, data, uninstalling updates, etc.).

I have the same issue. Duplicate instances(4) of same PC name are present on the phone.
I do have the background of the phone in Phone Link however.

I tend to believe it is tied in to the MS account though, not Android.
Unique identifiers for Bluetooth connections tied to logical names result in dupes.
This will eventually be fixed.

Edwin · Aug 3, 2024

If you click on the Settings icon...

... does it not give you the option to unpair?...

OAT · Aug 3, 2024

Edwin said:
If you click on the Settings icon...

... does it not give you the option to unpair?...

Many are unpaired and just stay with no option to remove anymore.
Signing out/Uninstalling does nothing as they return.
It's no big deal to me and I do not want to spend anymore time on it for now.
There is one benefit, I do not have to pair again when on my VM.
Sorry about the poor quality, it was quicker this way.

Edwin · Aug 3, 2024

OAT said:
Many are unpaired and just stay with no option to remove anymore.

Fair enough!
I can't fully test it cuz I can't get the app anymore!

Rollback_Jockey · Aug 3, 2024

Have you tried flushing the cache on the phone app?

Edwin · Aug 3, 2024

The higher the technology, the more time people spend fecking around with devices..., and, 50% of that time is spent trying to fix sh*t that doesn't work properly!!! Gotta love it!

OAT · Aug 3, 2024

Rollback_Jockey said:
Have you tried flushing the cache on the phone app?

The cache was cleared and the app was uninstalled.
The phone was rebooted afterwards.
I then switched to the Beta version of Link to Windows.

As stated in my first post , I think the BT identifiers linked to the PCs' names are tied in to the MS account as well.
So when one signs back in, all machine names remain with no way to clear them at that point.
I think this was done in order to 'easily' reconnect/re-pair.
So called 'features' in both Android & Windows look like they have been piled up one after the other without a clear plan of action or predetermined path. The almost constant updates seem to indicate a rather chaotic implementation.

See @Edwin 's accurate description of the current state of things.

dacrone · Aug 3, 2024

when you removed everything, did you go to device manager and show hidden and remove any instances of your phone as well?

OAT · Aug 3, 2024

Yes & thank you.
I will let it be now.

Edwin · Aug 3, 2024

I'd test this out if somebody knew how I could get my hands on the Link To Windows msix pack!

dacrone · Aug 3, 2024

if im not mistaken, the Link to Windows and an android .apk package and the Windows side is the Phone Link .msix app... no?

OAT · Aug 3, 2024

dacrone said:
if im not mistaken, the Link to Windows and an android .apk package and the Windows side is the Phone Link .msix app... no?

Correct.
Microsoft.YourPhone_1.24072.96.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

Edwin · Aug 3, 2024

Edwin said:
I'd test this out if somebody knew how I could get my hands on the Link To Windows msix pack!

Check that!
I found an old one layin around...,

... I'll be back, after I feck up my whole system!!!

Edwin · Aug 3, 2024

... anybody let me know what the latest version is, please...

dacrone · Aug 3, 2024

Phone Link - Microsoft Apps

You love your phone. So does your PC. 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*, view your notifications, and more. Make emailing yourself photos a thing of the past as...

apps.microsoft.com

or

Microsoft Store - Generation Project (v1.2.3) [by @rgadguard]

Online link generator for Microsoft Store. You can use it to get links to almost all apps, games, themes from the Microsoft Store.

store.rg-adguard.net

> set to URL
> set to RP
> Input: Phone Link - Microsoft Apps

there is also this method, if anyone reading is interested (i've never had to use this one, yet, though):

Download MSIX/APPX Packages from Microsoft Store using PowerShell – Alexandru Marin

www.alexandrumarin.com

Edwin · Aug 3, 2024

dacrone said:
> set to URL
> set to RP
> Input: Phone Link - Microsoft Apps

Sanx very much!

Edwin · Aug 3, 2024

Well, after fooling around for a bit...,
... regardless of how many times I connect and disconnect, etc., I still only have one entry...

Only after I remove the device from the PC App...

... does the entry disappear from the Phone...

Edwin · Aug 3, 2024

I'm not sure if I covered every scenario, but, the only other thing I would suggest is, Sign out and unlink account.

OAT · Aug 3, 2024

Edwin said:
I'm not sure if I covered every scenario.

Thanks @Edwin for all your efforts.

My scenario is a bit different and could explain the issue, but I don't know the OP's setup.

I am using the same physical machine for both Canary & Dev channels.
I go back and forth between the two OSs using Macrium images.
Each OS required a separate setup for the phone app.
It is therefore a rather unusual setup, plus I have 2 VMs for Beta and RC, the Beta using the phone app as well.
And of course, the VMs are available whether the host is Canary or Dev.
Plus VMs for Linux Arch & Linux Debian blah, blah...

What is Going on With Link to Windows? Why Does it Keep Duplicating My Computer?

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