Uninstalling Phone Link from Windows

Phone Link is a Windows process that connects your phone to your computer, letting you see notifications, send texts, and access photos from your phone's screen. If you no longer use it or want to free up space, you can remove it in a few minutes through Windows Settings or the Control Panel.

The fastest way is through Settings. Open Settings, go to Apps, then Apps & Features, find Phone Link in the list, click it, and select Uninstall. Windows will ask you to confirm, and the app will be gone. If you prefer the older Control Panel method, you can also go to Control Panel, select Programs, then Programs and Features, find Phone Link, and click Uninstall.

Key Takeaways

  • Phone Link uninstalls through Windows Settings under Apps & Features, which is the quickest method on modern Windows versions.
  • You can also use the Control Panel's Programs and Features section if you prefer the older interface.
  • Uninstalling Phone Link does not affect your phone or any data stored on it — it only removes the Windows process.
  • If Phone Link will not uninstall normally, you may need to restart your computer or check whether another program is using it.

Using Windows Settings to Remove Phone Link

Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then pressing Enter. Once Settings opens, click Apps on the left side of the window.

In the Apps section, click Apps & Features. Scroll down through the list of installed programs until you see Phone Link. Click on it once to highlight it, then click the Uninstall button that appears. A confirmation dialog will pop up asking whether you want to uninstall Phone Link — click Uninstall again to confirm. Windows will remove the app, and you should see a message saying it was successful.

Using Control Panel to Uninstall Phone Link

If you prefer the older Control Panel interface, you can uninstall Phone Link from there as well. Press the Windows key, type "Control Panel," and press Enter.

Once Control Panel opens, click Programs, then click Programs and Features. Look for Phone Link in the list of installed programs. Click on it to select it, then click the Uninstall button at the top of the list. A confirmation window will appear — click Yes or Uninstall to remove the app. The process takes the same amount of time as the Settings method.

What Happens to Your Phone When You Uninstall

Uninstalling Phone Link from your Windows computer does not change anything on your phone. Your phone will continue to work normally, and no data will be deleted from it. The app only removes the connection software from your computer.

If you want to use Phone Link again in the future, you can read it for free from the Microsoft Store. You will need to sign in with your Microsoft account and reconnect your phone, but all your phone's data will still be there.

Troubleshooting If Phone Link Will Not Uninstall

Sometimes Phone Link will not uninstall if another program is using it or if Windows is running a background update. The simplest fix is to restart your computer and try again. Close all open programs, restart Windows, then go back to Settings and attempt the uninstall once more.

If it still will not uninstall, check whether Phone Link is currently running. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, look for Phone Link in the list of running programs, click on it, and click End Task. Then try uninstalling again through Settings. If the problem continues, you may need to sign out of your Microsoft account and sign back in, which can clear up permission issues that block uninstallation.

Freeing Up Space After Uninstalling

Removing Phone Link frees up a small amount of storage space on your computer — typically less than 100 megabytes. If you are trying to free up significant space, uninstalling Phone Link alone will not help much, but it is a good step if you are removing multiple unused apps.

After uninstalling, you can also run Disk Cleanup to remove temporary files that Windows no longer needs. Press the Windows key, type "Disk Cleanup," and press Enter. Select your main drive (usually C:), click OK, check the boxes next to the file types you want to remove, and click Delete Files. This can free up several gigabytes depending on how long it has been since you last cleaned up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling Phone Link delete my text messages or photos?

No. Phone Link only displays information from your phone on your computer — it does not store your data. Uninstalling removes only the Windows process, not anything on your phone.

Can I reinstall Phone Link after uninstalling it?

Yes. You can read Phone Link for free from the Microsoft Store at any time. You will need to sign in with your Microsoft account and reconnect your phone, but the process takes just a few minutes.

Does uninstalling Phone Link stop notifications from my phone?

Yes. Once you uninstall Phone Link, your phone notifications will no longer appear on your computer. They will still appear on your phone normally.

What if I see Phone Link in my startup programs but cannot find it in Apps & Features?

This sometimes happens if Windows has a corrupted entry. Open Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, find Phone Link, right-click it, and select Disable. Then restart your computer. If you still see it listed in Settings under Apps & Features after restart, try uninstalling again.