Windows 10: How to connect PC and Iphone with phone link

I've recently tried to connect my iphone to phone link but it never works. I've tried restarting the PC and iphone, turned on and off bluetooth reinstalled the mobile app but nothing works. I have noticed that when I do attempt to connect them it says on bluetooth that my iphone connects then disconnects repeatedly.

:)

 

Phone Link with iPhone, currently no Bluetooth

Hi all,

I was very much looking forward using Phone Link now that I got myself to update to Win 11.

Unfortunately, my PC doesn't support Bluetooth. Hence following questions:

Is there...

1. an update coming where iPhone are able to pair via Wifi?
   
2. a possibility to connect the iPhone via USB / Tethering?
   
3. a way to solely receive and write messages via Windows on my iPhone, with no Bluetooth connection required?
   

If all of this is a no, what would be the easiest way to retrofit Bluetooth? Would any 3rd party USB Bluetooth adapter be sufficient? If so, could you suggest/recommend one?

Thank you very much

-Sebastian

 

Connecting my iphone

Hi

Welcome to Microsoft community.

Connecting your iPhone to your new Microsoft Surface Laptop should be a straightforward process. If your laptop is mistakenly recognizing your iPhone as an Android device, here are some steps to resolve the issue:

Step 1: Install iTunes

1. Download iTunes:
   
   • Go to the Apple iTunes download page and download the latest version of iTunes for Windows.
     
2. Install iTunes:
   
   • Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install iTunes on your Surface Laptop.
     
3. Restart Your Computer:
   
   • After installing iTunes, restart your Surface Laptop to ensure that all drivers and services are correctly loaded.
     

Step 2: Connect Your iPhone

1. Connect via USB:
   
   • Use the official Apple USB cable to connect your iPhone to your Surface Laptop.
     
2. Trust This Computer:
   
   • On your iPhone, you should see a prompt asking if you trust this computer. Tap Trust and enter your passcode if prompted.
     
3. Open iTunes:
   
   • Open iTunes on your Surface Laptop. It should recognize your iPhone correctly.
     

Step 3: Check Device Manager

1. Open Device Manager:
   
   • Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
     
2. Locate Your iPhone:
   
   • In the Device Manager, find Portable Devices. Your iPhone should be listed here as Apple iPhone.
     
3. Update Driver:
   
   • If it’s listed incorrectly (e.g., as an Android device), right-click on it and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
     

Step 4: Reinstall Apple Mobile Device USB Driver

1. Manually Install Driver:
   
   • If the automatic update does not work, you can manually reinstall the Apple Mobile Device USB driver:
     
     • Disconnect your iPhone.
       
     • Close iTunes.
       
     • Reconnect your iPhone.
       
2. Open Device Manager Again:
   
   • In Device Manager, right-click on the incorrectly listed device and choose Update driver.
     
   • Select Browse my computer for driver software.
     
   • Navigate to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers.
     
   • Select usbaapl64.inf or usbaapl.inf (depending on your system architecture) and click Open.
     

Step 5: Use the "Your Phone" App

1. Open "Your Phone" App:
   
   • Windows 11 includes the Your Phone app, which allows you to connect and manage your phone. Open Your Phone from the Start menu.
     
2. Set Up Your Phone:
   
   • Follow the prompts to set up your device. Make sure you select iPhone during the setup process.
     
3. Link Your iPhone:
   
   • Follow the instructions to link your iPhone. This may require downloading the Your Phone Companion app from the Apple App Store and signing in with your Microsoft account.
     

Step 6: Troubleshoot USB Connections

1. Try Different USB Ports:
   
   • Try connecting your iPhone to different USB ports on your Surface Laptop to see if it makes a difference.
     
2. Check USB Cable:
   
   • Ensure that you are using a genuine Apple USB cable. Sometimes third-party cables can cause connectivity issues.
     

Let me know if you need further assistance.

Best regards

Derrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

 

Random Connect to iPhone

Hi!

I'm sitting in front of it my new PC I just bought, minding my own business.

Suddenly a notice pops up and says your photos are ready.. and then I click it and find that all the pics from my iPhone are suddenly copied to the PC into the Photos App. This is so weird because I have never connected my iPhone to the PC. The phone does not sync to iCloud. Besides I don't even have iCloud on the PC.

The iPhone was sitting on the table nearby. I am extremely confused and worried because the PC just randomly copied all the pictures from my phone.

I tried googling but couldn't find anything. I found articles on 'How to connect your iPhone to Windows' and they all had 3-5 steps you had to follow through. But mine just did it on it's own without me wanting to do it!!

Can anyone explain how this happened??? I would love some clue!!!!