Windows 10: Phone link works for texts and photos, but not apps or phone screen

Latest Windows 11 update has broken the connection to my Galaxy S22. The app works just fine for sending and receiving text messages, opening photos, and making calls, but the Apps and Phone Screen features no longer work. Before the update, clicking "open phone screen" or an app would bring up the phone screen window, then I would be asked on my phone to grant permission, then everything worked. Now the window opens and hangs on "Loading Phone Screen," there is no prompt for permission on my phone, and eventually I get the annoying "Connect to the same wi-fi" message. Again, the other Phone L

:)

 

YOUR PHONE not displaying photos

What functionality Phone Link (Your Phone) has depends upon the level of support it has for your phone. It seems that mostly Samsung phone have the most support. I have a Samsung S21 5G which works pretty good with Phone Link.

The first time and once in a while after that I have to retrieve my phone and give permission for Phone Link to access it. Once that is done Phone Link is allowed to access my phone any time even when the screen is locked. Naturally, my phone has to be in my home and powered on for this to work. Also, WiFi and Bluetooth need to be on.

When viewing photos at the bottom of the screen is "Showing up to 2000 photos and screenshots you've taken on your phone.". I only see that about 1300 photos plus an unknown number of screenshots are shown. The exact number is not important because I feel overwhelmed because it shows no information about individual photos or screenshots. I wish they would have separated the two. I find Phone Link most useful for recent photos and screenshots that I want to drag and drop onto my computer desktop. Beyond that it is easier to deal with the photos, screenshots, and albums by connecting my phone to my computer with a USB cable and browsing through them with Windows File Explorer.

I can also send and receive phone calls and text messages using Phone Link. Receiving text messages is really nice when I log onto a web site that wants to verify my identity by sending me a text message, After it is sent Phone Link, which is running in the background, causes a pop up notification on my computer screen. That is much easier than having to go find my phone and read it there.

Using Phone Link I can also view my phone screen and navigate the screens. I can also run any app on the phone and see it on my computer. At first I wondered why I wasn't hearing and sound. I solved that by pairing the phone with my computer via Bluetooth.

In conclusion, I find viewing and copying photos and screenshots using Phone Link is only useful for those that are fairly recent ones. Other than that retrieving text messages is the only other feature of Phone Link to be really useful.

 

Your Phone App - Link to Windows not working

Has anyone found the secret to getting the Your Phone - Link to Windows App working correctly?
Looking at the number of posts in other forums saying they have problems there is clearly a major issue with this App. It's a pity because it used to work quite well before recent Windows updates.
Basically my phone (Samsung A515) will connect to Your Phone on my PC and I can see the headers of Notifications on my PC. If I try to read Messages or access Photos or open Desktop Apps it says I need permissions and asks me to click on a link to send a permission request to my phone. It never arrives. I don't see any permission request. Also it doesn't say what permissions are missing nor how to enable them.
The response from MS is always to ensure that your phone and PC Apps are at the latest version (they are). I suspect there is a major bug in this App, yet others seem to suggest that it does work. Hopelessly confused.
Winver: 21H1 19043 1237.

 

Your Phone app not working

Perhaps this may be of help clearing up some confusion.

If you do a search for "Your Phone" via the Windows 10 start menu, the result takes you to the "Your Phone" app page, which gives you the options to connect/sync your computer to your phone. It is the settings on that page that I have struggled with, because they lead you nowhere, with no way to complete the process. At least, that is my experience.

But there is another choice in that also shows up farther down in the start menu "Your Phone" the search results called "Link your phone". It takes you to a different settings page titled "Your Phone", but gives you options not found on the Your Phone "app" page, including the ability to add a device, and most importantly, "unlink" your phone. This is the crucial step, which will lead you to the next step of re-linking your phone on your computer. You will come across a popup that displays a QR code (you will be asked to scan this QR code in a further step), and you will be asked to install the the Your Phone app on your phone (even if it is already installed), upon which it will then offer you to confirm the process by either scanning the QR code, or signing into Microsoft.

For me, for whatever reason, scanning the QR code did not work, but signing into Microsoft did complete the process.