How to uninstall Phone Link on Windows devices
Microsoft renamed the Your Phone Companion app to Phone Link recently and introduced an interface overhaul in the process. The original application has been around for quite some time. In May 2019, Microsoft improved its functionality significantly by introducing support for additional messaging features, keyboard languages and layouts, new phone screens and more.
You may check out Ashwin's article on the Phone Link application for details on the new release. Core changes include a new tabbed navigation, improved setup experience, and improved notifications visibility. The rebranding to Phone Link and the rebranding of the mobile companion applications to Link to Windows are also noteworthy.
Phone Link works with most Android devices, but Microsoft has partnership agreements with Samsung and HONOR that add functionality to some of their devices that extend the basic functionality of the application.
The Your Phone application is installed by default and it will be updated automatically to the new version, including the name change, through the Microsoft Store. Windows users who don't need the application may remove it from their devices.
Some users may prefer to use other phone linking applications, others may not require access to their mobile devices on their Windows machines.
Whatever the reason, it is easy to remove the Phone Link app on Windows.
Remove the Phone Link app on Windows
- Open PowerShell as Administrator. One option to do that is to open Start, type PowerShell to bring up the main PowerShell application as the first result, and to select the run as administrator link to run it with elevated privileges.
- Confirm the UAC prompt that Windows displays when you execute PowerShell with elevated rights.
- Enter the following command to remove the Phone Link app from the device: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.YourPhone -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage
- Press the Enter key.
Note that the application's package name has not changed; only its display name changed from Your Phone Companion to Phone Link. The application is removed from the system and won't be listed anymore when you search for it or when you look through the installed application listing in the Settings application.
Why PowerShell?
Microsoft disabled the option to uninstall the Phone Link application from the Apps section of the Settings application. Since it is not possible to remove the application using the Settings app, it is PowerShell that needs to be used for that.
Reinstallation of Phone Link
Reinstallation of the Phone Link app is a straightforward process. Visit the application's Microsoft Store page and use the Get button to install it again on the device.
Now You: have you used the Phone Link app or another app before to link computers to mobile devices?
I haven’t yet uninstalled it, but it’s on my cleanup list. Mainly because when I wanted to try it, it wanted me to input MS account credentials. I don’t see a point in having to use MS account in an app like this.
So I stick to 3rd party for mobile-computer relations: MyPhoneExplorer for Androids, iMazing or 3uTools for Apples.
The point is, tying all your phone data to all your PC data to create a more comprehensive advertising profile that they can profit from.
It won’t work on mobile devices without a phone number either. I’d love to be able push webpages back and forth between my tablet and PC lie in the movie Avatar.
Everyone sensible uses an ad-blocker, so how do they profit from any form of advertising profile?
@Tachy
To be fair, the app is named ‘Phone’ for a reason. You can already cast your tablet display in many ways in Windows.
Thanks. No need for this junkware. When I’m on my desktop computer, my smartphone is the first thing I avoid 99% of the time.
Smartphones are overrated anyway. The world would probably be better off if cell phones didn’t exist. With that said, this Phone Link app eats a ton of resources at startup.
FWIW: I do use a smartphone occasionally, but I’d rather cell phones not exist.
This app worked great until one day it just stopped connecting to my phone. It is very convenient for moving photos to my PC, but of course MS found a way to turn it into junk. And not being able to uninstall it like any other program is just ridiculous.
PROBLEM: When I run the command in PowerShell 7.2.2, opened as Administrator, I get this error message:
Get-AppxPackage: The ‘Get-AppxPackage’ command was found in the module ‘Appx’, but the module could not be loaded. For more information, run ‘Import-Module Appx’.
I have searched online, but I cannot find a solution. Windows 10.0.19044.1620, 64-bit desktop
SOLUTION?: I used instead, in Administrator mode, the old PowerShell 1.0, specifically:
C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
and this time it seemed to work.
Oh, to be a techie and understand why PS7.2.2 works differently from PS1.0.
I use Powershell 7.2 with admin rights, no problem. :|
@Fred, just try to reinstall Powershell 7.2.x from this site:
https://docs.microsoft.com/es-es/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-on-windows?view=powershell-7.2
MSI package, by the way, I hope it will work for you! :]
Thanks, John, for your response. I’ve already completed the task with the built-in version of Powershell at C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0
(But it’s not version 1.0 — $PSVersionTable reports that it is Version 5.1.19041.1620.)
Nevertheless, I downloaded the file that you indicated — your URL led me through the button ‘Descargar PowerShell’ to the same Github page that I had used two weeks ago — and hashing with SHA 256 showed that that download is the same file as my previous download.
I think that there is some trick with Powershell 7 about downloading modules as a separate operation, but if the old built-in Powershell works, I will probably stick with that on the odd occasion that I need it.
Thank you Martin! No more bloat.
Thanks for showing us how to uninstall this app.
I thought Phone Link was moderately useful. But then Microsoft would use Phone Link to advertise new features in a modal window, and then require me to “Get Started” with no options to cancel. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me.
I still cant remove it from my phone
None of these options worked at all , they did absolutely nothing and the phone link constantly continues to start up in my task manager no matter how many times I and the process
I’ve Tried Your Way & It’s Not Helping Me To Uninstall The Phone Link Off Of My PC Here So Please Help Me Find Another Way To Uninstall Phone Link Off My PC
thank you so much
Looks like M$ has blocked it from being removed with the latest set updates.
Not working. I can still see the Phone Link icon in the list.
Thank you! It was annoying because it seems the continuous connection was keeping the computer awake and the screen on 24/7. I really only wanted to be able able to turn it off when I wasn’t using it but it seems as though Microsoft decided to remove the ability to exit. Complete removal was by far the best alternative.
It wasn’t the most easy-to-understand directions but it worked. It didn’t uninstall that annoying Phone Link app. I searched for it, found it in the setting, but when I clicked on it windows prompted me to get started on setting it up again, which I didn’t. I guess what I did was manage to bring the app back to its original un-set-up state, which is fine with me. As long as its no longer popping up randomly on the screen while I’m working. Thank You for your instruction.
Hung for 20 minutes in powershell Deployment operation progress:…….Processing [ ]. Oh well, time to reformat again this month anyhow. Secret to stable windows? Format and reinstall monthly…
This worked. Thank you.
Thanks for the write-up. I HATE!!!!! Win 11 (these instructions worked just fine there) even more than the last couple years of Win 10, which is pretty bad. Consistent problems with drives…because the stupid OS insisted on trying to connect to my Smart TV. ARGH!!! Cleaned up quite a bit when I finally saw that, and yanked out that piece of bloatware. Stability? Who cares? Not Microsoft.
This is another. I get that people liked and used it, but damn, if I can’t uninstall it, it’s bloatware by definition in my book.
I also suspect the early poster that suggested this was purely for MS to collect MORE data, without telling anyone, is likely spot on…in large part because of the fact that they won’t let you uninstall it normally.
Question, I recently had to change routers, I went from a Netgear router and extender to a Asus router…problem was I had a firmware issue with my netgear router plus it was 3 houes, and 2 relationships ago…so it’s been around since 2018. I call Netgear online chat number and a guy with a foreign accent answers and he’s asking to take over my PC to update the extender with new firmware…hmmm I did allow him(please I’ve already beat myself up) all while on the phone with him my screen goes blank for over an hour and he’s casually stating that it’s updating the firmware using my old netgear router and he’s reading it outloud to me all while my screen is blank and i can see it on my phone, then he says it’s at 95% done then 98%…I immediately ask him why do you need my screen if you’re using the old wifi…his answer was pretty standard so of course I was still skeptical but he had me put phonelink on my Pc and said now the firmware will work better….I’m not sure if this has happened to anyone else, but please advise…Thanks for your time.
That didn’t work. It wasn’t that simple. Didn’t even recognize command.
“That didn’t work. It wasn’t that simple. Didn’t even recognize command.”
^^THIS^^
While I always appreciate help, it forced me to update powershell and then said the command is not recognized.
Worked great. Thank You!
It worked! Running Windows 11. Thx!
I think the app is useful from time to time. I actually like it, BUT FORCING it to always start, FORCING it not not be able to quit, FORCING it to always be on top, must be considered Digital Abuse and someone at Microsoft must go to jail for this! I would have liked to use it sometimes, but the moment I get a call, I just cannot use my computer, because this bloody window on top of my screen. I would rather sleep in a bed -bug invested hotel than have this on my computer. Who in their right mind makes such software?