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?
There is not still W11 23H2 and these instructions are nonsense by now. :[
It worked for me just fine. You’re probably not following the instructions clearly.
Just tried the password option and the OOBE option and didnt work.
Worked perfectly. Thank OP.
Worked perfectly for me just now. Specifically, the regedit option.
Is this cut and paste from a Microsoft PR paper, because it 1000% BS:
“By listening to user insights, Microsoft has demonstrated its commitment to refining the Windows experience based on real-world needs.”
Windows 11 is proof they don’t give a s*it.
Worked for me just now
I agree! Windows 11 was a downgrade to me and I kept all 8 computers in our family on Windows 10 as a result. They didn’t listen to any customers. The taskbar was THE main reason I stayed away from Windows 11. With 6 monitors, it is impossible to navigate so many browser tabs, without the feature. I will try the new version in the virtual box to see if it is worth it yet.
Microsoft did a terrible job with this implementation.
They simply need to employ the creator of StartAllBack to fix Windows. He is smarter and more talented than the entire campus of Microsoft employees.
lol
Thank you so much! I work in IT and this is extremely useful information!
Thanks man. The second method worked great!
I used the second method, and i got exactly what i expected.
Using the Bypass 2: Use a banned email address email worked fantastically as I had gone to far to use the bypass 1.
I will be back when I next have a problem.
Keep you the great work
W11 File Explorer is the worst crap ever done. W11 is the biggest shame ever.
Just one more reason for me to go to Linux when Windows 10 ages out.
@ MarineRecon,
Be careful which Linux distro you choose. Some of them don’t include the Wayland protocol which is a security issue i.e. apps can copy, paste and inject data without user interaction.
It’s included in Fedora: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora/latest/system-administrators-guide/Wayland/
How about a DARK MODE for your website? That would be oh so nice.
Something like this : [https://img.justpaste.me/image/8617] maybe?
Done with ‘Dark Reader Extension for ? Firefox’ [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/darkreader/]
This comment was written on [https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-installation-has-failed-how-to-fix-this-upgrade-error/#comment-4573155}
Definitely NOT! Once you get older and your eyesight starts to fail you’ll positively loathe dark mode.
Microsoft completely ruined File Explorer by converting to XAML/WinUI/whatever new bloated modern garbage. Its worse than it ever was.
i tested it on win10 current edition. speeds up explorer like a charm
SO what is the priority numbers to give preference to ethernet over wireless?
Worked very well happy to have Windows Photo Viewer back in action in Windows-11
Worked for me (registry option) thank god, I can use the search option to find things on my computer again. Thank you so much!
Install Everything Search and dispense with Microsoft’s crappy search tool. https://www.voidtools.com/
Martin wrote an article on it: https://www.ghacks.net/2020/10/09/add-everything-search-to-the-windows-taskbar-for-even-faster-searches/
I presume the text “WindowsCopilot,,” is a typographical error (2023/09/17/how-to-disable-windows-copilot-in-windows/). The broken comment system unfortunately looks like it is populating itself via AI autopilot.
Hopefully, this Windows Copilot nonsense fails even more spectacularly than Cortana. Who requested this? We want all of the UX features removed back in 11, not this copilot nonsense.
I really don’t mind all of these Windows enhancement but Microsoft get one thing very wrong. ‘Opt in’, is far better than seek information and work to disable.
Turn off Windows Copilot entirely is not good enough.
How to uninstall Copilot entirely ?
@ ilev,
Use Gpedit or the registry. Explained in this article: https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/17/how-to-disable-windows-copilot-in-windows/
With that snake oil salesman Panos gone, hopefully Windows can return to a normal desktop operating system without all the insanity it has right now in Windows 11.
Can we please stop being ‘politically correct’ (lying) and call them ads again instead of ‘suggestions’?