How to Disable or Uninstall Phone Link App in Windows 11

The Phone Link app in Windows 11 allows users to connect their smartphones to their PC to access messages, notifications, calls, and photos directly from the desktop. While this integration can be useful for some users, others may prefer to disable or remove the app to reduce background activity, limit notifications, or keep their system free from features they do not use.

Phone Link often runs in the background and may start automatically with Windows. For users who do not rely on phone-to-PC integration, this behavior can consume system resources and create unnecessary distractions. Disabling or uninstalling the app helps streamline the Windows 11 experience and improves control over background processes.

Windows 11 provides multiple ways to manage the Phone Link app depending on whether you want to temporarily disable it or remove it completely. The methods below explain how to stop Phone Link from running, turn off its background activity, or uninstall it from the system.

How to Disable or Uninstall Phone Link App in Windows 11

The methods in this section focus on preventing Phone Link from running in the background or removing it entirely from Windows 11. You can choose the approach that best suits your usage needs, whether you want to keep the app available or remove it completely.

Follow each method carefully and restart the system where required to ensure the changes are applied properly.

1. Disable Phone Link from Startup Apps

Stopping Phone Link from starting automatically is the easiest way to disable it.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Select the Startup apps tab.
3. Locate Phone Link in the list.
4. Right-click it and select Disable.
5. Restart the computer.

This prevents Phone Link from launching automatically after sign-in.

2. Disable Phone Link Background Permissions

Windows 11 allows you to control background activity for individual apps.

1. Open Settings and select Apps.
2. Click Installed apps.
3. Locate Phone Link and click the three-dot menu.
4. Select Advanced options.
5. Under Background app permissions, choose Never.
6. Close Settings.

This stops Phone Link from running in the background while keeping it installed.

3. Unlink Phone from Phone Link App

Unlinking your phone disables syncing without uninstalling the app.

1. Open the Phone Link app.
2. Click Settings.
3. Select My devices or Accounts, depending on the version.
4. Choose your linked phone and select Remove or Unlink.
5. Confirm the action.

This disables phone synchronization while keeping the app available if needed later.

4. Uninstall Phone Link Using Settings

If you do not want Phone Link installed at all, it can be removed from Windows 11.

1. Open Settings and select Apps.
2. Click Installed apps.
3. Locate Phone Link.
4. Click the three-dot menu and select Uninstall.
5. Confirm the action and restart the system.

Uninstalling removes the app and stops all related background activity.

5. Uninstall Phone Link Using PowerShell

On some systems, Phone Link may not uninstall from Settings and requires PowerShell.

1. Press Windows + X and select Terminal (Admin).
2. Enter the following command and press Enter.
   Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.YourPhone -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage
3. Wait for the process to complete.
4. Restart the computer.

This method forcefully removes Phone Link from Windows 11.

Final Thoughts

Disabling or uninstalling the Phone Link app in Windows 11 helps reduce background processes and remove features you may not need. Whether you choose to stop it from starting automatically or remove it completely depends on how you use your system.