The Little Things: Connect Your PC to Your Phone
Many lawyers keep their smartphones on their desks alongside their computers. Without your phone handy, you might need to retrieve it for two-factor authentication codes, to answer text messages from home, or to take calls. Did you know that if you’re using Windows 11, you can link your Android or iPhone to your computer? This allows you to access calls, texts, pictures, apps, and more from your Windows desktop. Setting it up is easy, and this feature offers some surprising benefits.
Distraction Destruction
In Windows 10, users could link their Android devices to their PCs. Now, with Phone Link in Windows 11, both Android and iPhone users can link their devices. One primary benefit of linking your smartphone to your computer is reducing distractions. Many people keep their smartphones on their desks, especially if they are waiting for a personal text message or phone call. However, the temptation to check social media, play games, or engage in other activities can disrupt your concentration. Linking your smartphone to your computer helps you stay focused on your work while ensuring you don’t miss important messages.
Getting Started
To get started in Windows 11, type “Phone Link” into the search bar and open the preinstalled app. Choose your mobile operating system (Android 7.0 and up or iPhone 14 and up) and scan the QR code. You will need to log in to your Microsoft account, which can be either a personal or home account.
Microsoft describes Phone Link as “syncing” your phone with your computer, but it’s more accurate to say it allows you to control your smartphone from your computer. Data – like pictures and text messages – do not move from your phone or stay on your computer unless you intentionally save them on your computer.
Settings
Once Phone Link is up and running and your phone is connected, open the Phone Link app on your computer and click the gear icon on the right side of the screen. In the General settings, you can choose how you want notifications to appear, including banners and badges. You can also enable or disable Phone Link’s ability to start on sign-in.
Under “Features,” you can control notifications, how MMS text messages are handled, calls, apps, photos, and more. For instance, you may not want or need to get Outlook notifications from your smartphone in Phone Link. Go to Features – Notifications – Choose which apps I get notifications from, and then disable Outlook and any other apps for which you don’t need desktop notifications.
Additional features include the ability to “sync” over mobile data or only when connected to Wi-Fi, change backgrounds, and other options. If you choose to transfer files from your phone to your computer, you can change the default folder. You can also allow or disallow cross-device copy/paste. Finally, you can turn on an Instant Hotspot, giving you easy one-click access to your smartphone’s mobile hotspot.
Main Features
- Text Messages: With Phone Link set up, you can receive, read, and send text messages directly from the app. You can also search your text messages. iPhone users may face some limitations. You can save attachments and images from text messages to your computer and even copy text from images.
- Calls: Receive and place calls from the Phone Link app, and switch to your smartphone if you need to walk away.
- Apps: Access the apps on your smartphone from Phone Link. This can be useful for checking the status of a flight on your airline app, tracking a delivery from Amazon, ensuring your car doors are locked, and more.
Notifications Panel
The notifications panel displays new text messages, emails, reminders, social media alerts, and other notifications you have selected in the settings. You can interact with these notifications (open, respond, mark as read, etc.) directly from the panel.
At the top of the notifications panel, you can turn on “Do Not Disturb”, mute the volume, and open your phone screen on your computer to see a mirror image of your smartphone. Mirroring your smartphone is a great way to create a tutorial or screen capture without needing to email yourself screenshots.
Instant Hotspot
If you have enabled the hotspot in the settings, you can go into the Phone Link app, click the ellipses in the upper right corner, and select “Instant Hotspot” to use your phone’s cellular data plan instead of an insecure Wi-Fi connection. This is useful for conferences, airports, and other places with shared Wi-Fi.
Conclusion
By linking your smartphone to your Windows 11 computer using the Phone Link app, you can streamline your workflow, reduce distractions, and ensure you never miss important messages or calls. This integration is particularly beneficial for lawyers who need to stay connected and focused on their work. Setting up Phone Link is straightforward, and the benefits it offers can significantly enhance your productivity and efficiency. You can also add it as a widget to the Windows 11 Widget viewer.