Phone Link
Also called your phone, your phone companion, link to windows
The Windows app that mirrors Android or iPhone notifications. It was named Your Phone. The process is PhoneExperienceHost.exe.
What you need to know
Phone Link is a Windows app. It is not a third-party Your Phone download.
PhoneExperienceHost.exe is Microsoft Phone Link, package Microsoft.YourPhone. WhatsApp.Root.exe is WhatsApp. A browser SMS tab is still the browser.
- What is it?
- Phone companion
- Still current?
- Yes, see Current status
- Official download?
- Use the vendor link in this article
What is Phone Link?
Phone Link is the Windows companion for phone notifications, SMS on many Androids, photos, and calls. The host process is PhoneExperienceHost.exe.
If you have never used it
If Windows asks to link your phone, this is Microsoft Phone Link, formerly Your Phone. It is not a third-party Your Phone download. The process is PhoneExperienceHost.exe. WhatsApp Desktop is a different app. You pair Android or iPhone from the Windows app plus Link to Windows on the phone.
What is it used for?
Pings from the phone on the PC. This is not WhatsApp Desktop and not a third-party mirror APK.
Microsoft documents Android and iPhone feature differences. iPhone gets less than Android.
A photo rail from the paired phone. OneDrive is a different sync product.
Who is it for?
- People who want phone notifications on a Windows PC
- Users who still see Your Phone in search
- Anyone who mixed it up with WhatsApp or a store clone
Current status
Phone Link (2018) is a current phone companion from Microsoft Corporation. The vendor still points Windows users at https://www.microsoft.com/windows/sync-across-your-devices.
How old is it?
Microsoft shipped Your Phone in 2018 and later renamed it Phone Link. The package family is still Microsoft.YourPhone. It is a Windows 10/11 feature era app, not a 2003 ActiveSync story.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | Windows 10 (October 2022 update or later) or Windows 11, per Microsoft |
|---|---|
| RAM | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more. |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Follows what you open inside the app
- RAM demand
- Follows documents, tabs, or libraries
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| PhoneExperienceHost.exe | Main Windows executable |
|---|
Startup components
Phone Link can start with Windows so notifications keep flowing. Turn that off in the app if you never pair a phone.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.YourPhone_*\ |
|---|
File formats
Common problems
Old phone will not unlink
A leftover pairing can nag. Microsoft account device lists and Phone Link settings are the supported cleanup, not a third-party cleaner.
People uninstall WhatsApp to stop Phone Link SMS
Wrong app. SMS mirroring is Phone Link on supported Androids.
Getting unstuck
Open Phone Link from Start, not a Your Phone setup exe
The in-box app is the product. support.microsoft.com/windows/phone-link is the help.
Pair from the PC QR plus Link to Windows on the phone
Microsoft documents Android and iPhone steps. They are not the same feature set.
Reset the app in Settings if the host loops
Settings > Apps > Phone Link > Advanced options > Reset. Do not delete WindowsApps by hand.
Alternatives
WhatsApp Desktop if you only wanted WhatsApp. OEM phone suites if the vendor shipped one. Skipping Phone Link is fine if you do not want mirroring.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | www.microsoft.com/windows/sync-across-your-devices Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | support.microsoft.com/windows/phone-link Vendor support |
| Official site | www.microsoft.com/windows/sync-across-your-devices Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
The phone and a working Bluetooth or Wi-Fi path matter more than a desktop GPU name. Microsoft lists Windows 10 (late 2022) or Windows 11.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- Phone Link official site · Vendor product page
- Phone Link help · Vendor support
- Phone Link requirements · What Microsoft lists for Android and iPhone
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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