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If Phone Link never displays a QR code, start the setup on your Windows PC, not on the phone. Open Phone Link, select Android, sign in, confirm that the Link to Windows app is ready, and choose Pair with QR code. If the QR view still does not appear, choose Pair manually; Microsoft documents manual pairing as the supported alternative.
What the missing QR code means
Phone Link generates its pairing QR code inside the Windows PC setup flow. The Android app does not create a code independently. A normal setup begins in Phone Link, and the PC displays a QR-code window that Link to Windows scans with the phone camera. If that window never opens, the problem is usually the setup state, account eligibility, network connection, app version, permission, or an old device link rather than a defective QR scanner.
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You can still connect without scanning anything. The Pair manually option gives you a code to enter on the Android phone. Use that option immediately if the QR view is blank, unavailable, or repeatedly fails; do not buy a separate QR-scanning device or cable just to make Phone Link continue.
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Check compatibility before troubleshooting
Confirm these requirements before changing settings. Phone Link is available on a Windows 10 PC with the October 2022 update or later, and on Windows 11. The Android phone must run Android 10 or later.
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| Requirement | What to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Windows edition | Windows 10 with the October 2022 update or later, or Windows 11 | Older Windows installations are outside the supported Phone Link setup. |
| Android version | Android 10 or later | Link to Windows requires a supported Android release. |
| Network | Phone and PC are powered on, nearby, and connected to the same Wi-Fi network | The devices must reach one another during setup. |
| Account | The same Microsoft account is signed in to Phone Link and Link to Windows | Different accounts prevent the devices from being paired correctly. |
| Camera permission | Allow Link to Windows to take pictures and record video when Android asks | The in-app camera needs permission to scan a QR code. |
| Profile type | Use a personal Android profile and personal Microsoft account | Multiple Android profiles and work or school accounts are not currently supported. |
Generate the QR code from the correct screen
Follow this sequence exactly. Starting in the Android app alone can leave you waiting for a code that has not yet been requested by the PC.
- On the Windows PC, open Phone Link from the Start menu.
- Choose Android when Phone Link asks which type of phone you are connecting.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account you intend to use on both devices.
- On the setup screen, tick I have the Link to Windows app ready.
- Select Pair with QR code. Phone Link should open a QR-code popup on the PC.
- On the Android phone, open or install Link to Windows and sign in with the same Microsoft account.
- When the phone asks whether a QR code is displayed on the PC, allow Link to Windows to take pictures and record video.
- Point the phone’s in-app camera at the QR code shown on the PC and follow the remaining prompts.
The QR code is created only after the PC reaches the pairing step. If you selected Android but closed the setup window, or if Phone Link is already showing an old device connection, return to the PC setup flow and start again.
Use manual pairing when the QR view is missing
Manual pairing is Microsoft’s documented QR-free route, not an unofficial workaround. In Phone Link, select Pair manually instead of Pair with QR code. The PC displays a code and instructions. On Android, continue in Link to Windows and enter the displayed code when prompted. Keep both screens open until the code is accepted.
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Manual pairing is useful when the PC popup does not render, the phone camera cannot focus on the screen, camera permission is unavailable, or a managed device blocks camera access. It also avoids repeated scans while you diagnose the underlying connection. You still need the supported Windows and Android versions, the same Microsoft account, and the same Wi-Fi network.
Fixes for a QR code that never appears
1. Reopen the PC setup flow
Close Phone Link, open it again, choose Android, and proceed until the screen containing I have the Link to Windows app ready appears. Select Pair with QR code from that screen. A code will not appear merely because Link to Windows is open on the phone; the PC must request the pairing session.
2. Check both app versions
On Android, open Link to Windows, go to Settings, choose About Link to Windows, and select Check for updates. On the PC, open Phone Link, select Settings, open General, expand the version area, and check for updates. After updating, close and reopen both apps before attempting setup again.
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3. Verify the Microsoft account
Look at the signed-in account in Phone Link and the linked account in Link to Windows. They must be the same Microsoft account. A phone can appear ready while still being linked to a different account, so sign out and sign in again if the addresses do not match exactly. A work or school account is not a supported substitute for the personal account used by Phone Link.
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Connect the PC and phone to the same Wi-Fi network, keep them nearby, and make sure both are awake and powered on. A phone using mobile data while the PC uses Wi-Fi, or a phone connected to a different wireless network, can prevent the pairing session from completing. Once both devices share Wi-Fi, restart the setup from Phone Link rather than waiting on the previous attempt.
5. Grant camera access on Android
When Link to Windows asks whether a QR code is on the PC, choose the option that allows it to take pictures and record video. Without that permission, the app cannot use its in-app camera for scanning. If you previously denied the request, reopen Link to Windows and review its Android permissions, then start the pairing flow again so the camera prompt can be shown.
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6. Remove a stale device link
An old association can leave Phone Link in a state where it does not offer a fresh code. On Android, open Link to Windows, select the Microsoft account shown under Linked Account, sign out, and unlink the device. On Windows, open Phone Link, go to Settings > Devices, remove the phone, and then add it again. Begin a new setup session and choose the QR or manual path.
7. Restart and refresh
After relinking, restart Phone Link and Link to Windows. If Phone Link displays a connection status with a refresh control, use that refresh button after the devices have been added again. A restart clears a stalled setup session; it does not change account eligibility or replace the need for the same Wi-Fi network.
Recover from a failed-code lockout
Do not keep guessing codes. Microsoft says that, for security reasons, more than three failed attempts to match the codes on the PC and phone automatically prevents the devices from being linked. If that happens, close and reopen Phone Link, begin setup again, and use the newly displayed code. Carefully compare every character before submitting it. Switching to manual pairing after restarting can avoid another scan-related mismatch, but the new session still has to be entered accurately.
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Diagnose the problem by symptom
| Symptom | Most likely area | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| No QR popup after selecting Android | Setup flow or stale session | Reopen Phone Link, confirm the ready-app checkbox, then select Pair with QR code again. |
| Phone says no QR code is available | PC has not reached the pairing step | Start from the Windows PC and keep Phone Link open on the QR or manual pairing screen. |
| Camera opens but cannot scan | Permission, screen visibility, or scan conditions | Allow camera access, keep both devices nearby, and use Pair manually if scanning remains impractical. |
| Code is rejected | Different code, account, or expired session | Restart Phone Link, generate a new session, verify the same account, and enter the new code. |
| Pairing worked before but no longer starts | Stale device association | Unlink on Android, remove the device in Phone Link, then add it again. |
| Setup is blocked after several attempts | Security lockout | Close and reopen Phone Link before trying a fresh code; more than three failed matches can trigger the block. |
Unsupported situations to rule out
Phone Link does not currently support multiple Android profiles or work and school accounts. If the phone is using a secondary Android profile, switch to the supported personal profile before pairing. Likewise, use the personal Microsoft account that is signed in to both apps. Reinstalling hardware, changing the phone camera, or purchasing a USB cable does not address these eligibility limits.
The official setup guidance also does not require a dedicated QR scanner, replacement camera, Wi-Fi adapter, or other physical purchase. The supported recovery options are software setup, account and network checks, app updates, camera permission, unlinking, restarting, refreshing, and manual pairing.
When to contact Microsoft
If the supported Windows and Android versions are installed, both apps use the same account, the devices share Wi-Fi, permissions are granted, and a clean relink still fails, submit diagnostics through Phone Link’s Settings > Feedback & Community. Microsoft also directs users to the Windows Feedback Hub. Include the Windows version, Android version, the step at which the QR popup disappears, whether manual pairing produces a code, and any exact error text. Do not continue retrying a code that has already failed three times; restart the setup first.
Quick Recap
A quick order of operations
- Confirm Windows 10 with the October 2022 update or later, or Windows 11, and Android 10 or later.
- Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi and keep them nearby.
- Sign in to both apps with the same personal Microsoft account.
- Start in Phone Link on Windows and select Android.
- Confirm the Link to Windows app is ready, then choose Pair with QR code.
- Allow camera access on Android if scanning is offered.
- If no QR popup appears, choose Pair manually and enter the PC code.
- Update both apps, unlink the old device, remove it from Phone Link, and relink if the session remains stuck.
- After more than three failed code matches, close and reopen Phone Link before trying again.
- Send feedback through Phone Link or Feedback Hub if the clean setup still cannot connect.
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