Recent Windows update breaks Phone Link app integration with Samsung devices

Many users are reporting that Microsoft’s Phone Link app has suddenly stopped working with Samsung devices, leaving them unable to mirror their phone screens to their Windows PCs. The issue, which seems to have popped up around November 11, affects users across both Windows 10 and 11 systems. However, most of the reports we’ve come across seem to be from those on Windows 10.

The problem appears as “Error 256” and prevents users from accessing their phone’s screen or apps through their PC, though basic features like messages and notifications continue to work. The error occurs instantly when trying to open phone apps or screen mirroring, suggesting a fundamental connection issue rather than a timeout problem.

“I’ve been using Phone Link for years with my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra,” one user reported on Microsoft’s support forums. “Recently, part of the functionality stopped working, specifically the ‘open phone screen’ part. I keep getting an error 256.”

The issue affects a wide range of Samsung devices, including the latest models like the Z Fold 6 and S24 Ultra, as well as older phones like the S20 series. Samsung tablets, including the Tab S9 series, are also affected.

Users have tried various troubleshooting steps without success, including:

• Reinstalling both PC and phone apps
• Clearing cache and data
• Resetting app permissions
• Rolling back to older versions
• Reconnecting devices through QR codes
• Repairing and resetting the Windows app

Some users suspect the problem might be related to recent updates from both Microsoft and Samsung. The timing coincides with updates released through the Galaxy Store and Microsoft Store around November 11.

The disruption is particularly frustrating for business users who rely on Phone Link’s screen mirroring capabilities for their daily work. One user mentioned losing “15-30 minutes per day” of productivity due to the outage.

Microsoft has yet to officially acknowledge the issue, though support forum moderators are encouraging users to submit feedback through the Phone Link settings menu. Some users report that Microsoft Store is also having issues with Phone Link reinstallation attempts, suggesting a broader problem with the service.

As a temporary workaround, some users have switched to alternative solutions like AndroidCast, though many are waiting for an official fix from Microsoft.

For those affected, basic functionality like sending texts and checking notifications still works, but the more advanced features that made Phone Link particularly useful for power users remain broken for now. As usual, we’ll keep track of the situation and will post an update if and when there’s anything worth sharing.