[Fix] Phone Link disconnects after enabling VPN in Windows

Question

Issue: [Fix] Phone Link disconnects after enabling VPN in Windows

Hello. Whenever I turn on my VPN on Windows, the Phone Link app disconnects. Why is this happening and how do I fix this?

Solved Answer

Phone Link is a software application used to connect a mobile phone to a computer. This app allows users to transfer files, receive notifications, and control their phones from a computer. VPN (Virtual Private Network)^[1] is a technology that provides users with secure and private access to the internet by encrypting their online data. VPN protects users' privacy and security by creating a virtual tunnel to the internet, hiding the user's IP address and location.

The issue of Phone Link disconnecting after enabling VPN on Windows is a common one. This is due to the fact that VPNs often change the network settings of a device, causing conflicts with other applications that rely on network connectivity, such as Phone Link. The issue has been reported by people using NordVPN, but it may also affect users of other VPN services.

This issue can impact users in various ways. It can cause inconvenience by preventing users from accessing their phones' data from their computers. Additionally, the disconnection of the Phone Link app can lead to the loss of important data or information.

In this guide, you will find 7 steps that should help you fix Phone Link disconnects after enabling VPN in Windows. Keep in mind that manual troubleshooting can be lengthy. You can also try using a maintenance tool like FortectMac Washing Machine X9 that can fix most system errors, BSODs,^[2] corrupted files, and registry^[3] issues. Otherwise, follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Solution 1. Update the Phone Link app

• Open the Microsoft Store app
• Search for Phone Link
• If an update is available – select Update, and wait for the update to complete successfully
• Select Open

Solution 2. Install Windows Updates

• Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box
• Type ms-settings:windowsupdate in the text box and press Enter
• Click the Check for updates button

• If a new update is available, click the Download & Install all button.
• Restart your computer after the process is finished and check to see if the problem is fixed

Solution 3. Disable VPN temporarily while using Phone Link

This solution involves temporarily disabling the VPN while using the Phone Link app. This can be done by going to the VPN settings and turning off the VPN connection. This way, the Phone Link app will be able to connect to the phone without any interference from the VPN. Once the Phone Link session is over, the VPN can be turned back on.

Solution 4. Use Split Tunneling

Split tunneling is a VPN feature that allows specific applications to bypass the VPN and use the normal internet connection. This way, the Phone Link app can continue to connect to the phone even while the VPN is active. To use split tunneling, users need to configure their VPN settings to include the Phone Link app in the list of applications that are allowed to bypass the VPN.

Solution 5. Try a different VPN service

You can try finding a VPN service that is specifically designed to work with the Phone Link app or has been tested and confirmed to work well with the app. This can be done by researching online and reading reviews from other users who have used the same VPN service with Phone Link.

Once a compatible VPN service has been found, you can download and install it on your computer. You can then connect to the VPN and test the Phone Link app to see if the disconnection issue has been resolved.

Solution 6. Contact Support

Users can reach out to the support team of Phone Link or the VPN provider for further assistance. The support team can help diagnose the issue and provide a solution that is specific to the user's setup. In some cases, the issue may be a compatibility problem between the Phone Link app and the VPN, and the support team may be able to provide a patch or update to resolve the issue.

Solution 7. Reset Windows

If none of the previous solutions resolve the issue, consider resetting Windows. Keep in mind that this is a time-consuming process, as the Windows reset will remove all your apps and require reinstallation.

• Open the Start Menu and click on Settings
• Press on Update & security
• Click on Recovery in the left pane
• In the right pane, click on Reset PC next to Reset this PC

• Click on either Keep my files (if you want the computer to be reset without losing any of the user data stored on it) or Remove everything (if you want the computer to be reset and any and all user data stored on it to be deleted
• If presented with a warning, simply click on Next
• When prompted to do so, click on Reset

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