How do I delete Hidden texts in Phone Link?

Question

How do I delete Hidden texts in Phone Link?

ElliotC 60

I have many text messages Hidden in Phone Link. These messages are deleted from my phone. How can I delete them? Why are they there to begin with?

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Answer accepted by question author

Stara B 1,535 Independent Advisor

Hi, I'm Stara. I know it can be confusing when conversations you thought were gone keep hanging around. Phone Link keeps a local cache of all the SMS/MMS it has ever seen, and if a message is deleted on your phone before the app syncs, you end up with a “ghost” copy that gets marked Hidden.

Here are a couple of ways to clear them out:

Reset the Phone Link app on your PC
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Phone Link, click the three dots › Advanced options, then choose Reset.
- This wipes the local cache without affecting your phone.
- More info here https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/repair-apps-and-programs-in-windows-e90eefe4-d0a2-7c1b-dd59-949a9030f317

Unlink and relink your phone

In the Phone Link app, go to Settings (gear) > Phone connections, click Unlink this PC, then set up your phone again.
That forces a fresh sync of only the messages still on your device.

Can you five me some info about it to narrow it down:

Which phone model and OS version are you using?
Have you tried any of the above steps already?

Thank you.

ElliotC 60 Reputation points

2025-07-07T23:52:52.35+00:00

My new phone came with Google Messenger as the text app. It has RSC in addition to SMS and MMS. When I replaced it with Samsung Messenger (my new phone is Samsung S25) the texts I had to hide disappeared. Samsung messenger also enables folders for categories of texts you want to save. I prefer this much to RSC, which is moving to being a browser with photos, videos, etc.

Thank you for your reply! BTW I did what you suggested. At some point MS will make Phone Link compatible with RSC, I imagine.
Stara B 1,535 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-07-08T00:18:16.4266667+00:00

It sounds like you’ve found a workflow you prefer with Samsung Messages’ folders instead of RCS in Phone Link. Phone Link today only syncs SMS/MMS, so any RCS-only threads won’t show up, even “ghost” copies, until Microsoft adds RCS support. In the meantime, keeping your Samsung conversations organized in folders is a great workaround.
ElliotC 60 Reputation points

2025-07-22T17:22:37.2533333+00:00

Thanks StaraB! It's always nice to know you're barking up the right tree! I'm surprised Samsung only put the RSC messenger app on a new S25 phone, but maybe they are developing an RSC compliant messenger. I appreciate your comments!

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Your answer

ElliotC 60 Reputation points

2025-07-07T23:52:52.35+00:00

My new phone came with Google Messenger as the text app. It has RSC in addition to SMS and MMS. When I replaced it with Samsung Messenger (my new phone is Samsung S25) the texts I had to hide disappeared. Samsung messenger also enables folders for categories of texts you want to save. I prefer this much to RSC, which is moving to being a browser with photos, videos, etc.

Thank you for your reply! BTW I did what you suggested. At some point MS will make Phone Link compatible with RSC, I imagine.
Stara B 1,535 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-07-08T00:18:16.4266667+00:00

It sounds like you’ve found a workflow you prefer with Samsung Messages’ folders instead of RCS in Phone Link. Phone Link today only syncs SMS/MMS, so any RCS-only threads won’t show up, even “ghost” copies, until Microsoft adds RCS support. In the meantime, keeping your Samsung conversations organized in folders is a great workaround.
ElliotC 60 Reputation points

2025-07-22T17:22:37.2533333+00:00

Thanks StaraB! It's always nice to know you're barking up the right tree! I'm surprised Samsung only put the RSC messenger app on a new S25 phone, but maybe they are developing an RSC compliant messenger. I appreciate your comments!

Answer 1

ElliotC 60

Thanks StaraB! It's always nice to know you're barking up the right tree! I'm surprised Samsung only put the RSC messenger app on a new S25 phone, but maybe they are developing an RSC compliant messenger. I appreciate your comments!

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