how do I fix greyed out button for iPhone on Phone Link

Question

Phone link in Windows 11 won't let me link my iPhone 13 because the iPhone button is greyed out. I have a Bluetooth dongle with low energy as required, and I can make a regular Bluetooth connection to my iPhone, but not through Phone Link

Answer 1

Have you tried using a different USB port if your dongle is USB, what make, and model is it if you don't mind me asking? Your Bluetooth is 5.3 so very capable of running phone link.

Also phone link has a later version so check for an update.

Answer 2

Hello,

If the iPhone button is greyed out in the Phone Link app on Windows 11, even though you have a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) dongle and a working Bluetooth connection, here are some troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue:

1. Ensure Your iPhone is Running iOS 14 or Later

• Phone Link requires iOS 14 or later for iPhone support.

• Check your iPhone's iOS version: Settings → General → About → Software Version.

2. Update the Phone Link App

• Open the Microsoft Store → Search for "Phone Link" → Click Update (if available).

• Alternatively, uninstall and reinstall the app.

3. Check Bluetooth Dongle Compatibility

• The dongle must support Bluetooth 4.0 or higher (Low Energy/BLE).

• Try a different Bluetooth adapter if possible (some older dongles may not work properly).

4. Remove & Re-Pair Your iPhone in Windows Bluetooth Settings

• Go to Windows Settings → Bluetooth & devices.

• Remove your iPhone from the list of paired devices.

• Restart both your PC and iPhone.

• Re-pair the iPhone via Bluetooth.

5. Reset the Phone Link App

• Open Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps.

• Find Phone Link → Click Advanced options → Reset.

• Restart your PC and try again.

6. Ensure Bluetooth Support Service is Running

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.

• Find Bluetooth Support Service → Right-click → Properties.

• Set Startup type to Automatic → Click Start (if not running).

• Click Apply → OK.

7. Disable VPN or Firewall Temporarily

• Some VPNs or firewalls may block the connection.

• Temporarily disable them and check if the issue persists.

8. Try Linking via QR Code (Alternative Method)

• Open Phone Link on Windows → Click iPhone (if not greyed out).

• On your iPhone, open the Camera app and scan the QR code shown in Phone Link.

• Follow the on-screen instructions.

9. Check for Windows Updates

• Go to Settings → Windows Update → Install any pending updates.

• Some Bluetooth drivers improve with system updates.

10. Use the Link to Windows App (If Available)

• On your iPhone, install "Link to Windows" from the App Store.

• Open the app and follow the pairing process.

If Nothing Works:

• Try using a different PC or Bluetooth adapter to confirm if the issue is hardware-related.

• Microsoft's iPhone integration is limited compared to Android, so some features may not work as expected.

Answer 3

I contacted microsoft support. They tried a bunch of things on my computer, but after about half an hour there was still no solution. Eventually he did a diagnostic check using powershell. Apparently the bluetooth dongle did not support LE., so I decided to return it.