Phone Link generating errors

Question

My Phone Link app (on Windows 10) all of a sudden has started generating errors (line below) and I have not been able to locate anything that should have changed, or should be blocking the messages. Has there been some sort of configuration change for Phone Link on Win10?Free Msg: Unable to send message - Message Blocking is active

Answer 1

The error text “Free Msg: Unable to send message – Message Blocking is active” is not generated by the Phone Link app itself. It is an SMS network/phone-line error coming from the mobile carrier or device, which Phone Link only displays when trying to send a text through the linked phone.

From the available information, there is no indication of a specific configuration change to Phone Link on Windows 10 that would start blocking messages. Troubleshooting should focus on the connection and permissions between the Windows 10 PC and the Android device, and then on the mobile device/carrier side.

Use these steps to isolate and fix the issue:

1. Verify SMS works directly on the phone
   • On the Android phone, open the default Messages app and send a text to a known-good number.
   • If the same “Message Blocking is active” error appears on the phone, the issue is with the line or carrier (e.g., SMS blocked, plan change, content/short-code blocking, or account restriction). In that case, contact the mobile carrier to remove message blocking.
2. Confirm Phone Link / Link to Windows connectivity
   • Ensure the same Microsoft account is used on both the Windows 10 Phone Link app and the Link to Windows app on the Android device.
   • Confirm both devices have an active internet connection (Wi‑Fi recommended) and that Battery saver is not enabled on either device, as this can affect connectivity.
3. Check Android app permissions
   • On the Android device, go to Settings > Apps (or Apps & notifications) > Link to Windows.
   • Ensure SMS, Phone, Contacts, and Storage permissions are allowed so Phone Link can send and sync messages correctly.
4. Disable battery optimization for Link to Windows
   • On the Android device, open Settings > Apps & notifications > App info > Link to Windows > Advanced > Battery > Manage Battery Usage > Battery optimization.
   • Scroll to Link to Windows and select Don’t optimize.
   • On some devices: Settings > Apps > Link to Windows > Battery > Optimize battery usage, choose All, find Link to Windows, and turn the toggle Off.
5. Ensure Phone Link can run in the background on Windows 10
   • On the PC, select Start > Settings > Privacy > Background apps.
   • In Choose which apps can run in the background, make sure Phone Link is enabled.
6. Check Shared experiences on Windows 10
   • On the PC, go to Start > Settings > System > Shared experiences.
   • If Fix now appears under Accounts, select it and complete the steps so cross-device features work correctly.
7. Reconnect the phone if issues persist
   • On the Android device:
     • Open Link to Windows.
     • Tap the Microsoft account under Linked account.
     • Go to Account settings > Sign out and unlink account, then confirm Unlink.
   • On the PC:
     • Open Phone Link.
     • Go to Settings > Devices > Add new device and follow the pairing steps to re-link the Android phone.

If, after these steps, SMS still fails only in Phone Link but works directly on the phone, reset/unlink and re-pair the devices as above. If SMS fails in both places with the same “Message Blocking is active” text, only the carrier or line configuration can resolve it.

---

References:

• Troubleshooting the Phone Link
• Troubleshooting for Link to Windows (pre-installed)