Over 150 'Phone Link' processes - how to manage or remove


S

Steerpike

Well-known member
Local time
6:53 PM
Posts
69
OS
Windows 11 Home
My brand-new 32 Gig RAM Win 11 Home laptop was getting a bit 'laggy'. Looked at Task Manager, Background Processes, noticed a 'Phone Link' entry with (153) sub-processes - all 'Background Task Host'. They weren't using CPU or much RAM at the time I looked, but - why are there 150+ processes? I looked at the 'Startup Apps' tab in task manager, and 'Phone Link' is set to 'disabled'! So I can't disable it there.

I have no current desire to actually use Phone Link, so uninstalling or disabling is a possibility. But if I can just figure out what caused this I may be able to leave it alone for now. I launched the app from 'start' menu, but it immediately wanted me to choose my phone type and configure it so I abandoned the process.

So - is there a way to really disable it, and/or to uninstall it? I don't see any entry in the list of 'installed apps'.

I rebooted and ... so far ... only two entries in 'background processes'.

UPDATE - I also went to settings / bluetooth and devices / Mobile Devices; everything is off there ('Allow this PC to access your mobile devices' and 'Phone Link').

I also went to settings / apps / startup. There's an entry for 'Mobile Devices' as well as for 'Phone Link'. 'Phone Link' is off, but 'Mobile Devices' is on. The 'more' arrow on this 'Mobile Devices' entry takes me to a new screen, 'system / system components / Cross Device Experience Host'. And there, I see a 'Runs at log-in' section, and there I see 'Mobile Devices' ON.

I REALLY Don't understand the link between 'Phone Link' and 'Mobile Devices'!
 
Windows Build/Version
23H2 build 22631.4602

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LG Gram 17 17Z95P-K.AAE8U1
    CPU
    i7-1195G7
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR4X 4266MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe (Integrated)
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1600
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LG Gram 17Z90S
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H
    Memory
    32GB LPDDR5X
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel® Arc™ graphics
    Screen Resolution
    17” WQXGA 2560 x 1600 IPS Touch Display
    Hard Drives
    2TB (1TB x 2) NVMe Gen4 SSD
I do not use phone link as it wants me to log into my MS account, NOT ON THIS MACHINE. I use Pushbullet does the same, basic stuff is free, and MS do not have their greedy little mitts on it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro 26100.3037
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i5-12400F
    Motherboard
    MSI PRO B760M P
    Memory
    2 x16gb DDR4 Patriot Viper Elite II 4000MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte 1660Ti
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32inch, 60Hz
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1x SP 512GB NVMe (Windows)
    1x Gammix 240gb NVME (Macrium Backups)
    1x 2TB SSD (Downloads)
    1x 2TB BX500 (Games)
    1x 1TB NVME (Steam)
    PSU
    CORSAIR RM650 80 PLUS Gold Fully Modular
    Case
    Corsair Carbide 100R
    Cooling
    Stock Intel
    Keyboard
    HyperX RGB
    Mouse
    Red Dragon 612 Predator
    Internet Speed
    100/40
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows
Steerpike said:
My brand-new 32 Gig RAM Win 11 Home laptop was getting a bit 'laggy'. Looked at Task Manager, Background Processes, noticed a 'Phone Link' entry with (153) sub-processes - all 'Background Task Host'. They weren't using CPU or much RAM at the time I looked, but - why are there 150+ processes? I looked at the 'Startup Apps' tab in task manager, and 'Phone Link' is set to 'disabled'! So I can't disable it there.

I have no current desire to actually use Phone Link, so uninstalling or disabling is a possibility. But if I can just figure out what caused this I may be able to leave it alone for now. I launched the app from 'start' menu, but it immediately wanted me to choose my phone type and configure it so I abandoned the process.

So - is there a way to really disable it, and/or to uninstall it? I don't see any entry in the list of 'installed apps'.

I rebooted and ... so far ... only two entries in 'background processes'.

UPDATE - I also went to settings / bluetooth and devices / Mobile Devices; everything is off there ('Allow this PC to access your mobile devices' and 'Phone Link').

I also went to settings / apps / startup. There's an entry for 'Mobile Devices' as well as for 'Phone Link'. 'Phone Link' is off, but 'Mobile Devices' is on. The 'more' arrow on this 'Mobile Devices' entry takes me to a new screen, 'system / system components / Cross Device Experience Host'. And there, I see a 'Runs at log-in' section, and there I see 'Mobile Devices' ON.

I REALLY Don't understand the link between 'Phone Link' and 'Mobile Devices'!
Click to expand...
www.revouninstaller.com

Revo Uninstaller Free

Download Revo Uninstaller Free helps you to uninstall software and remove unwanted programs easily. Remove all uninstall leftovers and traces
www.revouninstaller.com

Download the free portable version. Use it to uninstall Phone Link. It will remove registry entries and leftover files too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
dacrone said:
www.revouninstaller.com

Revo Uninstaller Free

Download Revo Uninstaller Free helps you to uninstall software and remove unwanted programs easily. Remove all uninstall leftovers and traces
www.revouninstaller.com

Download the free portable version. Use it to uninstall Phone Link. It will remove registry entries and leftover files too.
Click to expand...
Have you used it specifically for Phone Link or are you just recommending Revo in general? I notice that Phone Link does not show up as an installed program under Settings / Apps / Installed Apps, or under control panel / programs / windows features. So I'm not clear on whether 'Phone Link' is a 'program' or 'app' or something else.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LG Gram 17 17Z95P-K.AAE8U1
    CPU
    i7-1195G7
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR4X 4266MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe (Integrated)
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1600
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LG Gram 17Z90S
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H
    Memory
    32GB LPDDR5X
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel® Arc™ graphics
    Screen Resolution
    17” WQXGA 2560 x 1600 IPS Touch Display
    Hard Drives
    2TB (1TB x 2) NVMe Gen4 SSD
Screenshot 2025-01-13 202543.webp
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. TUF Gaming FX705GM
    CPU
    2.20 gigahertz Intel i7-8750H Hyper-threaded 12 cores
    Motherboard
    ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. FX705GM 1.0
    Memory
    24428 Megabytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
    Sound Card
    Intel(R) Display Audio / Realtek(R) Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Integrated Monitor (17.3"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    FHD 1920X1080 16:9
    Hard Drives
    2 SSD SATA/NVM Express 1.3
    WDS500G2B0A-00SM50 500.1 GB
    WDCSDAPNUW-1002 256 GB
    PSU
    19V DC 6.32 A 120 W
    Cooling
    Dual Fans
    Mouse
    MS Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    Fiber 1GB Cox -us & 400MB Orange-fr
    Browser
    Edge Canary- Firefox Nightly-Chrome Dev
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    VMs of Windows 11 stable/Beta/Dev/Canary
    VM of XeroLinux- Arch based & Debian 12
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Insider Canary
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS X751BP
    CPU
    AMD Dual Core A6-9220
    Motherboard
    ASUS
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon R5 M420
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3
    Screen Resolution
    1600X900 16:9
    Hard Drives
    1TB 5400RPM
of course i've used it... and yes phone link does show up in windows settings > installed apps and in revo

1736797191387.webp
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
OAT said:
View attachment 121944
Click to expand...
Thanks - I went to settings / System / System Components, and sure enough, I see 'Phone Link' as in your screenshot. Yet another place to look for stuff! I clicked the 'three dots' item, and chose 'advanced options'. There, I see an entry 'Runs at log-in', and it's OFF! And yet, I have entries in task manager that contradict that (and had 150 of them previously). Rather than remove this item, I'd prefer to just disable it (in case I want to use it in future), but the obvious means to do so don't seem to be having the desired effect. Is there any obvious way to stop this guy from running without totally removing it?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LG Gram 17 17Z95P-K.AAE8U1
    CPU
    i7-1195G7
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR4X 4266MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe (Integrated)
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1600
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LG Gram 17Z90S
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H
    Memory
    32GB LPDDR5X
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel® Arc™ graphics
    Screen Resolution
    17” WQXGA 2560 x 1600 IPS Touch Display
    Hard Drives
    2TB (1TB x 2) NVMe Gen4 SSD
dacrone said:
of course i've used it... and yes phone link does show up in windows settings > installed apps and in revo

View attachment 121945
Click to expand...
Is there some filtering going on that I'm not aware of? This is what I'm seeing in 'Settings > Apps > installed Apps':

1736797775119.webp
No 'Phone Link' to be found anywhere. I did find it under 'System Components' as indicated by the other poster.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LG Gram 17 17Z95P-K.AAE8U1
    CPU
    i7-1195G7
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR4X 4266MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe (Integrated)
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1600
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LG Gram 17Z90S
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H
    Memory
    32GB LPDDR5X
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel® Arc™ graphics
    Screen Resolution
    17” WQXGA 2560 x 1600 IPS Touch Display
    Hard Drives
    2TB (1TB x 2) NVMe Gen4 SSD
possibly changed. guess its my bad for referencing that. i uninstalled it LONG AGO using revo. not an android user so has always been useless to me
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
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