Hi there,

I’m a long time Windows user looking to switch to Linux. One of my most used apps is Phone Link, which I use to make/receive calls and texts through my desktop. It’s a lot easier on my hands, which have limited endurance, and typing is a lot easier on my keyboard than my phone.

With my limited research, I saw that KDE Connect almost fits the bill, except it doesn’t sync phone calls.

Is there a Linux app with all the functionality of Windows Phone Link?

  • L3ft_F13ld!@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    16·
    4 days ago

    I see you mentioned it already, but as far as I know KDE Connect is the best option available. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux and is available on Android and iOS.

    I could swear it did phone calls and such as well, but I may be misremembering.

    If it really doesn’t fit the bill I hope someone else can offer a better option for you.

  • who@feddit.orgEnglish
    8·
    3 days ago

    I think this could be done by running a Bluetooth Hands-Free Protocol (HFP) implementation on the linux desktop machine, so a phone would see it as a wireless headset. This project from a decade ago seems to confirm that it is possible:

    https://nohands.sourceforge.net/index.html

    https://github.com/heinervdm/nohands

    That project looks unmaintained. If I were to try something like it today, I might start by asking around in PipeWire forums to see if anyone had tried such a thing.

    (FYI, KDE Connect is very useful, but it doesn’t do phone calls.)

    Good luck! If you figure it out, I hope you’ll post about it so we can all learn from your experience.

  • paper_moon@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    4 days ago

    What functionality are you expecting with phone call syncing? As far as I know KDE connect syncs the notification that a call is coming through, per the ‘telephony integration’, just tried it right now.

    “Show notifications for incoming calls”

    If you’re looking to actually take the audio call from your computer, you could try scrcpy, which I think is adding the ability to use your PC microphone to take the call

    https://github.com/Genymobile/scrcpy/issues/3880

    But until then you can just have your phone by you and use the phones microphone, Bluetooth headset, etc to take the call while mirroring and using the phone on your computer with scrcpy.

    • impudentmortal@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      3·
      3 days ago

      I was hoping the Linux app would work like Windows Phone Link in that I could answer calls on my computer using my computer speakers and microphone. I guess using the speakers on my phone is an easy solution, but I don’t like taking my attention off my computer to make phone calls. With my current set up, I can make and answer phone calls directly from my desktop.

      • paper_moon@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        3 days ago

        The solution the other person posted works in my testing, if you’re using pipewire, just tested it I’m using android 16. Very neat!

        Connect your phone to your computer via Bluetooth. On your phone, set the Bluetooth setting for the computer connection, to be ‘headphones’ and give it audio and call history permissions, phone call permission, etc. Then when you make or receive a call, it uses the mic and speakers of your computer for the call.

        I didn’t know you could do this, very neat!

        • impudentmortal@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          2·
          2 days ago

          Cool thanks! My goal is to install Linux on a laptop I don’t use frequently to make sure I can set it up with all my apps. Will have to try this once I get around to installing Linux.