Best Free and Open Source Alternatives to Microsoft Phone Link

Microsoft’s relationship with open source software has changed considerably over the years. Once openly hostile to Linux and free software, the company now contributes to open source projects and supports Linux across parts of its ecosystem. Nevertheless, much of Microsoft’s software portfolio remains proprietary.

This series looks at the best free and open source alternatives to products and services offered by Microsoft.

Microsoft Phone Link connects a Windows PC with an Android phone or iPhone. It lets users read and reply to messages, manage phone notifications, make and receive calls, and access recent photos from the desktop. With supported Android devices, additional features include using mobile apps, sharing clipboard content and transferring files.

Phone Link is proprietary software and is not available for Linux. There is no exact open source replacement covering every feature, but there are some excellent alternatives.

1. KDE Connect

KDE Connect is the closest overall open source alternative to Microsoft Phone Link. It connects computers and mobile devices over the local network and offers extensive integration between them.

You can synchronize notifications, read and reply to SMS and MMS messages, share files and URLs, synchronize clipboard contents and control media players. Your phone can also function as a remote keyboard, touchpad and presentation controller.

KDE Connect supports Linux, Android, iOS, Windows and other platforms, although the feature set varies between operating systems. Communication between paired devices is encrypted.

For Linux users with an Android phone, this is the obvious place to start.

2. GSConnect

GSConnect implements the KDE Connect protocol specifically for GNOME Shell. It does not require the KDE Connect desktop application and integrates directly with the GNOME desktop.

It can synchronize notifications, contacts and clipboard contents, send and receive messages, share files, links and text, control media players and system volume, and execute predefined commands.

Integration with Nautilus and web browsers makes GSConnect particularly attractive to GNOME users. Android devices can connect using the KDE Connect mobile application.

GSConnect is community maintained rather than having dedicated developers, but development remains active and recent releases support current GNOME Shell versions.

3. Valent

Valent is another implementation of the KDE Connect protocol, built with GNOME platform libraries.

It provides notification, contact and clipboard synchronization, file and link sharing, media controls, a virtual keyboard and touchpad, call and text notifications, and support for custom commands.

Valent aims to provide this functionality as a native GNOME application rather than a GNOME Shell extension. That makes it an interesting alternative to GSConnect for users who want strong desktop integration without placing the implementation inside the shell itself.

Like KDE Connect and GSConnect, most of its useful phone integration is aimed at Android devices.

4. scrcpy

scrcpy takes a different approach. Instead of synchronizing selected phone functions with the desktop, it mirrors an Android device and lets you control it directly using the computer’s keyboard and mouse.

Connections can be made over USB or TCP/IP. scrcpy supports video and audio forwarding, clipboard synchronization, recording, keyboard and mouse control, and high-resolution display with very low latency. It does not require root access or permanently install software on the Android device.

It lacks the integrated notification, messaging and contact features offered by KDE Connect, but it is considerably more capable when the requirement is to view and operate Android applications themselves from a Linux desktop.

All articles in this series:

Alternatives to Microsoft's Products and Services
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	Snipping Tool is a screenshot utility. It can take still screenshots of an open window, rectangular areas, a free-form area, or the entire screen.
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	SQL Server is a relational database management system designed for storing, processing and securing structured data.
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