How to get incoming call notifications on Windows 10

Cortana can now display phone call notifications on your Windows 10 desktop — Here's how to enable the feature.

Cortana incoming call notifications Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

On Windows 10, Cortana is getting a new skill so you can now see incoming call notifications on your desktop. Since the release of the Anniversary Update, you’ve been able to get low battery, text messages, and missed call notifications, but starting with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Microsoft is updating Cortana to display incoming call notifications as well across devices.

The new skill is currently only available for Android phones when using the Cortana app. Unfortunately, iPhone users will have to wait a bit longer.

The only caveat with this new functionality is that when someone calls, you’ll only get the incoming call notifications with the options to text back or decline the call, as you can’t at this moment answer the call on your desktop computer.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to get incoming call notifications from your Android phone on your Windows 10 desktop.

How to get Cortana to show phone call notifications

To get call notifications on your Windows 10 PC from your phone, you’ll need to install the Cortana app on you Android device, and you’ll need to be running the Fall Creators Update.

  1. Get the Cortana app on your Android phone.

  2. Open Cortana Settings on your phone.

  3. Tap on Sync notifications.

  4. Turn on the toggle switch for all cross-devices features, including for Missed call notifications, Phone call notifications, Incoming message notifications, Low battery notifications, and App notifications sync.

    Cortana Sync notifications settings on Android
    Cortana Sync notifications settings on Android
  5. Open Settings on your Windows 10 PC.

  6. Click on Cortana.

  7. Click on Notifications.

  8. Turn on the Send notifications between devices toggle switch.

    Cortana Notifications settings on Windows 10
    Cortana Notifications settings on Windows 10

Once you’ve completed the steps, the next time someone calls, you should see a toast notification on your desktop with the option to text back that person or to decline the call. 

If you can’t find Cortana’s settings in the Settings app and incoming call notifications are not appearing in your desktop, it’s because you don’t have the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update installed on your computer. This functionality is available starting with Windows 10 build 16199 and later.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.