If you just need to make calls via your cell phone, Phone Link connects your Android/iPhone to Windows 11. No SIP setup required.
In X Lite: Menu > Preferences > Audio Codecs. Move PCMU (G.711 u-law) and PCMA (G.711 a-law) to the top. Uncheck iLBC and Speex (these cause crashes on Win11). x lite for windows 11
| Software | Free Tier | Win11 Native | Why upgrade from X Lite | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Yes (with ads) | Yes | Supports Windows 11 audio stack natively; no latency. | | MicroSIP | Yes (Open Source) | Yes | 3MB installer; perfect high-DPI support; uses Windows 11 notification center. | | Linphone | Yes | Yes | End-to-end encryption; modern UI. | | Bria Solo | Free (30-day trial) | Yes | The official successor to X Lite. Made by the same company. Costs ~$5/month. | If you just need to make calls via
In the world of business communication, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has become the standard. While there are dozens of softphones available, few have stood the test of time quite like X Lite . Originally developed by CounterPath (now part of Alianza), X Lite has been the go-to "starter" SIP softphone for IT professionals, call center agents, and remote workers for nearly two decades. Move PCMU (G
However, for the average remote worker, freelancer, or small business owner, the security risks, audio latency, and UI bugs make X Lite a poor choice for Windows 11. The operating system has evolved; your softphone should too.
| Issue | Symptom | Fix | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | You can connect, but neither party hears the other. | Windows 11 firewall blocks X Lite. Go to Windows Security > Firewall > Allow an app. Add X-Lite.exe and allow both Public and Private. | | Microphone not found | X Lite shows "No Device" in audio settings. | You are likely using a Bluetooth headset. Go to Windows 11 Sound Settings > Input > Allow apps to take exclusive control of this device (Check the box). Restart X Lite. | | Interface too small | The dial pad is unreadable on a 4K monitor. | Right-click X-Lite.exe > Properties > Compatibility > Change high DPI settings > Check "Override high DPI scaling behavior" > Select "System (Enhanced)". | | Random Crashes | X Lite closes when idle for 10 minutes. | Go to Windows 11 Power Settings > USB settings > Disable "USB selective suspend" (fixes USB audio device disconnection). | Part 5: Security Risks on Modern Windows This is a critical section. X Lite has not received a security update since approximately 2018.
X Lite is a nostalgic, lightweight tool that can be forced to run on Windows 11 with the tweaks described above. It remains useful for a very niche audience: IT administrators testing new SIP trunk setups on a lab machine.