If you’re an iPhone user with a Windows PC, Microsoft has a feature that lets you send and receive iMessages directly from your PC. You can also see your phone’s notifications and make or receive calls.
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Android users have been able to send and receive messages for some time. Compatibility with Messages in iOS means iPhone users also don’t have to stop what they’re doing on their computer to pick up their iPhone every time they get a message. After a slow rollout of several weeks, Microsoft announced in May 2023 that Phone Link for iOS is available to all Windows 11 users.
There’s at least one catch, though: Because Microsoft works within the confines of what Apple allows for iMessage and notifications, you can’t access your chat history, send or receive group messages, or view or send pictures and videos.
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Still, the ability you get is better than nothing. Below, I’ll walk you through how to verify access, show you what’s needed, demonstrate how to pair your two devices, and explain how to use your computer to send messages in iMessage.
How to send iMessages from your iPhone on your computer
To have Microsoft work its magic and display your iMessage conversations on your computer, install the Link to Windows app on your iPhone. Download it from the App Store and sign in with the same Microsoft account you use on your computer.
It’s also a good idea to double check that the Phone Link app on your computer is up to date. Do this by opening the Microsoft Store app and going to Library, then Get Updates, then Update All when all pending updates are found.
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Finally, make sure all Windows 11 updates are installed. Open the Settings app, click Windows Update, then “Check for updates.” Install any pending updates, restart your computer if necessary, and then check for updates again. If it’s been a while since you updated your computer, there could be multiple rounds of updates.
After updating your computer and the necessary apps, you can connect your iPhone to your computer and use iMessage.
Open the Phone Link app on your computer and the Link to Windows app on your iPhone.
The Phone Link app will have two options for your phone: Android or iPhone. Select iPhone. (If an iPhone is marked “coming soon,” your account doesn’t have access to the feature yet. Check the app every few days to see if you’ve gained access.)
Also: How to connect and sync your iPhone to your Windows 11 PC
In the Link to Windows app on your iPhone, pull down the menu on the left side of the screen and select “Pair a new computer” at the top of the screen.
Use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code displayed in the Phone Link app on your computer. Follow the instructions on your iPhone and PC to complete using Bluetooth to pair the two devices.
After pairing is complete, open the Settings app on your iPhone, select Bluetooth, and find your computer’s name in the list of connected devices. Tap the “i” icon, then enable “Show notifications”.
Once that setup process is complete, you can open the Phone Link app on your computer, it will connect to your iPhone via Bluetooth, and you’ll start receiving new message notifications, as well as any alerts you receive from your iPhone app, right on your computer.
You will not be able to see older conversations and messages. The app will only show you what was sent or received while it was open and connected.
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You also won’t be able to send or receive pictures, and group messages won’t work. You’ll still need to use your iPhone for those tasks.
Outside of those two main caveats, you can send and receive messages — both iMessages and text messages — from your iPhone, directly from your computer.
Pretty cool, right? The feature is similar to how iPhone messaging works in Tesla. There’s no chat history and you can’t use group messages, but that’s better than nothing.
If you don’t mind fixing the occasional bug on your Windows 11 PC, you can join the Windows Insider program and install a beta version of the upcoming version of Windows to access new features. To sign up, go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program on your PC.
If prompted, link your Microsoft account to the program by clicking the button labeled “Link Account.” Once you’ve done this, choose one of the acceptable preview channels: Dev, Beta, or Release Preview.
As its name suggests, Dev Channel is mainly meant for developers to comfortably troubleshoot and resolve bugs. This is the least stable of the three channels.
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The Beta channel is a little more refined than the Dev channel, but there is still a risk of problems and bugs.
The Release Preview Channel is the most stable of the three and you should join it if you’re doing this just to get early access to new features.
Once you select a preview channel, you’ll be able to see Windows Update with the appropriate upgrade. You will need to download and install the update by going to Settings > Windows Update. When I updated my Surface Pro 8 to test this feature, I had to install several rounds of updates. So, I suggest you go to the Windows Update page and check for more updates until there are none left.
Do I have to have Windows 11 or can I use Windows 10?
According to Microsoft, you will need to have Windows 11 installed on your computer to use Phone Link for iOS.
Can I turn off alerts for specific apps in the Phone Link app?
That. Just go to the settings page in the Phone Link app, where you’ll find an option to turn off alerts and notifications for all apps or specific apps, if you find it too noisy to receive all of your iPhone’s alerts on your computer.