iMessages from your Windows

  Sending iMessages from Your Windows PC or Laptop   

For Apple diehards, IMessages provide a seamless route to free messaging across different devices, including iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and iMacs. Apple is steadily bringing its apps and services to Windows. However, the company doesn't seem to have any intention of launching iMessage on Windows PCs or Android phones. If you use an iPhone with Windows, Microsoft has a workaround for sending or receiving iMessages from your computer. When working on the desktop, reaching for your iPhone for incoming iMessages isn't productive. However, while Apple fans are notoriously loyal to the Apple ecosystem, the lack of cross-platform messaging can often hinder collaborative working. Sure, you can send an SMS to a smartphone on Windows or Android, but if you need to work with Windows PCs then options for users.  This is a question that many people ask on a daily basis, and while plenty use MacOS and iOS in their personal lives, Windows is by far the dominant platform for businesses. In fact, Windows represents around 70% of the global market share for desktop PCs, leaving many people constantly switching between apps and operating systems, which can be a real productivity killer. However, the good news is that thanks to Microsoft’s Phone Link app, there’s a way to integrate iMessage into your Windows workflow, giving you the best of both worlds! Microsoft's Phone Link app on Windows connects your iPhone to Windows and manages your iMessages like a pro.  

         

Formerly known as Link to Windows, Phone Link is your one-stop solution for managing your Android phone and iPhone on Windows. You can connect your device to Phone Link over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and unlock several features on Windows. While it was designed for Android phones, Microsoft eventually added support for the iPhone. While not quite as simple as staying within the Apple ecosystem, sending and receiving iMessages on Windows is possible by following a few simple steps. However, firstly, you should ensure your iPhone is ready to work with the Phone Link app. The installation process begins with configuring your iPhone. Before we start, update your Windows PC to the latest version. You can launch Windows Settings and go to the Windows Update menu to install the latest build. After your PC is up to date, install the Phone Link app on Windows and iPhone (it's called Link to Windows on iOS). If Phone Link is downloaded on Windows, confirm it runs 1.23012.169.0 or later. Your iPhone also needs to run iOS 14.0 or later.

Setting Up Your iPhone

Ensure your iPhone is running the latest iOS version to avoid compatibility issues.

Make sure both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on your iPhone for a smooth pairing process.

 Downloading and Installing the Link to Windows App

The Link to Windows app is Microsoft’s bridge between your iOS device and your Windows PC. Here’s how you can get it.

Open the App Store: Launch the App Store on your iPhone.

Use the search function to find the ‘Link to Windows’ app by Microsoft.

Tap on the app and click ‘Download’ followed by ‘Install’. Once the installation is complete, open the app.

 Pairing Your iPhone with Your PC

Now, let’s establish a connection between your iPhone and Windows PC.

Launch the Link to Windows app on your iPhone.

If you haven’t already, sign in with your Microsoft account.

Search for and open the Phone Link app on your Windows PC.

The app will guide you through the pairing process. Ensure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and follow the on-screen instructions to pair your iPhone with your PC. 

Setting Up Your Windows PC

Before you proceed, it’s essential to ensure your Windows PC meets the system requirements for the Phone Link app.

 Windows 10 or higher

  Bluetooth capability

  Wi-Fi connectivity

Set up Phone Link using iPhone

Now that you have followed the requirements above, link your iPhone to Windows. following is the procedure:-

1. Launch Phone Link on Windows and select iPhone.    

2. Scan the QR code with your iPhone camera and allow the app to use Bluetooth. The QR code expires in three minutes.

3. Open Camera on your iPhone and scan the QR code. It shows a prompt to open it in the Link to Windows app.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions. Check the Bluetooth pair code on both devices and select Pair.

5. After your iPhone is paired, open Settings and go to the Bluetooth menu. Allow your Windows PC to receive your iPhone notifications.           

6. Tap the i button beside your Windows PC.

7. Turn on the Show Notifications, Sync Contacts, and Share System Notifications toggles.          

8. Click Continue on PC.   

Phone Link app syncs your notifications, messages, call history, and battery level on the PC.

Use iMessage on Windows

After the Phone Link app syncs the messages on Windows, Follow the steps below to compose an iMessage:-

1. Open Phone Link and confirm the Connected status from the upper-left corner.

2. Move to the Messages tab and click the compose button at the top.     

3. Start a message with an existing contact or phone number. Phone Link doesn't support group messages.

4. Send a text message. You can also share reactions with an emoji picker menu.

The Phone Link app doesn't show a Read status on Windows. It only displays a checkmark below a message. When the recipient replies, check them in the same conversation.

Customize iPhone notifications on Windows

By default, Phone Link activates notifications for your iPhone apps, which can be distracting. Following is the procedure to customize your iPhone alerts on Windows.

1. Launch Phone Link and click the Settings gear in the upper-right corner.   

2. Move to the Features menu on the sidebar.

3. Expand Notifications and expand Choose which apps I get notifications from.     

4. Turn off alerts for irrelevant iPhone apps on Windows.      

You can turn off alerts for calls from the same menu.

Sending and Receiving iMessages

With the setup complete, you’re now ready to send and receive iMessages on your Windows PC by following the instructions below:-

Open the Phone Link app on your Windows PC.

Within the app, locate the ‘Messages’ section.

Click on the ‘Compose’ button to start a new message.

Choose the recipient from your contacts list.

Enter your message and hit ‘Send’.

How to Receive iMessages on Your PC

Receiving iMessages on your PC is as simple as leaving the Phone Link app running in the background. Whenever a new iMessage arrives on your iPhone, it will be mirrored on your Windows PC, allowing you to respond without switching devices.

Following are the some of our observations after using the Phone Link app on Windows:-

Phone Link app doesn't sync iMessage history on PC.

Phone Link syncs your iOS notifications on Windows. When you click it, the system opens it on the web. For example, when selecting a notification from Outlook mail, Windows launches it in Outlook Online.

You don't see Blue or Green bubbles in iMessage conversations on Phone Link.

Phone Link relies on Bluetooth for an active connection. Sometimes, it may be slow to send or receive messages.

Phone Link doesn't support image attachments. When you receive an image in a conversation, it shows an Attachment: 1 image message on your PC. You must use your iPhone to check the picture you received.

iMessage isn't the only end-to-end encrypted messaging app. There are plenty of cross-platform secure solutions to stay in touch with friends and family. If you feel that pairing, installing, and managing iMessage for PC is a little too much hassle, but you still want to enjoy the simplicity and speed of instant messaging across different platforms, then Spike Teamspace should be your go-to app. In fact, by combining the best of email and instant messaging with Spike, you can communicate across different platforms and enjoy a wealth of collaborative tools that push your team to the next level. Finally, with free customized domains and easy domain management for your business, you can stay on-brand across all your communications channels, helping you take control of your messaging in a way that iMessage cannot match.