Microsoft has rolled out iMessage support for Windows, which means you can now connect an iPhone and a Windows PC to send iMessages. In this guide, we will show you how to use iMessage on Windows.
While using Apple’s iMessage service is now possible on a Windows PC, there are some caveats you should be aware of before you get too excited.
First of all, you have to use Microsoft’s Phone Link to set everything up. We’ll talk about that a little later in the guide. You’ll also need an iPhone running iOS 14 or later, a Windows 11 device, and a Bluetooth connection.
Also, there is no support for group conversations, all messages are grayed out, you cannot send videos or pictures in chats, and you cannot sync your entire message history. You will only see messages sent via Phone Connection.
Also note that this is not available for iPad or Mac, it’s only available on iPhone and regional restrictions may apply in some areas. If you are still interested in setting up iMessage on your Windows PC, here is what you need to do.
How to Connect iMessage on Windows?
We’ve covered what the service can’t do, but here’s what it can do. After installing, you can read iMessages and reply directly from your PC.
You can also review your call history, search through your contacts, dial the number to make a call, and check, pin or turn off notifications that pop up.
To do this, you’ll need to use Microsoft’s Phone Link, which comes pre-installed on PCs running Windows 11. If for some reason you cannot find it,Get it from Microsoft Store on your PC.
Now, you will need to connect your iPhone to your PC. You can do this through Phone Link or by downloading. Link to Windows app for iPhone from App Store. Now follow these steps:
- Find the Phone Link app on your PC.
- Now select iPhone.
- You will now see a QR code appear on your computer screen.
- Use the Camera app on your iPhone to scan the QR code.
- Your devices will now start the pairing process and your iPhone will ask you for a few permissions. These permissions help you access content on your phone from your PC, so you’ll want to agree.
If you prefer to manually pair devices and bypass the QR code, you can choose the Continue manually without QR code link. On your iPhone, you are prompted to open a hyperlink on your phone and pair the devices via a web page.
If you decide to unpair your iPhone from your Windows PC, in Phone Link on your PC go to Settings, then My Devices. Remove your connected iPhone from the list.
On your iPhone, go to the Bluetooth settings via the Settings app, select the connected computer and select Forget this device. On your PC, go to your Bluetooth settings, select the connected iPhone and select Remove device.
