iMessage is the messaging protocol that was previously limited to the Apple ecosystem – iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches – anyway. Thanks to Phone Link for Windows 11, you can now use iMessage on Windows PC to send text messages to other iMessage and Android users, and you can even use iPhone to make calls on PC. Setting it up is actually pretty easy too, as we’re going to show you.
To use iMessage on a Windows PC, you need two different apps; Phone Link for Windows and Link to Windows for iPhone. The iPhone must be running iOS 14 or later and have Bluetooth enabled, while the PC must be running Windows 11 or later and also have Bluetooth enabled.
How to use iMessage on a Windows PC Get Phone Link for Windows on PC Get Link for Windows for iPhone Launch Phone Link on PC and choose to set up an iPhone. A QR code will appear on the Windows screen. Now use your iPhone camera to scan this QR code and follow the on-screen instructions. iPhone will be paired with Windows PC after you grant a few device permissions, and soon you will be able to send and receive messages from your iPhone via Windows PC
Not only can you now send and receive messages (both iMessages and SMS) and make and receive phone calls. You can also get notifications of new messages and other typical features you would expect from a messaging client.
Are there any limitations when using iMessage on Windows?
Phone Link for Windows brings iMessage to a Windows PC, but it has some limitations.
You need an iPhone to use Phone Link on Windows (unlike iMessage on Mac and iPad, which doesn’t require an iPhone). Group chat is currently not supported. Photos and videos are not currently supported. You currently cannot differentiate between iMessages (blue texts) and SMS text messages (green texts) as all messages come in grey
These limitations might be disappointing, but given the convenience of using iMessage on Windows to send and receive messages, most users will be grateful to at least have this ability. It’s always possible that these restrictions will also be lifted over time as the software evolves or as Apple and Microsoft reach an agreement. And who knows, maybe Apple will also develop an official messaging app for Windows PC and maybe even an iMessages app for Android?
If you want full multimedia support for messaging and still want to use a Windows PC and have cross-platform compatibility with Macs, iPhones, Androids, iPads and everything else out there, you should use a completely different app for that for now, something like WhatsApp or Signal.
Planning on using iMessages on your Windows PC now that you can? What do you think of this feature and app? Let us know your experiences and thoughts in the comments.
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