Up until recently, only Android users were allowed to pair devices with Windows PCs via the Phone Link app, leaving iPhone users out of the picture. But this recently changed after Microsoft rolled out a new update for its Phone Link app.
The update allows users to link an iPhone to a Windows 11 PC. The Phone Link app is designed to allow users to access notifications, messages, and photos from a mobile device directly on their PCs.
This means that iPhone users can now access iMessage on a Windows PC. What’s more, you can also make and receive calls as well as check your iPhone notifications on your Windows computer.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to use iMessage on Windows 11 using the Microsoft Phone Link app. Here’s what you need to do:
Preliminary Checks
The capability to link an iPhone to a Windows PC is currently limited to a small audience since it’s still in beta testing, you should therefore be part of the Windows Insider program to access it. The Phone Link up must also be the latest one available in the Microsoft Store.
If you’re not already part of the program you’ll need to join and select a preview channel that you prefer. You should also ensure that the Phone Link app on your device is updated to the latest version (1.23012.169.0 or higher).
And finally, you should also ensure that your PC is running on a licensed version of Windows 11. Microsoft has indicated that there are plans to roll out this feature to more users gradually based on feedback that it gets to users that already have access to it.
Link your iPhone with Windows 11
If you have satisfied the requirements listed above you can proceed to pair your iPhone with your Windows 11 device. Here’s how:
- Download and install the Phone Link app on your Windows PC.
- Download and install the Link to Windows app on your iPhone.
- Launch the PhoneLink app on your Windows PC and click on iPhone under the Pick your phone section. (if the iPhone category is grayed out, it means you are not part of the beta testing group)
- Launch the Link to Windows app on your iPhone, then scan the QR code displayed on your PC’s screen.
- Allow the Link to Windows app to access Bluetooth on your iPhone.
- Follow through the on-screen prompts to ensure that your iPhone pairs with your Windows 11 PC.
- You should now be able to access notifications, calls, messages, and contacts directly from your Windows PC.
Limitations
It’s very apparent that the capability to link your iPhone to a Windows PC has been a much-anticipated feature. However, it should be noted that you might not be able to access all the iMessage features you love just yet on your PC.
For instance, the update doesn’t support group messaging, it’s currently limited to one-on-one chats. What’s more, users won’t be allowed to send images, audio, or video.
Additionally, the Phone Link won’t be able to tell a normal text message apart from an iMessage. This means that the chat bubbles won’t be categorized into two: green chat bubbles representing normal text messages and blue chat bubbles representing messages from iMessage.
Moreover, it’ll prove impossible to check your chat history. Phone Link will only show the messages you sent and received while you were using it.
At this point, we’d like to invite you to check out our expert guide on how to use WhatsApp on your Windows PC. WhatsApp on Windows ships with most of the features highlighted above thus making it a great alternative.
If you are encountering issues with the Phone Link app on your Windows PC, we invite you to check out our separate post that will help you resolve the issue.
Be sure to also check out our detailed guide highlighting how to set up the Phone Link on your Windows device and Android phone.
iMessage on Windows 11
Hopefully, if you’re part of the beta testing group you can now access iMessage directly from your Windows 11 PC, and even make and receive calls. Microsoft has promised to roll out this capability to more users soon, perhaps via a Windows update.
We expect Microsoft to make more improvements and enhancements to Phone Link in the near future. If you’re part of the beta testing group and can now access iMessage on your Windows PC, share your experience with us in the comments.
