After months of testing, Microsoft officially released Phone Link for iOS, one of the most requested features. The company has been supporting Android devices for a long time and offering a better experience with Samsung devices, including exclusive features like opening apps directly from your smartphone. Now, with iOS support for Phone Link, they can use iMessage on their Windows desktop.
Originally, Phone Link has been available since 2020, has been doing great with Android smartphones, and offers exclusive features to Samsung Galaxy smartphones. The device has been mature enough for other companies to start testing Phone Link for iOS since February of this year and is now rolling out to everyone. One of the most interesting features is that it allows users to use iMessage, Apple’s proprietary messaging service.
IPhone users can use Phone Link for iOS to connect their devices to their Windows 11 PC. They can enjoy making calls, sending iMessage texts, and accessing phone features directly from their computer, like picking up calls. However, there are certain limitations, which we will discuss later in this article. This is a significant development for Windows 11 users who want to use iMessage in the Phone Link app.
Microsoft has been rolling out its features in Windows 11. Ensure you have updated your Windows and Phone Link to the latest version, as this update is rolling out in phases, and you might still need to see this update, but it will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.
Windows 11’s Phone Link for iOS has officially rolled out to connect iOS devices to their PCs.
Windows 11 is available in 75 markets in 39 languages, so it has been optimised to support various regions and languages. Companies have been trying to offer cross-device functionality for so long. Many people love to use the iPhone as their primary device but prefer using something other than macOS, which supports the iOS device better in the ecosystem because of functionality issues. However, people who like to use Windows as their desktop and have an iPhone can now connect their devices to stay in sync with the latest Phone Link for iOS.
The company has been testing Phone Link for iOS for several years. Also, the company has integrated Phone Link into their widget to make things more integrated. This isn’t the first time Microsoft has started offering Apple services on Windows. Recently, Windows 11 was updated with support for iCloud Photos.
Limitations of iMessage on Windows via Phone Link:
iMessage is an exclusive messaging app for Apple devices, and that’s a good thing. Windows 11 users who use Apple devices can now use it on Windows devices to keep their messaging in sync across devices. But there are some limitations that you should know before proceeding. iMessage isn’t fully integrated with Windows 11, so you won’t be able to send money or use stickers or effects It’s also important that users connect their devices using Bluetooth to send or receive SMS texts on their PC.
Your complete history of iMessage won’t be visible on the phone link. It’s impossible to send pictures or videos in messages, and there isn’t support for group chats. This feature isn’t officially supported by Apple, and it may be possible that Apple may block this functionality in future support for iMessage on Microsoft’s Phone Link. Regardless, Microsoft is rolling out this feature, which could benefit some users using iPhones but working on Windows desktops.
Phone link for iOS
You can continue focusing on your work without worrying about missing important notifications or calls. IOS support for calls, iMessages, and contact access is possible with Windows 11 PC. Users can have a more seamless experience without having to manually transfer anything.
- Make and respond to calls.
- Check or dismiss notifications.
- Send and reply to an iMessage
- View your contacts.
Prerequisites
To use Phone Link for iOS, your iOS device should have iOS 14 or higher. You also require Bluetooth connectivity between your computer and mobile for voice calling.
Limitations of the Phone Link for iOS
There are some regions where Phone Link isn’t available at this time. Also, iMessage functionality like image/video sharing and group messaging isn’t supported. Also, note that this isn’t available for iPad or macOS devices.
How to Set Up a Phone Link for iOS on Windows
It is quite straightforward to set up a phone link for iOS on Windows 11. First, download the Phone Link on your iOS device from the App Store and your Windows device from the Microsoft Store.
- Open the Phone Link on your Windows 11 and then choose the iPhone.
- After that, it will show the QR code on the Windows device.
- Now, open the phone link on the iOS device and select the QR code.
- Scan the code on your device. Otherwise, you can also select the code if you face any issues during setup. You may be prompted to open a hyperlink on your device and pair it with a webpage on your phone.
- That’s it! Now you can customise notification preferences and permissions.
Once your device is connected to Microsoft Phone Link, you can use features like iMessage. Read and respond to messages directly from Windows without requiring users to unlock their devices. Users can also make and receive calls. They can even check the call history, search for contacts, or dial in to make calls.
This is a welcome addition. Nonetheless, these basic functionalities are especially useful for those who use a Windows PC at work and can’t access their iPhones all the time. Unlike Phone Link for Android, support for desktop images means you can view images from your mobile device on Phone Link. For iPhone users, Microsoft recommends installing iCloud for Windows and taking advantage of iCloud integration in the Windows 11 Photos app. Even the ability to run iPhone apps must be supported on Phone Link for iOS.
How to Send an iMessage Using a Windows PC with a Phone Link
Once you finish setting up Phone Link on your device, it’s quite straightforward. Ensure your device is connected.
- Open the Phone Link, then head to Messages from the navigation tab.
- Now, choose the contact you want to send an iMessage message to.
- Type your message in the text box, then hit enter to send the message.
- That’s it!
On top of that, users can choose to switch devices during calls, or they can use their PC’s speakers, headphones, or their preference. Another thing is that they can view notifications and customise banner alerts, depending on what notifications they want to see. To tweak these settings, head over to Phone Link Settings, and from there, they can customise them according to their preferences.
If you want to remove the pairing between your device and Windows, then you can head over to Phone Link on Windows and remove your linked iOS device from the device. To ensure your device is no longer connected to the PC, you can unpair your device via Bluetooth in your device settings.