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Microsoft today announced support for iMessage on Windows 11 via the Phone Link app, but with some significant limitations.
Microsoft previously announced this feature as part of other planned Windows updates it revealed in February, including AI built into the search bar and adding tabs functionality to the Notepad app. Phone Link for iPhone users was available in early preview for Windows Insiders, but today marks the beginning of its public rollout.
Phone Link has been around for a while, but it used to only work with Android phones. It now works on the iPhone as well, but with a relatively limited feature set. iPhone users can use their Windows PC to make and receive phone calls, read and reply to text his messages, view notifications, and access their iOS contact list.
Unfortunately, you can’t participate in group messaging conversations or send or receive pictures or videos. Additionally, the supported Phone Link feature only works when the phone is continuously connected wirelessly to the PC via his Bluetooth.
The implementation here is more limited than most users would like, but it’s a small step forward in integrating iPhones and Windows PCs. By the numbers, iPhones are far more popular than Macs, and there are many people who use iPhones on the go, not just with Windows laptops or desktops. Sure, Apple has provided apps like iCloud for Windows to help you handle things like bookmark syncing, but it doesn’t seem like a given given the number of people who find themselves in this situation. I did.
Apple has kept its iMessage platform tight-lipped, so for many users iMessage’s biggest drawback compared to alternatives is that you just need an Apple device to use it. I still need to own one, but at least I can use my Windows PC to work with iMessage on a rudimentary level.
According to Microsoft, this feature will roll out to users’ PCs in the coming weeks. Some have access today, others have to wait. Phone Link for iPhone requires iOS 14 or later and Windows 11, not Windows 7, 8, or 10. Also, it doesn’t work on the iPad.
