You can send and receive iMessage chats and SMS texts on Windows 11, but there are no blue and green bubbles, message history, and attachment support.
- What’s happening? Microsoft got around Apple’s stubborn refusal to officially support iMessage on other platforms such as Windows by implementing the ability to send and receive message content through its Phone Link app.
- Why care? Microsoft has never supported iPhone messaging on Windows, so this is big news for Apple fans who also use Microsoft’s operating system.
- What to do? Visit the official Windows blog for more details.
Microsoft adds limited iMessage support to Windows 11
The updated Phone Link app, available in preview through the Windows Insiders program, now supports iPhone. Your iPhone must be wirelessly connected to your Windows 11 PC via Bluetooth, allowing Microsoft to request content from the default Messages app on the iPhone. Windows users can send iMessages and SMS messages, make and receive cellular calls, and view iPhone notifications on their PC.
“We send messages back and forth via Bluetooth, Apple in turn sends them as iMessage, I think, as soon as they get into their system,” Yusuf Mehdi, head of consumer marketing at Microsoft, told The Verge.
How Connecting Your iPhone via Phone Link Works
Phone Link now includes a new option on the setup screen for iPhone connection. Select it and follow the instructions to pair your iPhone with your Windows PC via Bluetooth. Of course, Bluetooth must be enabled on your PC and iPhone in the settings.
“This will start after you scan the QR code displayed on your screen and then proceed to the verification steps that will help us confirm that the phone and PC are within range,” the company explains. After confirming that the code in Phone Link matches the one displayed on your iPhone, you will need to provide a permission set as the last step.
Limitations of iMessage on Windows
This is an obvious workaround since Apple only supports iMessage on its platforms. You can tell it’s a workaround by a few restrictions such as:
- iMessage (blue bubbles) is no different from SMS (green bubbles).
- Group chats via iMessage are not supported.
- Sending messages with attachments does not work.
- You cannot access your entire message history as Phone Link only shows messages sent or received through this app.
Because of these limitations, Microsoft can only show their iMessage conversations to Windows 11 customers in a simplified form, meaning no blue or green bubbles.
For other known issues, visit the Microsoft Community Forums.
How to register for the Windows Insider Program
To download the updated Phone Link app and try iMessage on Windows, you need to sign up for the Microsoft Windows Insider Program at Insider.Windows.com.
The Windows Insider program allows early adopters to test Windows previews (similar to Apple’s public beta software), which includes the Phone Link app version 1.23012.169.0. You also need to register your device through Settings → Windows Update → Windows Insider Program.
But even if you’ve done all of that, you’ll still have to wait because this preview is available to a small percentage of insiders on the Dev, Beta, and Release Preview channels. “Not all insiders will see the preview right away,”Microsoft warns.
Availability will expand to more members of the Windows Insider Program “over time.”Ultimately, all Windows 11 users will be able to get iMessage support once testing is complete and the updated Phone Link app is released to the public.
Will Apple break Microsoft’s workaround?
Since this decision is not sanctioned by Apple, it’s only natural to wonder if Apple might break it with a future software update. We, however, doubt that Apple will do so. It’s more like Microsoft was working on this with Apple, because why else offer Windows users an iMessage solution that Apple can easily break?
In addition, Microsoft has worked closely with Apple to bring support for iCloud Photos to the Windows 11 Photos app. In addition, both companies will introduce Windows versions of their own music and TV apps to the Microsoft Store.