Being able to connect your phone to your desktop PC or modern laptop to field messages or even make calls can be a huge boon to productivity, and there are plenty of ways of going about it. While iMessage works seamlessly across Macs and iPhones, getting iOS messages on Windows has been a bit trickier in the past. Fortunately, with apps like Microsoft's Phone Link and Intel Unison, it is easily doable with just a few steps involved in the setup process. You can also use third-party messenger apps like Telegram, Signal, or WhatsApp.
All these methods achieve the same goal, but they work a bit differently. In this guide, we'll explore all the different ways you can use your PC to text with an iPhone, with step-by-step instructions on how to get it all working properly.
How to use Intel Unison to text with an iPhone
Limited compatibility, but surprisingly effective
Intel Unison is a relatively new solution that came about as a sort of successor to Dell Mobile Connect. Intel purchased the parent company Screenovate in 2021, and Unison was thereafter created. With Unison, you can link a lot of your iPhone's functionality to your PC. It allows for photo and file transfers, it allows you to make or receive calls from your PC, and it lets you text without having to touch your phone.
Intel says its Unison app will work on Windows 11 PCs with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, but you'll see extra features (like an extended display tool) if your laptop has Intel Evo or vPro branding with a 13th Gen Intel CPU or newer. You'll also want an iPhone with at least iOS version 15.x or newer.
Here's how to get Intel Unison set up on your Windows 11 PC and your iPhone. Be sure to enable Bluetooth before beginning.
- Download the Intel Unison app on your PC from the Microsoft Store. You can skip this step if the app comes pre-installed on your PC.
- Download the Intel Unison app on your iPhone from the App Store.
- Launch the Intel Unison app on your iPhone. Allow it the security permissions required to function.
- Launch the Intel Unison app on your PC. Allow it the security permissions required to function.
- Click Add phone on your PC. You should see a QR code show on the PC's display.
- Tap Scan QR code on your iPhone.
- Scan the QR code on your PC using your iPhone.
- Click Confirm on your PC if the displayed code matches the one on your iPhone.
- Click Yes on your PC to confirm pairing.
- Click Pair on your iPhone to confirm pairing.
You should now be able to click the Messages button in the left sidebar within the Unison app on your PC. Previous conversations stored on your iPhone won't be transferred to your PC, so at first the Messages area will be empty. To begin messaging from your PC, just click the Compose a new message button near the top-left corner and select a contact.
Texting with Intel Unison works for both iMessages and standard messages. I have successfully sent texts to friends with an iPhone as well as friends with an Android phone.
Intel Unison: Features, setup, and everything you need to know
Intel Unison is the latest way to bring your phone's content to your PC, as long as it has modern Intel processors. But what else can it do?
How to use Phone Link to text from an iPhone
The way Microsoft wants you to do it
Windows 11 comes standard with an app known as Phone Link. Just as the name suggests, it's designed to bring your phone and your PC closer together. Originally, the app only worked with Android devices, but Microsoft has now added some iPhone integration.
Here's how to get Microsoft's Phone Link app working with your iPhone. Be sure to enable Bluetooth on your PC and iPhone before proceeding.
- Launch the Phone Link app on your PC.
- Click iPhone in the Select your device section.
- Scan the QR code displayed on your PC with your iPhone's camera.
- Tap Open on your iPhone.
- Tap Continue on your iPhone.
- Tap Allow on your iPhone to begin the Bluetooth sync.
- Tap Continue on your PC. You may have to add some notification permissions on your iPhone for full functionality (the app will walk you through the process).
You should now be greeted with a PC window showing notifications on the left side, as well as tabs along the top for Messages and Calls. Simply click the Messages button, then click New Message to begin texting a contact of your choosing. As with Intel Unison, previous messages stored on your iPhone will not show up within the Phone Link app.
How to use Phone Link with an iPhone
Own an iPhone and also use Windows 11? You can now see your texts right on your PC using the Phone Link app.
How to use AirMessage or Bluebubbles to send iMessages from your PC
This method works great if you have an old Mac to use as a server
If you don't want to use Intel Unison or Phone Link, there are two more ways to get iMessage on a Windows PC. AirMessage is a free-to-use app that allows you to create a self-hosted server that routes your iMessages to and from a Mac. It'll work with older models, too, so you don't need one of the best Macs to use it. Being that AirMessage offers a web client, it's easy to send messages from your PC. Just open the web client, log in, and you can send messages directly in your browser. We have a complete guide on how to set up AirMessage, plus everything you need to know, below.
How to use iMessage on Android and Windows with AirMessage
iMessage has great features, and they aren't accessible to Android users. But, you can run iMessage on Android devices with the help of a Mac.
Alternatively, there's BlueBubbles, another free app that can make it possible to send iMessages directly from your Windows PC. This app still requires a Mac to host the iMessage server, however, it's much more powerful than AirMessage. It uses Google's Firebase Server to tell your devices to send or receive a new message, which is more efficient. Additionally, with a bit of extra work, you can get things like iMessage reactions working on a PC with BlueBubbles. The downside here is that BlueBubbles requires a much more intensive setup process than AirMessage, or Phone Link and Intel Unison, for that matter. If you're up for a challenge, we have a guide that'll take you through the process step-by-step below.
How to use iMessage on Android and Windows using BlueBubbles
iMessage is a great way to send messages if you have an iPhone. That is, unless you set up a BlueBubbles Server.
How to use a third-party messenger to text from an iPhone
Unsurprisingly, actual cross-platform apps work the best
If you aren't particularly concerned about messaging straight from your iPhone's iMessage app, you can always use a third-party solution across platforms. Apps like Signal, Telegram, Messenger, and WhatsApp are popular and very easy to use, and they make it easy to pick up conversations on one platform and continue them on another.
These apps can be downloaded from the Windows Microsoft Store or iOS App Store (or straight from a web browser), and they have comprehensive guides for syncing across platforms within. All it takes, in most cases, is getting the app set up on one side and scanning a QR code with your iPhone to sync.
What is Signal: Everything you need to know about the secure IM service
Signal is an end-to-end encrypted messaging app that you should consider using if you care about privacy
Be wary of other third-party options
The two best ways to text from your PC if you have an iPhone involve Intel's Unison app and the native Windows Phone Link app. You can also use third-party messaging apps like Signal or Telegram if you aren't concerned with employing the iPhone iMessage functionality.
It's important to note, however, that there's no official iMessage app for Windows. Any website or app you find that claims to bring iMessage straight to your PC is either a scam or won't actually work. Stick to the methods we've laid out above to ensure you don't jeopardize your PC or iPhone's security.
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