How to link your iPhone with Windows 11 and use iMessage

At lengthy final, you’ll be able to link your iPhone with a Windows PC—at the least, you’ll be able to when you’re operating Windows 11.

Anyone nonetheless on Windows 10 isn’t lacking out on as a lot as you would possibly suppose, although. You don’t get the identical expertise as when pairing an iPhone with a Mac. So when you can use Microsoft’s Phone Link app to work together with your iPhone’s textual content messages, make cellphone calls, and see cellphone notifications, some features come with caveats, notably textual content messages:

• Group, image, and different media messages received’t present in dialog threads. You will see notifications for these sorts of incoming messages, although.
• Message conversations solely present texts that have been despatched and obtained after pairing, and solely upon the second message obtained from a contact—even you probably have an ongoing thread with that particular person.
• Texts despatched by means of your cellphone received’t present within the dialog historical past proven on your PC.
• Not all iPhone apps at the moment help passthrough of notifications to a PC.

But even with these limitations, being even partially untethered from your cellphone whereas on your PC could be very releasing. You received’t want to have a look at your iPhone (or Apple Watch) as typically. And connecting the 2 units is straightforward. Here’s how to strive it out for your self.

Note: If somebody is aware of your iPhone passcode, they will pair the Phone Link app with your cellphone to see your communications and notifications unbeknownst to you. To keep away from undesirable monitoring, shield your PIN and examine your Bluetooth settings periodically for any unknown units paired (and linked) to your cellphone.

How to join an iPhone to a Windows 11 PC

Step 1: Open the Windows 11 Phone Link app

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You want Windows’ Phone Link app to pair your PC and your iPhone. (Sorry, no iPads and macOS units; they’re not supported.) The program needs to be preinstalled on your pc—if not, open the Microsoft Store app and obtain it. 

On the opening display screen, click on on the iPhone button underneath Pick your cellphone to get began. If that button is lacking or grayed out, you’ll want to replace Phone Link. In the Microsoft Store app, select Library at backside left of the display screen. If you don’t already see a pending replace for Phone Link, click on on the Get updates button.

Step 2: Pair your machine 

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The subsequent display screen that seems ought to say Pair your units with Bluetooth. You can carry out the pairing in one in all two methods: Using the QR code that exhibits on this display screen, or by clicking the Continue manually and not using a QR code link.

Each technique has its execs and cons. The QR code technique is easier, however is at the moment buggier, too. (When we used this technique, cellphone name controls wouldn’t work correctly.) Meanwhile, the handbook technique requires extra steps however provides a extra secure, constant expertise.

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QR code technique:

1. On your iPhone, open the Camera app
2. Scan the QR code
3. Tap the yellow Pair your units pop-up that seems
4. A pop-up window will seem on your iPhone that asks if you’d like to pair your machine. Tap the blue Open button.
5. Verify that the pairing request code proven on your cellphone and the PC match. You’ll want to verify by clicking and tapping (respectively) on each your PC and cellphone.
6. Tap Allow for notifications.

If the pairing course of turns into unresponsive at any level, your QR code could have expired. You’ll want to return within the Phone Link app to the start display screen and begin over once more.

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Manual technique:

1. Install the Link to Windows app on your iPhone. You can do that in one in all 3 ways:
   1. Scan the QR code on the Phone Link app with your cellphone’s digicam. Tap the Pair your units yellow field that seems, then within the larger pop-up window that exhibits up subsequent, faucet on the tiny grey App Store link on the backside proper.
   2. Point your iPhone’s browser at www.aka.ms/pairyourphone. The first outcome ought to ship you to the Link to Windows entry within the App Store.
   3. Open the App Store on your iPhone, then seek for Link to Windows. (Confirm that it’s created by Microsoft Corporation.)
2. Open the Link to Windows app, then faucet on the Scan QR code button.
3. Grant the app permission to use your digicam.
4. Scan the QR code within the Phone Link app.
5. On your iPhone, a brand new display screen seems that claims Continue pairing with Bluetooth. Tap the blue Continue button.
6. Grant the app permission to entry Bluetooth.
7. Verify that the pairing request code proven on your cellphone and the PC match. You’ll want to verify by clicking and tapping (respectively) on each your PC and cellphone.
8. Tap Allow for notifications.

Step 3: Set your cellphone permissions for full sync

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To get all notifications from your cellphone—and for contacts to present correctly in your Messages and Calls lists—you’ll want to tweak some permissions on your iPhone.

Head to Settings > Bluetooth. Find the title of your Windows PC, then faucet on the knowledge icon (the “i” with a circle round it) to the best of it. Flip on Show Notifications, Sync Contacts, and Share System Notifications. In the earlier step, when you clicked Allow, it’s best to see Share System Notifications already turned on.

Step 4: Use Phone Link

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After passing by means of the ultimate setup home windows, you’ll see Phone Link’s foremost display screen. It’s divided into two sections: The left-hand bar is a operating record of notifications, whereas the principle part exhibits your messages and your calls. By default, you’ll begin on the Calls tab first.

If you click on on the gear icon within the higher right-hand of the window, you’ll be able to tweak your settings—like customizing how iPhone notifications seem in Windows 11, altering Phone Link’s startup habits, and the theme shade of the Phone Link app. You may see the units which might be linked to Phone Link and add extra.

You can refine which iPhone notifications you’ll see on your PC, too, although not all apps are supported. On our iPhone, solely 13 of the 50+ apps put in have been suitable with PC notifications. Several common messaging apps like WhatsApp, Discord, and Google Chat have been notably lacking.

How to use iMessages on a Windows 11 PC

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Message sync on Windows 11 is at the moment primary. You can solely trade textual content messages (SMS and iMessage) by means of the Phone Link interface—you’ll sort your replies within the textual content discipline on the backside of the display screen. Incoming group, image, and different media messages received’t present within the dialog threads. Instead, you’ll solely see a notification if you obtain an MMS message (alongside with a preview of the textual content, you probably have that setting on). 

Any messages you ship from your iPhone won’t present on your PC’s operating record of messages, both, nor will the primary message you obtain after syncing your iPhone with your Windows 11 PC—even you probably have an current operating thread with that contact.

How to make (and take) iPhone calls on a Windows 11 PC

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In the Calls tab, you can begin a name in a number of alternative ways: You can click on on any contacts in your latest name historical past, search your contacts, or use the dial pad. You may reply incoming calls by interacting with the pop-up window that may seem.

Calls initiated or answered by means of your pc can be taken on the PC. Calls began on your cellphone can be accessible and controllable by means of the PC, together with switching between the 2.

If you’re experiencing bugs (as we did when going by means of the simple QR code pairing technique), you could discover points with controlling calls by means of your PC. If that is the case, unpair your machine from Phone Link, obtain the Link to Windows app within the App Store on your iPhone, then re-pair your PC and your cellphone. It ought to remedy your name points.