Windows 10: Microsoft Phone Link Adds Apple Messages Support for Windows, With Group Chat and...

Microsoft Phone Link now supports Apple Messages on Windows, which means iPhone users can send and receive iMessages and SMS texts from their PC without having to switch to their phone.

The feature uses Bluetooth and does not break Apple Messages' end-to-end encryption. However, there are some limitations, such as the inability to send or receive group messages, attachments, photos, or GIFs.

Phone Link comes pre-installed on Windows 11 and can also be downloaded from the Microsoft Store. The iPhone must be running iOS 16 or higher.

How to Set Up Your iPhone With Microsoft Phone Link on Windows


Setting up the connection requires a Microsoft account, the Phone Link app on the PC, and the Link to Windows app on the iPhone:

1. Open Phone Link on the PC by typing it into the taskbar search
2. Select iPhone as the device type. Then, scan the QR code displayed on the screen with your iPhone camera.
3. Tap "Pair your devices" on the iPhone. When a pop-up appears, tap "Open," "Continue," "Allow," and then "Pair" to grant Bluetooth pairing permissions.
4. Follow the remaining prompts to link the iPhone to your Microsoft account.

After pairing, go to Settings on your iPhone, select Bluetooth, and choose the PC's name from the list of connected devices.

You can enable Show Message Notifications to receive alerts on the PC, and you also have the option to activate Sync Contacts and Share System Notifications from the same screen.

What Works With Apple Messages, and What Doesn’t


The Messages section in Phone Link displays a limited set of recent conversations and suggested contacts. Users can reply to individual messages and start new ones by entering a contact name or phone number.

However, some features are not supported:

• Group chats cannot be started or replied to, and attachments, photos, or GIFs are not available; only emojis can be sent.
• Full inbox access is also not provided, with only a small selection of recent conversations visible.

Messages sent or received through Phone Link will also appear on the iPhone, allowing users to switch between devices during a conversation.

Since the feature uses Bluetooth rather than server routing, it does not impact the end-to-end encryption of Apple Messages.

What This Integration Means for Windows Users


For iPhone users who mostly work on a Windows PC, Phone Link offers a way to monitor and reply to individual text messages without switching devices.

Its limitations mean it’s most useful for keeping up with one-on-one conversations during work hours, rather than replacing the iPhone as the main messaging platform for group chats or media sharing.

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Microsoft Phone Link Adds Apple Messages Support for Windows, With Group Chat and Attachment Limitations appeared first on gHacks.

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Messages Disappear in group chats with phone Link

Group messages have stopped working for My Phone Link app. They just disappear after you send a message in a group. Other people in the group chat can see them, however I can not see any of the messages I have sent either on my phone or on the computer. I've relinked, repaired, and restarted my phone link app and reinstalled but it doesn't fix the issue.

 

Windows Phone Link - Unable to send messages to group chats.

Good afternoon, community.

I have recently begun using the Phone Link app in Windows 10. I really like the application and it has greatly simplified my workflow. Thank you for that.

I have run into an issue, and it seems to persist through my attempts to troubleshoot. I am unable to send group messages, however, I can receive them. When I try to send a message, an error is thrown, and it reads:

"We couldn't send your reply. Try replying from your phone for this one."

I have exited the application, uninstalled and reinstalled on both PC and android device, to no avail.

I reached out to Microsoft support via a live chat, however, the agent didn't know what Phone Link was and I was not going to describe it for them as I am annoyed with this issue already.

Has anyone seen this error before and if so, how did you resolve?

Thank you!

Windows 10

Samsung 21

 

Microsoft Live Chat Support or Help with Issue

I am going crazy trying to find how to contact Microsoft Live Chat Support. The reason is I cannot figure out how to change my 2-step email login verification settings to send the code to my phone. Right now it is sending it to my alternate email. please help - thx