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How to send and receive Apple's iMessages in Windows
I use Apple's iMessage to send and receive texts on my iPhone. But if I'm already in front of my PC, writing and answering texts is often easier using a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. For this, I turn to a couple of tools that help me access iMessages while using Windows.
Accessible on both Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft's Phone Link app lets you view your recent texts, create new messages, and respond to existing texts. Any texts you send and receive automatically sync between your PC and iPhone, so you can pick up an ongoing conversation on either device. You're also able to manually enter a name, phone number, or email address to send a text to one of your contacts or someone else.
Also: How scammers are tricking Apple iMessage users into disabling phishing protection
Intel Unison is another app that performs the same tricks and even lets you add emojis and items pasted from the Windows clipboard. According to Intel, Unison works only on Evo-powered laptops running on its 13th-generation or higher processors. The Evo designation means the PC has passed strict requirements from Intel, and such machines should have a label that identifies them as meeting these specifications.
The good news is that many people have reported being able to install Unison on older, non-Evo computers. I use Unison on an Intel 11th-Gen non-Evo laptop with no trouble, so you'll want to try this on your PC, even if it's an older model.
How to send and receive iMessages in Windows
There's just one sticking point: While Phone Link supports both Windows 10 and 11, Intel Unison works only with Windows 11. Here's how to use both tools to view, send, and receive texts.
Using Microsoft Phone Link
Before you can use Phone Link, you'll need to take care of a few items on your phone and PC.
Your iPhone must be outfitted with iOS 14 or higher. To check this, go to Settings, select General, and tap Software Update. You'll be told that iOS is up to date or prompted to install the latest update. Next, go to Settings, select Bluetooth, and confirm that Bluetooth is turned on.
To make sure Windows is also up to date, head to Settings, select Windows Update, and click the button to check for updates. Allow the latest updates to download and install.
Next, confirm that you're running the latest version of Phone Link. To do this, open the Microsoft Store app from the Start menu and click the Library icon. Click the Get Updates button and allow all your installed apps to be updated, including Phone Link if necessary.
Finally, ensure that Bluetooth is enabled on your PC. In Windows 10, go to Settings, select Devices, and turn on the switch for Bluetooth if it's off. In Windows 11, go to Settings, select Bluetooth & devices, and then turn on the switch for Bluetooth.
1. Open Phone Link
In Windows 10 or 11, click the Start button, go to the list or menu of all your apps, and select Phone Link. If you can't find the app or removed it at some point, download and install it from the Microsoft Store. When you launch the app, click Continue. The next screen prompts you to select your device type. Click the button for iPhone.
2. Scan the QR codes
A QR code should appear in the Phone Link app. Launch the camera on your iPhone and scan the code. On your iPhone, tap the link at the bottom of the camera screen to pair your devices. If you can't scan the code for any reason, click the link to continue manually without a QR code and follow those steps.
At the screen to pair your devices, tap "Link to Windows" to download and install the Link to Windows app. After the app has been installed, tap Open to launch it. Tap "Scan QR code" and scan the code displayed in the Phone Link app on your PC. Next, tap Continue to start pairing your phone and PC.
You should see pairing prompts on both your iPhone and your Windows 11 computer. Select the Pair button on both devices and wait for the two to pair.
Also: How to set up read receipts for your iPhone's text messages
3. Sync your iPhone data
Your phone should ask if you want your PC to receive notifications from your iPhone. Tap Allow to OK this. Go to the Bluetooth settings screen on your phone, tap the Info icon for your computer, and turn on the switches for Show Notifications, Sync Contacts, and Share System Notifications. Doing so will let you fully access and use the apps and data from your phone on your PC, including messages.
4. Run Phone Link
The Phone Link welcome screen should appear on your PC and ask if you want to open the app each time you log into Windows. If you do, check the box. Then, click Get Started.
5. Access your recent messages
To access your iPhone's text messages in Phone Link, tap the Messages heading at the top. You should see any recent messages sent to you since Phone Link has been active. If any appear that you want to answer, type a response to the message and send it. You can then carry on a conversation from either your iPhone or your PC, and the two will sync with each other.
6. Start a new chat
You can also start a new conversation. To do this, select one of your displayed contacts and then compose and send your text. To chat with someone else, click the New Message icon and type the name or phone number of the recipient. Compose and send your message.
Use Intel Unison
1. Install Intel Unison in Windows 11
To use Intel Unison in Windows 11, download and install the app from the Microsoft Store.
Launch the app and click the Accept & Continue button. You'll be asked how you'd like to use Unison. In the section for "Empower your PC," click the "Add your phone" button.
2. Pair your phone and computer
You should then be asked to pair your phone and PC. Scan the QR code with your phone and tap the link to download and install the Unison mobile app from the Apple App Store.
Open the Unison app on your iPhone. Tap the "Accept & continue" button. Decide if you want to share crash data and statistics with Intel. Tap "Let's go" on the next screen.
You'll then be asked to grant the app access to your contacts, photo library, devices on your local network, and Bluetooth. At a minimum, you'll need to allow access to your contacts if you want to send and receive iMessages.
At the next screen on your phone, tap the button for "Scan QR code." Scan the code in the Unison screen on your PC. Confirm the text string that appears on the screen. Your phone and PC should tell you that the pairing was successful. Tap Get Started in the iPhone app.
3. Launch the Windows Unison app
At the "Let's get started" screen in the Windows Unison app, click the icon for "Send messages."
4. Go to the Messages screen
At the Messages screen, click the icon for "Compose a new message." Choose the recipient from your list of contacts or type the name, email address, or phone number for someone not in your contact list.
5. Send a message
Compose and send your message. Wait for the other person to respond. You can then carry on a conversation in the Windows Unison app or in iMessages on your iPhone as the texts sync between the two apps.
6. Receive a message
Any messages sent to your iPhone should also pop up in the Unison app. Again, you can carry on a conversation on your phone or on your PC.