Seamless Connectivity: You Can Access Your iPhone Messages and Make Calls from Windows

Imagine accessing your iPhone messages and making calls directly from your Windows computer, effortlessly bridging the gap between your mobile and desktop experience. This game-changing capability not only enhances productivity but also streamlines communication. Not all iPhone users own a Mac, as many use Windows-based PCs. Though you can easily transfer photos/videos between iPhone and Windows PC, you cannot access your iOS messages from a non-Apple device. Thanks to Microsoft, now you can make calls, view notifications or send iOS messages from a Windows computer.

This article will unveil the steps to achieve this remarkable feat, empowering you to stay connected across devices like never before. Say goodbye to toggling between screens and embrace the freedom to access your iPhone messages and make calls from your Windows environment.

What is Phone Link for iOS

If you are an Android user, you might be familiar with Microsoft Phone Link which allows you to connect an Android device to a Windows-based computer. Recently, Microsoft has expanded the Phone Link feature to connect a Windows 11 PC to an iOS device.

This will help the users to get iOS notifications on their computer itself so that they won’t miss important messages/calls while they are working.

How to Pair iPhone and Windows PC Using Phone Link

To use Phone Link, you need an iPhone with iOS 14 or later and your computer should be running on Windows 11. Before starting, make sure Bluetooth is enabled on iPhone and Windows computer. Let’s see how to pair iPhone and Windows PC.

1. If you don’t have a Phone Link on your Windows computer, you can install it from the Microsoft Store.
2. On your iPhone, download and install Link to Windows app from the Appstore using this direct link.
3. Launch the Phone Link app on your Windows computer and click iPhone on the welcome screen.
   
   
4. On the new screen, you will see a QR code and instructions for pairing the computer and iPhone.
   
   
5. On your iPhone, launch Control Center by swiping down from the top right and tap the QR code scan icon.
6. Tap Open on the pop-up on your iPhone to launch the Link to Windows app.
7. On the next two screens, tap Scan QR code and Continue.
   
   
8. Tap Pair in the pop-up on your iPhone.
9. Click Pair in the Phone Link app on the Windows computer.
   
   
10. After a few seconds, the pairing will be completed and tap Done on the iPhone screen.
    
    
11. Now, you will see a set of instructions on the Windows screen to sync content between your iPhone and Windows.
12. As per the instructions, go to Settings->Bluetooth and tap the Information icon near the name of your computer.
13. In the new screen, toggle the fields Show Notifications, Sync Contacts and Share System Notifications.
    
    
14. Click Continue on the Windows screen to proceed further.
    
    
15. You will see a success message on the Windows screen. Click Continue on that.
    
    

How to View Notifications and Make Calls from Your PC

Once you have paired your iPhone and the Windows computer, you can make calls from your PC, view notifications and check your iPhone messages as well. Let’s see how to do that.

1. Launch Phone Link app on your Windows PC and make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both iPhone and computer.
2. If you have enabled the required permissions on your iPhone, the data will be synced between iPhone and Windows and your screen will appear like below.
   
   
3. You can see the battery percentage of your iPhone on the top left and the keypad on the right. Notifications will be displayed on the left and call history on the center of the screen.
4. To view messages, you need to click Messages tab.
5. To make a call, you can select the contact from the contact list or type the number and click the call button.
   
6. Once the call is connected, you will see a pop-up window on your computer with options like Mute, Hold, End call etc.
   
   
7. When you are making a call on a PC, it will be displayed on your iPhone as well. And, you have the option to transfer the call to your iPhone by tapping the Bluetooth icon and selecting iPhone/Speaker.
   
   
   

How to Customize Phone Link App on Windows

Microsoft Phone Link app offers a lot of customizations from a light/dark theme to starting the app on bootup.

1. Launch the Phone Link app on your computer and click Settings (gear) icon on the top right.
2. Click General and scroll down to the section App start-up. If you want the Phone Link to start automatically, set the value to On. Otherwise, set it to Off.
   
   
3. To set the dark mode for the app, click Personalisation and select Dark theme.
   
   
4. By clicking Features, you can customize the settings for Calls, Notifications etc.
   
   
   

Troubleshooting: Pairing iPhone to Windows

Are you unable to pair your iPhone to a Windows computer? Check out the points listed below.

• Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both iPhone and Windows and the devices are placed nearby. Don’t expect the devices to establish a connection if one device is in the living room and the other is at the far end of your house.
• Check if your iPhone is running at least iOS 14 and if you are using a Windows 11 computer.
• Make sure Bluetooth is working properly by connecting with other devices like wireless headphones.
• Check if the Phone Link app on your PC is the latest version.

Definitely, Microsoft has removed a great barrier between the iPhone and Windows computer by extending the functionality of the Phone Link app. It will be very useful for those who use Windows laptop/PC at their workplace and an iPhone for personal use to quickly check messages and notifications.

The ability to access your iPhone messages and make calls from your Windows computer opens up a world of possibilities for seamless communication and increased productivity. Following the steps outlined in this article, you can effortlessly bridge the gap between your mobile and desktop experience, enjoying the convenience of staying connected across devices. Embrace this remarkable capability and say goodbye to the hassle of toggling between screens. You can enjoy a more streamlined and efficient workflow with the power to access and make calls directly from Windows on your iPhone. Stay connected, stay productive, and make the most out of your digital ecosystem.