If you are a current user of any of the iPhone versions, and you are also a user of a desktop or laptop with Windows 11, then there is a great and unique way to connect your iPhone to Windows, as well as control it, such as seeing notifications and responding directly to text messages from the computer, in a completely official manner. Via your default Phone Link app on Windows.
Recently, Microsoft started testing adding support for connecting iPhones to the Phone Link app in Windows 11, which was previously exclusive only to Android devices. This feature allows you to perform some very useful tasks, including replying directly from your computer to text messages or iMessage messages on Apple devices, whether it is iPhone or iPad. So, if you are interested in experimenting and knowing the method, then let us explain to you in detail the steps to connect the iPhone to Windows next.
Explanation of using the Phone Link application with the iPhone
In fact, this feature is not available to everyone yet, because Microsoft is still testing it with a very limited group of members of the Windows 11 beta program first, and then it will be available in a stable version to all people whose devices are currently running the latest Windows version. And if you are an iPhone user and want to try, you will first need to join a program Windows Insider Then, download the latest Windows 11 beta.
Of course, this method comes with some risk because Insider builds are experimental, and therefore contain some bugs and are not entirely stable. However, we will guide you below on how to join the Release Preview channel whose releases are usually very stable and almost no bugs unlike Beta or Alpha releases which are often unstable.
So, here are the steps to join the Windows 11 beta program:
- Open the Windows 11 Settings app by pressing the buttons Windows + i (from the keyboard).
- Go to a section Windows Update.
- Choose from here Windows Insider Program.
- Now click on the button Get Started.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account.
- Follow the instructions that will appear on the screen.
- Choose from here Release Preview It is the most stable option among them.
- Complete the steps and select Next Restart Now to reboot.
- After the system is restored, go back to the Windows Update section, then press the button Check for Updates.
- Now the system will check for a new update and then it will ask you to reboot.
Now the steps to run the Phone Link application and connect to the iPhone:
- After rebooting, go to the Microsoft Store.
- Find an app Phone Link.
- Go to the first result, then click on the button Update.
- Run the app following updating it.
- From the start screen, select iPhone.
- Turn on your bluetooth connection by clicking on the buttons Windows + A (from the keyboard).
- Now follow the instructions that will appear on the screen to connect the iPhone to the computer using Bluetooth.
- If prompted, scan the QR code that will appear in front of you.
- Download the Phone Link app now App Store.
- Allow the necessary permissions on the iPhone as the Phone Link application will prompt you.
- Once linked, press Calls So you can see the calls, and the ability to make a call from the computer directly.
- Also press Messages Then the note icon at the top to start writing a new message.
- You will also be able to see all of your iPhone’s notifications on the left side of the app.
Here we are done! These were all the steps that you should have known in order to be able to connect your iPhone to Windows 11 via the Phone Link app. As we mentioned before, at the present time the feature is not available to all users of the latest Microsoft system, and even if you have it, you will find that it contains some limitations, as it is still an experimental feature.