Microsoft has just announced that Microsoft Phone Link for iOS on Windows 11 is now available in 39 languages and 85 locations worldwide. Recently, Microsoft announced that the Phone Link feature in Windows 11 will be changed so that it can connect a Windows 11 PC to an iOS mobile device.
The goal is to make it easier to communicate with the people you care about most by eliminating the barriers between your phone and your PC. The people working on this update are taking their time because they know how important it is to be able to quickly talk to friends and family at important times.
They asked Windows Insiders to participate in testing and provide feedback so that users can get the best experience possible. They received good feedback, such as “This is exactly what I hoped for my Windows PC,” and so they began slowly rolling out the system to their Windows 11 group. By mid-May, everyone should be able to use it.
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Microsoft rolls out Phone Link for iOS to all Windows 11 users
All Windows 11 and iPhone users will be able to use Phone Link for iOS by mid-May, when the rollout is expected to be complete. You can connect your PC to your Android or iOS device via Wi-Fi with the Phone Link app.
Ali Akgun, Corporate Vice President of Software Engineering for Microsoft Devices, said: “Today, we are excited to announce that Microsoft Phone Link for iOS on Windows 11 is starting to roll out to our global audiences in 39 languages and 85 markets.” “We can’t wait to start slowly releasing Windows 11. By mid-May, everyone will be able to use it.”
Users can choose which iPhone they want to use on the app's home page. Then, they will see a QR code on their computer screen to learn how to pair their device. After pairing your phone and letting it share contacts and alerts, you can use your Windows 11 computer to see mobile alerts, check messages, and make or receive calls.
“Once the Windows 11 client activates it, Phone Link for iOS provides basic iOS support for calls, messages, and contact access,” says Akgun. “This means that if you put your phone away during a presentation or other time when you need to concentrate, you will receive notifications on your Windows PC and can decide what to do on your Windows 11 PC.”
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“Phone Link doesn't have the ability to reply to group messages or send media in messages,” said Brandon LeBlanc, Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, when Phone Link for iOS began rolling out to Windows Insiders in February .
Phone Link for iOS requires an iPhone with iOS 14 or higher, a Windows 11 computer, a Bluetooth connection, and the most recent version of the Phone Link app. Microsoft released Windows 11 in March 2022. Since a QR code can be read, it was easy to install while Windows was running. It also helped show people how to use it in a new way.
This meant that the Your Phone app was no longer needed. Microsoft introduced the Your Phone app during the Build Developer Meeting in May 2018. Then, Windows Insiders received Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17728 (Redstone 5). In October 2018, at the Surface show, they also showed what they could do. Phone Link works because it sends texts to friends over Bluetooth.
Then Apple's iOS takes over and makes sure those texts are sent via iMessage. It's like when you send a message to someone who has an iPhone, Apple's operating system turns the bubbles blue. Then, if you receive texts over Bluetooth, Phone Link retrieves them and displays them in the app on Windows 11.
How to use Microsoft Phone Link to connect your iPhone?
- You can install the “Link to Windows” app on your iPhone and log in with your Microsoft account information.
- Download and install the Phone Link app on your Windows 11 computer, then sign in with your Microsoft account information.
- Your Windows 11 computer and your iPhone must have Bluetooth enabled and be able to find each other.
- Open the Phone Link app on your Windows 11 computer and click on the iPhone choice on the first screen.
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- Scan the QR code on your screen, then make sure your iPhone and PC are nearby to show your choice.
- Phone Link will then ask you to verify that your iPhone code matches that of Phone Link.
- When you're done, you'll be asked to grant your PC and iPhone apps the permissions they need to work together.
It's important to know that this feature only works on iPhones with iOS 14 or later.
How to use Microsoft Phone Link with your Android phone?
You can download the “Link to Windows” app from the Google Play Store and log in with your Microsoft account information.
- Download and install the Phone Link app on your Windows 11 computer, then sign in with your Microsoft account information.
- Open the Phone Link app on your Windows 11 computer and click on the Android choice on the first screen.
- Check the box next to “I installed the Link to Windows app on my phone” on your Windows computer.
- Then click on the “Pair with QR code” button.
- Your computer screen displays a QR code.
- When you open the partner app on your Android phone, a screen with a camera should appear.
- From this screen you can tell your computer to read the QR code.
- Once your devices are connected, your Android device will ask you for permission to do certain things.
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If you have these rights, you can transfer information from your phone to your computer. It's important to know that Phone Link connects to your Android phone via Wi-Fi, a mobile data network, or a fast hotspot. For this feature to work, users must also have an Android phone running Android 7.0 or newer.
Conclusion
If you want to try Phone Link, make sure you get the most recent version from the Windows 11 Microsoft Store. Then, on your iPhone, open Phone Link and use it to scan a QR code. This establishes a link between your iPhone and Windows. Once the connection is established, you must enable contact sharing via Bluetooth on your iPhone, enable the “show notifications” option and allow system notifications to be sent to your PC via Bluetooth. After that you can start working.