How to Get iPhone Texts and Notifications on Your Windows PC
Want to view iPhone notifications and reply to text messages directly from your Windows PC? Microsoft’s free Phone Link app makes it possible—no need to pull out your phone!
Syncing iPhone Notifications and Messages
Mac users can forward text messages to their computer through Settings > Apps > Messages > Text Message Forwarding. With iPhone Mirroring in macOS Sequoia, they can even receive and reply to notifications from messaging apps like WhatsApp.
For Windows users, Microsoft’s Phone Link bridges the gap, allowing text messages and app notifications to appear on a PC via Bluetooth—no internet connection required.
I’ve personally tested this feature with my iPhone and Samsung PC, and it works seamlessly. Android users, don’t worry—Phone Link supports Android devices as well.
What You Need
✔️ An iPhone with the latest iOS update
✔️ A Windows 10 or 11 PC with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support
✔️ Phone Link app (available from the Microsoft Store)
✔️ Bluetooth enabled on both devices
How to Connect Your iPhone to a Windows PC with Phone Link
1️⃣ Launch the Phone Link app on your PC and select iPhone.
2️⃣ Use your iPhone’s Camera app to scan the QR code on your PC screen, then tap Pair your devices. When a card appears, choose Open and then Continue.
3️⃣ Grant Bluetooth access by selecting Allow when prompted.
If a six-digit code appears on both devices, confirm by tapping Pair on each.
4️⃣ Enable iPhone notifications and contact sharing:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
- Tap the ⓘ info button next to your PC’s name.
- Toggle on Show Message Notifications and Share System Notifications.
- Enable Sync Contacts for a better texting experience.
5️⃣ Click Continue on your PC to complete the connection.
Viewing iPhone Notifications on Windows
Once linked, incoming iPhone notifications will appear in Phone Link’s left-hand panel and remain visible on your iPhone’s Lock Screen.
📌 How notifications work:
✅ An app or bell icon will indicate unread notifications in Phone Link’s sidebar.
✅ If Phone Link is minimized, notifications appear as banners in the bottom-right corner of your PC.
✅ Dismissing notifications on Windows also clears them from your iPhone’s Lock Screen, and vice versa.
Replying to iPhone Messages on Windows
Phone Link lets you respond to SMS and iMessage notifications directly. Simply click a message notification to reply, and your conversation will continue within the app.
⚠️ Note: You can only reply to texts from the built-in Messages app. Clicking notifications from third-party apps (e.g., WhatsApp or Instagram) will open a web search or redirect you to the app’s website in Microsoft Edge.
Sending a New iPhone Message from Phone Link
Want to start a conversation? You can send new messages directly from your PC.
1️⃣ Click the Messages tab in Phone Link.
2️⃣ Tap the Compose button.
3️⃣ Select a contact or enter a phone number.
4️⃣ Type your message and hit Send.
Managing iPhone Notifications in Phone Link
Don’t want every iPhone alert showing up on your PC? You can customize what you receive:
📍 Click the three-dot menu in Phone Link to see a list of all pending notifications. Disable specific ones without affecting alerts on your iPhone.
📍 You can also fine-tune notification settings:
1️⃣ Open Phone Link and click the gear icon in the top-right.
2️⃣ Select Features from the left panel.
3️⃣ Expand the Notifications section and click Choose which apps I get notifications from.
4️⃣ A list of iPhone apps that have sent alerts will appear. Here, you can:
- Allow notifications to show up in Phone Link.
- Display them as banners.
- Disable them entirely.
🔹 Note: Some app notifications may still appear as banners even when disabled—possibly a bug, but worth mentioning in case you experience it too.
Now you’re all set to view iPhone texts and notifications right from your Windows PC! 🚀