14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 11 and Android are already best buddies, and it’s all thanks to the Phone Link app. The software has evolved significantly in the last couple of years, and it now provides impressive capabilities on the desktop, including not only access to the photo gallery and messages, but also screen mirroring and notifications.
Now Microsoft is trying to provide a similar experience for iPhone users as well.
Phone Link has been updated with support for Apple devices, though the initial version is pretty limited and only offers basic functionality.
Currently available for just a certain set of insiders, Phone Link with iOS support offers access to calls, messages, and contacts.
“If you are an Insider who receives the preview of Phone Link for iOS, you will see the option to pick your iPhone on the Phone Link homepage (in addition to choosing an Android device). If you see the iPhone button greyed out with a coming soon message, that means you are not yet in the preview,” Microsoft explains.
“Once the guided installation completes and your iPhone is paired to your PC and the right permissions given, Phone Link will deliver basic iOS support for calls, messages, and contacts. This means you will be notified directly through your Windows notifications. Phone Link does not support replying to group messages or sending media in messages.”
If the iOS experiment succeeds in the Phone Link app, Microsoft could turn Windows 11 into a more appealing operating system for Apple users.
Right now, most iPhone owners are tempted to get a Mac for the sync features between devices, but Phone Link would pretty much remove this barrier. Of course, it’ll probably take years before the iOS integrated would reach the point where Phone Link and Android are today.