Link to Windows

I’ve been using a windows desktop for a long time, and I only just started using this feature! (Windows 10 running on a 5yo Lenovo Legion, IOS 16.5.2 on an iPhone 13), tried this out since my wifi went out and a hotspot was having continuous issues, and Phone Link didn’t solve that (I eventually got a bluetooth network to work) but I now know that this feature works even without your computer having any internet. My only problem was the initial linkage between the phone and computer, it kept coming up empty on both devices. This was solved using the steps provided to reset bluetooth on both devices, and when both devices were connected to internet. Other than that, the software serves very well to handle messages and any other notifications that you would otherwise be interrupted by needing to check your phone for. Messages appear to others as if they were sent from your phone, even using the built-in texting function. Messages sent by you while your computer is off will not sync. Other notifications, such as emails will show titles and previews, and when clicked they open the web page associated. I’m amazed how instantaneously the messages transfer, it’s within the same second. It’s nice that the software is default to microsoft, doesn’t need installation on computer so you don’t have to worry about security risks.

Phone Link is worth having for iPhone, even if it doesn’t do everything you want. You can stop reading reviews and just download it, it’s useful for what it does and it’s not a big decision, anyway. What it does: Let you read texts you received recently. Read 7 recent conversations, but only messages you received or sent from your computer, not that you sent from iPhone. Text anyone from your computer. You can read only the last 7 convos, but you can start one regardless. Helps because you can paste directly instead of scanning text/typing manually on your phone. Text yourself stuff instead of typing it in manually. A pseudo-universal clipboard, if you will. Send files seamlessly, instead of relying on email, which has file size limits. Notifications pop up on your computer too, not just your iPhone. Transfer calls to and from your computer. Can be finicky. What it doesn’t do: Let you read texts you sent on your iPhone. Actually let you copy on computer and paste straight on iPhone like you can on a Mac. Screen mirror your iPhone. Pretty much anything else I didn’t list. Other: It shows up on the Windows start menu as well as on the app, for easy access. Recommendation: Download it and use it. It simplified a lot of things even if it can’t do everything (which is probably not the dev’s fault. Apple is specific about their ecosystem)

I absolutely love the Phone Link app. Being able to reply to text messages directly from my Windows PC has been incredibly valuable for me. Before this, I never really had a seamless way to handle texts while working on my computer. What makes the biggest difference is how little it interrupts my workflow. Instead of physically picking up my phone, unlocking it, and typing on a small keyboard, I can just switch to the Phone Link app, quickly type a response on my full-sized keyboard, and get right back to what I was doing. Even short replies are faster and much less disruptive. I primarily use the texting features, and they work extremely well for my needs. I did try using it for a phone call once, but I had audio issues where the other person couldn’t hear me well. That may have been a setup issue on my end, though, because the messaging experience has been excellent. For anyone who spends a lot of time on a Windows PC, especially during work, this app is a huge quality-of-life improvement.