Messages, Calls and File Transfer: Connect Your iPhone to Windows PC

Here’s a guide to connect your iPhone to a Windows PC (Surface Pro as an example) using Link to Windows (from the App Store) / Phone Link on Microsoft Store (Windows PC). (Yes, it finally works with iPhone — mostly messages and calls, not full iMessage magic and transfer files, videos, photos)

How to Set It Up

1. On your Windows PC (Surface Pro 9 as an example)

1. Click Start → search Phone Link → open it.
2. Choose iPhone when it asks which phone you want to connect.
3. It will show you a QR Code.

2. On your iPhone

1. Install “Link to Windows” from the App Store.
2. Open the app → tap Continue.
3. Allow Bluetooth permissions.
4. Scan the QR Code shown on your Surface Pro using the app.
5. Accept all pairing prompts that pop up on both devices.

3. Finish Pairing

• Approve the Bluetooth pairing request on the Windows PC and the iPhone.
• Give permissions for Notifications, Contacts, and Messages on iPhone.

(This is required for calls/messages to work.)

Features That Work (See the GIF Below)

• Receive/send SMS via the Phone Link app
• Make/receive calls
• Get iPhone notifications on Surface
• View contacts

(Still no full iMessage sync of older messages — Apple keeps that locked up tighter than a bank vault.)

Sending texts from a Windows PC using an iPhone (See the pic below)

File Transfer (Videos/Pics/Files)

Receive Files on iPhone

If Something Doesn’t Connect

• Make sure Bluetooth is ON on both devices. (Phone Link for iPhone works purely over Bluetooth.)
• Restart both devices and try pairing again.
• Unpair the iPhone from Windows Bluetooth settings and redo the QR scan.