How to Get iMessage App for PC: Your Complete Guide (2025)

Let me tell you something. If you've ever tried searching for an iMessage app for PC, you probably got frustrated pretty fast. And honestly? I get it.

Apple doesn't make things easy when you're not in their ecosystem. But here's the deal—you can actually use iMessage on your Windows computer, and I'm gonna show you exactly how. No jailbreaking required, and you don't even need a Mac sitting around collecting dust.

Look, Apple wants to keep iMessage exclusive to their devices. It's kind of their thing. But that doesn't mean Windows users are completely out of luck.

The truth is, there are several workarounds that actually work pretty well. Some are official Microsoft solutions, others are third-party apps, and each has its own pros and cons. I've tested most of these methods myself, so I'll break down what actually works and what's just a waste of time.

Here's what most people don't realize: Microsoft actually partnered with Apple to bring iMessage functionality to Windows 11. Yeah, seriously. It's not perfect, but it's legitimate and safe.

This is the official route, and honestly, if you're running Windows 11, you should probably start here.

Microsoft's Phone Link app (they used to call it Your Phone) now supports iPhones. It's free, it's secure, and it works surprisingly well for basic messaging. You won't get the full iMessage experience—more on that in a sec—but it's solid for day-to-day use.

What you'll need:

• Windows 11 on your PC

• iPhone running iOS 14 or newer

• Bluetooth enabled on both devices

Setting it up is pretty straightforward:

Download the Phone Link app from the Microsoft Store. Open it up, click on iPhone when it asks what kind of phone you have, and follow the prompts. You'll scan a QR code with your iPhone camera, connect via Bluetooth, and grant a bunch of permissions.

The whole process takes maybe five minutes. Not bad.

Once you're connected, you can send and receive iMessages right from your PC. Type on your full keyboard, get notifications—it's genuinely useful when you're working.

But here's the catch. (There's always a catch, right?)

Phone Link doesn't save your message history. Every time you restart the app or reboot your computer, your messages disappear. Kinda annoying if you need to reference old conversations. Plus, you can't reply to group chats, and notifications sometimes come through delayed or all at once.

Still, for a free, official solution? It's pretty decent.

Intel Unison is basically Phone Link's cooler cousin.

It does similar stuff—connects your iPhone to your Windows PC for messaging—but it works on Windows 10, not just Windows 11. And it lets you transfer files between devices, which Phone Link doesn't do.

I've noticed Intel Unison feels a bit smoother sometimes. The interface is cleaner, and photo syncing actually works well. You can browse your iPhone photos right in the app without constantly AirDropping stuff to yourself.

Setting up Intel Unison:

Grab it from the Microsoft Store on your PC. Open the app, agree to their terms (you know the drill), and you'll get a QR code. Scan it with your iPhone camera, download the Intel Unison app from the App Store, and pair your devices.

The limitations are similar to Phone Link—no message history, some notification delays, can't really participate in group chats. But if you're on Windows 10 or want better file management, Unison might be your better bet.

Okay, this method is... interesting. And by interesting, I mean it works, but it's kind of clunky.

An iOS emulator basically creates a fake iOS environment on your Windows PC. iPadian is one of the more popular options. It simulates an iPad interface, and theoretically, you can run iMessage through it.

The reality? It's not great.

iPadian costs money (around $10 now, used to be $25). The interface feels laggy. Messages don't always sync properly. And according to user feedback on their site, it's not the most secure option out there.

I tried it once, got frustrated after about twenty minutes, and uninstalled it. Your mileage may vary, but I'd honestly skip this unless you're desperate and running Windows 7 or 8 where other options don't work.

Here's where things get actually interesting.

AirDroid Cast doesn't give you a separate iMessage app—instead, it mirrors your entire iPhone screen to your PC. And then you can control your iPhone directly from your computer.

Think about that for a second. You're not getting limited iMessage features. You're getting the actual iMessage app, exactly as it appears on your phone, with full message history, group chats, everything.

How it works:

Download AirDroid Cast on both your PC and iPhone. Launch the apps, connect them (you can use WiFi or USB), and boom—your iPhone screen shows up on your computer monitor.

The free version lets you mirror your screen, which means you can read messages. But if you want to actually control your phone from your PC—typing messages, tapping buttons, the whole deal—you'll need the premium version. That runs about $30 per year.

I'll be honest, it's worth it if you regularly need to use iMessage on your computer. The control feature is smooth, there's no lag, and you keep your entire message history. Plus, you can use literally any iPhone app, not just iMessage.

The only downside? Your iPhone needs to stay relatively close to your PC for the best connection. But if you're sitting at a desk working anyway, that's probably not a deal-breaker.

Depends on what you need, honestly.

Go with Phone Link if:

• You have Windows 11

• You just need basic messaging

• Free is important to you

• You don't care about message history

Choose Intel Unison if:

• You're on Windows 10

• You want file transfers too

• You need a slightly better experience than Phone Link

Try AirDroid Cast if:

• You need full iMessage features

• Message history matters

• You're okay paying for premium features

• You want to control your whole phone from your PC

Skip the emulator unless:

• You're running an old Windows version

• You've tried everything else

• You're feeling adventurous (and patient)

Short answer? No, not officially.

Any website claiming to offer a direct iMessage app download for Windows is lying. Either they're confused, they're offering one of the workarounds I mentioned above, or worse—it's malware.

Apple's never released an iMessage app for Windows, and they probably never will. That's just not how they operate. They want you buying iPhones and Macs, not giving Windows users free access to their ecosystem.

But like I said, the workarounds exist. Phone Link is legitimate. Intel Unison works. AirDroid Cast is solid. You've got options.

The process varies depending on your Windows version, so let me break this down real quick.

For Windows 11: Your best bet is Phone Link. It's built right into the OS, it's free, and Microsoft officially supports it. The integration is smooth because, well, it's Microsoft's own system. Just search for "Phone Link" in your Start menu—it might already be installed.

For Windows 10: You'll want Intel Unison or AirDroid Cast. Phone Link technically works on Windows 10, but the iPhone support is really optimized for Windows 11. Unison gives you similar features without needing to upgrade your entire operating system.

For Windows 7 or 8: Honestly, your options are limited. AirDroid Cast works across all Windows versions, which makes it pretty much your only reliable choice. The emulator route is possible but... I wouldn't recommend it based on what I've seen.

Let me address some problems people run into constantly.

"My Phone Link won't connect to my iPhone."

Make sure Bluetooth is on for both devices. Check that your iPhone is running iOS 14 or later. Try restarting both your phone and computer. Sometimes the QR code scan fails—if that happens, close the app completely and try again.

"Messages are delayed or not showing up."

This happens with Phone Link and Intel Unison sometimes. It's usually a Bluetooth connectivity issue. Keep your devices closer together. Make sure no other Bluetooth devices are interfering. Check your PC's Bluetooth drivers are updated.

"I can't see my old messages."

Yeah, that's a limitation of Phone Link and Unison. They don't sync message history, only new messages sent after you connect. If you need full history, go with AirDroid Cast—it mirrors your actual iPhone screen, so you see everything.

"Group chats aren't working right."

Phone Link doesn't really support group chat interactions well. You'll get notifications, but you can't reply. It's annoying. Intel Unison has the same issue. Again, AirDroid Cast solves this because you're using the actual iMessage app.

Look, Apple isn't making this easy. There's no official iMessage app you can download for Windows. But that doesn't mean you're stuck pulling out your phone every two minutes.

For most people, I'd say start with Phone Link if you've got Windows 11. It's free, it's official, and it works well enough for basic stuff. If you need more features or you're on Windows 10, check out Intel Unison.

And if you really, really need full iMessage functionality—complete message history, group chats, the works—spring for AirDroid Cast. The premium version isn't cheap, but it's the closest thing to having actual iMessage on your PC.

Just stay away from sketchy download sites promising an "iMessage installer for Windows." Those don't exist. And if they do exist, they're probably gonna install malware on your computer. Not worth it.

At the end of the day, these workarounds aren't perfect. They're not as seamless as having iMessage natively on Windows. But they're what we've got, and honestly? They work pretty well once you get them set up.

Now go connect your iPhone to your PC and start texting from a real keyboard. Your thumbs will thank you.