We won’t beat around the bush with this one: there is currently no way to use iMessage on a PC natively. Apple is notoriously reluctant to expand the use of its apps on products other than their own and as such iMessage is exclusively restricted to the growing cluster of Apple products.
Unlike numerous apps, particularly instant messaging programs that straddle Windows, Android, iOS, and OS X environments to allow cross-platform use, iMessage will only work if you are the proud owner of either an iPhone, Mac computer, or iPad. Similarly, unlike most instant messaging apps, iMessage has no browser-based iteration opening up the scope for cross-platform compatibility. Oh to be an Android user.
A workaround exists that allows you to more or less bypass the restrictions and technically get iMessage for Windows 10 PC, but it does have one costly caveat – you must own and have access to a MacBook or iMac. Those with only a PC quite simply won’t be able to use iMessage.
As for functionality, the iteration of iMessage that will appear on the PC retains all the functionality of the native app with the ability to send and receive messages as well as send/receive various media.
How to Send iMessage from PC
If you have a Windows-based computer and you would like to access the iMessage feature, this section will help you do it. Basically, what you are going to do in this method is you are going to use a remote access tool to connect to an iMessage-enabled Mac from your Windows PC to send and receive an iMessage.
The following are the steps on how you can send iMessage from your computer:
- Head over to the TeamViewer website, download and install the app on both your Windows PC and Mac machines.
- Click on Launchpad in your Dock.
- Search for and click on TeamViewer. It will launch the newly installed app on your Mac.
- When the app opens, you need to note down two things from your screen.
- The first one is Your ID and the second one is Password.
- Note these down as you are going to need to enter these on your Windows PC.
- Open the TeamViewer app on your Windows PC.
- Enter the ID and password you noted down in the previous step.
- Your PC will connect to your Mac.
Access iMessage History on PC:
If you would rather not jailbreak your iPhone as it will void the warranty of the device, there is one more way you can take into account – access iMessage history on your Windows computer by using a third-party tool like FoneGeek iOS Data Backup & Restore. This program will help you to directly access all the data including iMessages on your iPhone and easily transfer them to your computer. Then you can flexibly access and view iMessages on PC.
Key Features of FoneGeek iOS Data Backup & Restore:
- One-click to backup iPhone or iPad to your Windows or Mac computer.
- Supports to backup iMessages, text messages, contacts, call history, notes, photos, videos, WhatsApp, Kik, Viber, and more data.
- You can flexibly access and view all contents in the backup file in detail.
- It allows you to restore data from the backup to your iPhone/iPad without overwriting any existing data.
- Supports all iOS versions including iOS 13 and all iOS device models including iPhone 11/11 Pro/XR/XS.