Apple has made it simple for iOS users to pick up their conversations on a Mac right where they left off on their iPhones and iPads.
This is done with the help of iMessage on Mac, which connects the iPhone and iPad to the Mac.
You can check out our article on how to set up iMessage on a Mac. Many people have asked if it’s possible to use iMessage on a PC.
Since Apple has allowed iPhone and iPad users to continue their conversations on a Mac, what will happen to its users who can’t access a Mac?
What will happen to its users who can only afford a Windows PC? Do they need to seek an alternative solution to their problem?
Fortunately, there are a few available solutions that we will highlight in this article.
How to Get and Setup iMessage On Windows PC
Apple has tried to limit iMessage to itself because this service sets macOS and iOS apart from other platforms.
Or, if you are a Windows user and want to send and receive iMessage on your PC, some options can help you achieve your goals.
Note: For this to work perfectly, you need a Mac with iMessage already installed.
Using Remote Access (Chrome Remote Desktop)
Chrome Remote Desktop is the easiest way to access your iMessage from your computer. Its feature allows you to connect your PC to your Mac.
While you can use other remote desktops, we will use Chrome Remote Desktop in this article since we tested it.
- Download and install the Chrome browser and the Chrome Remote Desktop extension on both computers (Mac & PC)
- Next, click on the launch app.
Download and install Chrome Remote Desktop Host Installer on your Mac, as seen in the image below.
Use the code that will appear to connect both computers to get started.
That is it; you are good to go.
Note: Chrome Remote Desktop gives you access to another computer through the Chrome browser, allowing you to easily and securely access your files and apps.
Using Apple’s Messages App (iPadian)
Since most modern computers have become so powerful that they can emulate other operating systems, in this step, we will use iPadian to emulate iOS on a Windows PC.
However, since iMessage wasn’t built for any system outside its ecosystem, we can use the emulator to trick the dmg file into running on a Windows PC.
Note: While the first setup may involve both Mac and Windows PCs, the second is for those without access to a Mac computer but still want to use iMessage on their Windows PC.
iPadian is an iPad emulator/simulator that transforms your Windows PC, enabling it to run iOS apps. It’s only handy for those who want to play with iOS apps and games on their PC.
Note: This emulator doesn’t perform consistently because it might flood your computer with malware. So you are advised to try this at your own risk.
To install Apple’s Message App on a Windows PC using iPadian 2, follow the steps below:
- Download and install the iPadian emulator on your PC
- Launch the emulator/simulator and accept its terms and conditions.
- After installation is complete, open iPadian on your computer
- Search for iMessage in the search bar and download it on your computer
- Once the download is complete, launch the app to enjoy the iMessage experience on your Windows PC.
Using iMessage on Windows seems possible now, but you might not get the real feel and user experience from iDevices since iMessage is one of Apple’s ways of driving sales for other products.
Hopefully, Apple will make a change to allow iMessage to be added to other operating systems shortly.
Keep your fingers crossed. If you think the experience is not smooth enough, you can try other messaging applications.