iMessage is an exclusive messaging service provided by Apple for users of all types of Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Apple PCs.
As such, you can’t simply download or sign in to iMessage from a Windows PC to send and receive messages. But, if you really want to access your iMessages on a non-Apple device, we have a relatively simple way you can do so.
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about what the requirements are and how you can safely get iMessage on Windows.
What Are the Requirements To Run iMessage on Windows?
In order to effectively run iMessage on your Windows laptop or desktop computer, you will need the following:
- macOS device (Macbook or iMac) to host iMessage
- Windows PC to remotely access iMessage
- Constant access to power and internet for both computers
- Chrome internet browser on both devices
- Chrome Remote Desktop browser extension
Since there is no official iMessage app available from Apple for non-Mac devices, the only way to safely and securely use iMessage on Windows is to host it on a Mac PC and remotely access it from a Windows computer.
So, this method really only works if you have an extra Mac computer that you keep at home or if you have two work computers; one Mac and one Windows PC.
Additionally, you’ll need to make sure that the host computer, the one running macOS, is constantly plugged in to power and connected to the internet, so it doesn’t suddenly boot you from your remote access.
You’ll also need power and internet access for your Windows computer in order to connect to iMessage via remote access and use iMessage on Windows.
Finally, you will need Google’s Chrome internet browser and a Chrome browser extension called Chrome Remote Desktop installed on both devices for this method to work.
Chrome Remote Desktop: The Safest Way To Get iMessage on Windows
As long as you meet all the above requirements, you can follow the below steps to get iMessage up and running on your non-Apple PC:
1. Add Chrome Remote Desktop to your Chrome
To get started, sit down with both your computers and open up the Chrome browser (or install it if you don’t already have it).
Then, visit the Chrome Web Store, search for the “Chrome Remote Desktop” extension, and click the button to add it to your Chrome browser.
2. Install the host software on your Apple PC
Now, on your Mac PC, open the newly installed browser extension and click “Get Started.” Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the software that will make your Mac the host for iMessage.
3. Create a secure login and Enable Remote Connections on your Mac
Next, open up Chrome Remote Desktop on your Mac again and select “Enable Remote Connections” to allow you to access your Apple computer from another device.
Follow the on-screen prompts to create a secure login, which will allow you to sign in and access your Mac from your Windows PC.
4.Sign in to the account you made on your Windows computer
You’re all done setting up remote access on your Mac, so hop over to your Windows PC and open the Chrome Remote Desktop extension there.
Enter the password for the account you just made to log in and remotely access your macOS device — you’re almost there!
5. Start Screen Sharing with your Apple computer from your Windows PC
Choose your Apple computer from the devices listed on the screen (it will be the only one if this is your first time using Chrome Remote Desktop) and click “Start Screen Sharing.”
Now you can open up iMessage to see all your past messages as well as send and receive iMessages in real time on your Windows computer.
Want the Functionality of iMessage without the Hassle? Try This
So, now you know how to safely use iMessage on Windows, but the above process can be a hassle. Not only that, but if you don’t have an extra macOS computer to remotely access, you can’t even use the above method.
Let’s step back for a second and take a look at the reasons you want to use iMessage on your Windows machine in the first place.
You probably want to be able to read messages in iMessage’s simple chat format while you’re at work without needing to check your mobile device all the time, right?
Or, maybe you just love the option to start group chats with your colleagues to collaborate on tasks in real time from anywhere, and you want to have the option to do so on your work laptop or desktop PC.
Whatever your reasons may be, there’s an alternative to using iMessage on Windows: it’s called Spike.
Spike is the world’s first conversational email app, which means it turns your email messages into easy-to-read chat messages and lets you read and respond to them in a chat window that’s virtually the same as iMessage.
Spike also gives you the options to start group chats, collaborate on online notes with built-in sidebar chats, have video meetings, and create tasks and to-do lists for you and your whole team, all from one centralized platform.
If you think about it, iMessage is just a more exclusive version of regular SMS text messaging, so why limit yourself to such a simple tool when there are way better platforms out there?
We highly recommend trying a more powerful team chat app, such as Spike, as an alternative to iMessage for Windows.
