Back in 2013, there were talks about bringing iMessage to Android. But the idea was later junked because it was decided that Apple wanted to keep iMessage exclusive to its users, which is the unique selling point. There are so many cool things that you can do on iMessage, such as:
Play built-in games with friends đŽSend GIFs đSend messages with cool effects â¨Send stickers đShare music đľTranslate your conversation đď¸
The most remarkable thing about iMessage is that it syncs with other Apple products in real-time. For example, you can carry on the same conversation on your Macbook that you left on your iPhone. This gives you a lot of conveniences and saves you a ton of time as well.
What if you own a Windows PC instead of a Macbook?
Here comes the dreaded question. Not all of us have the entire Apple ecosystem, so itâs pretty common if you use an iPhone and a Windows PC instead of a Macbook. However, the problem is that iMessage only syncs with Apple products like the Macbook, so if youâre using a Windows PC, there is no direct or official way of using iMessage. This also means you will face inconvenient situations, such as having to unlock and check your iPhone every time you receive an iMessage text. Imagine having to stop your work on your PC repeatedly to check the messages youâre getting on your iPhone. Pretty distracting if you ask me! Fortunately, it has several workarounds, and you can use iMessage on your Windows PC by using any of the methods mentioned below. Letâs get right into it.
Appcircle
A web-based emulator is the most convenient way to run mobile apps on your computer, and Appcircle helps you achieve that. Itâs an in-browser emulator for iOS and Android, allowing you to preview the apps from your browser. Pretty cool because you do not have to download anything for it. The best thing about Appcircle is that itâs super flexible, no matter the operating system or device itâs being run on. For instance, you can easily run iOS and Android apps on Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS. And of those apps, it includes iMessage as well. Once activated, youâll have your iMessages displayed on your web browser on a Windows PC.
Appetize
Trusted by some of the biggest companies like Shopify and Doordash, Appetize is another web-based emulator to run iMessage on a PC. You can run any app on any browser using this tool, and the entire process takes no more than a few minutes. Once you select the app on the emulator, itâll instantly start streaming it. Appetize allows you to choose any version of the app to run. Also, if your purpose is to use it for more than âpersonal use,â then thatâs possible as well due to the scalable nature of this solution. The free version will give you 100 minutes of usage per month. Youâd have to upgrade to one of the premium plans for anything more than that.
AltServer
This emulator, AltServer, is not web-based but rather software that you can download on your Windows PC to run apps like iMessage. Follow the below simple steps to use this solution: Step 1: Download and install AltServer on your Windows PC. Make sure to set it up using the setup.exe file. Step 2: After the installation, you need to find the AltServer file on your computer and click on it, which will then ask you to install iCloud. Go ahead and download it. Step 3: Once youâve downloaded and installed iCloud on your PC, plug in your iOS device to your PC. Step 4: When connected, head down to the bottom right of the screen, and youâll see an icon, âAltStore.â Left-click on that, and itâll display these options. You need to hover your mouse cursor over âInstall AltStoreâ and then click on the connected device. Step 5: A popup will appear asking for your Apple ID credentials. Go ahead and fill that in before clicking on âInstall.â Step 6: Once the installation is completed, youâll be able to open your iOS device screen on your computer. Youâll notice an app installed on the iOS device called âAltStore.â This is the app from which youâll be able to run any app on your computer. Now, on the iOS device screen thatâs opened on your PC, you might get an âUntrusted Developerâ popup, which means the solution has not been trusted yet. You can fix that quickly by going to Settings > General > Device Management > Developer App and then tapping on AltStore from it. Itâll ask if you want to trust this app, so go ahead and click on âTrust.â Now you can open the AltStore app and use iMessage on your Windows PC.
Chrome Remote Desktop
This method to use iMessage on your Windows PC is super reliable, and itâs called Chrome Remote Desktop. Itâs an extension from Google, so you can fully trust it, and the process isnât too complicated. However, the only problem is that youâd also need a macOS system connected to become a host between your PC and iOS device. Donât worry; you wouldnât need the Macbook around always; itâs just to connect it for the first time. The Macbook would need to have iMessage installed on it, and both your PC and the Macbook would need to have the Chrome Remote Desktop extension installed. Once installed, youâll be asked to enable remote access on both computers before getting a secret code to connect the devices. This will cast your iOS device screen on your Windows PC.
Conclusion
The above workarounds to use iMessage on a PC will help you save time and make things much easier while staying productive. Not to forget, itâll also eliminate the possibility of you getting distracted again and again. You can check Bluestackâs alternative emulators for Windows, macOS, and even web-based if youâre looking for more emulator options.
