Apple makes it hard for platforms outside its ‘walled garden’ to seamlessly connect with its devices. This is why even after so many years, there is no native service that offers all cross-platform connectivity features in one place. That soon may change with Microsoft Phone Link, if the app manages to fix its glaring preexisting issues. So, what is the best way to go about linking your iPhone to your computer? In this article, we bring you the top 5 easy methods to connect your iPhone to a Windows 11 PC.
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Use a Data Cable
If you just want to view the contents of your iPhone on your Windows 11 PC, connecting it using a lightning to USB Type-A cable is the easiest way to go about it. Simply plug the lightning end of the cable into your iPhone and the USB Type-A end into your PC. Tap on ‘Trust’ in the popup box on your iPhone to give your PC access to your smartphone. Once that is done, a temporary drive for your iPhone will appear on your PC. You can access it by going to ‘This PC’ or clicking on it in File Explorer.
Since iPhone is pretty restrictive about giving non-Apple devices access to its system files, you will only be able to view and transfer photos and videos from your iPhone to your PC. You can browse the folders and choose which media files you want to copy or you can simply right-click on the iPhone’s drive and select ‘Import pictures and videos’.
Use iTunes to connect your iPhone to a Windows 11 PC
Apple users will already be familiar with iTunes. Using iTunes, you can sync your iPhone with your Mac quite easily. Microsoft has an iTunes app as well, which allows you to do the same thing. One of the advantages of using iTunes is that it lets you sync more data than just your media files.
Once you’ve installed iTunes from the Microsoft Store, you need to sign in using your Apple ID. You will need to enter a code sent to you on your iPhone to complete the verification. Make sure your iPhone is connected to your PC with a data cable. Once that is out of the way, all you need to do is click on the phone icon in iTunes and hit the sync button. Under ‘Options’ click on ‘Synch with this iPhone over WiFi’ to enable wireless syncing.
Use a third-party app
There are several third-party apps for Windows and iOS that let you seamlessly transfer stuff between the two platforms. One of the best ones out there is Airdroid. What we like about Airdroid is how easy it is to set it up and how accessible its interface is.
All you need to do is download the Airdroid app on your iPhone and make an account on it. You will need this account to log in to Airdroid from your PC as well. Once you’ve set up your account, go to the Airdroid website using your PC’s browser and sign up using the account you just created. Now, you will be able to access the media files on your iPhone and seamlessly transfer them to your Windows 11 PC.
Use Microsoft Phone Link
What if you are more interested in taking calls and using iMessage remotely instead of transferring files? Well, Microsoft has a solution for that too now. The tech giant recently rolled out Microsoft Phone Link for iOS, and while it still may be in its early stages, you can still do more than what was possible before. Here’s how you can respond to texts on iMessage from your Windows 11 PC.
Step 1: On your PC, go to Settings>Windows Update>Windows Insider Program and select Get Started.
Step 2: Download and Install the Microsoft Phone Link app on your Windows PC or laptop.
Step 3: Install the Link to Windows iOS app on your iPhone from the App Store.
Step 4: Launch the Phone Link app on your PC and select iPhone.
Step 5: Sign in to Phone Link using your Microsoft Account.
Step 6: Launch the Link to Windows app on your iPhone and scan the QR displayed on the Windows app.
Step 7: Give the app the necessary permissions to connect to your Windows PC or laptop.
Once connected, you will be able to send and receive iMessages from your PC.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pair my iPhone with my computer?
You can either use a data cable to transfer media files between your iPhone and computer. Use iTunes to sync your iPhone data with your PC. To respond to texts on iMessage, use Microsoft Phone Link.
How do I connect my iPhone to a Windows computer wirelessly?
Turn on WiFi syncing on iTunes or use the Microsoft Phone Link app for a wireless connection between your iPhone and Windows computer.
How do I access iMessage on a Windows PC?
Right now, using the Microsoft Phone Link app is the only native way to access iMessage on your PC. You will be able to respond to basic texts, but currently, there is no way to send images on iMessage from your PC.
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Conclusion
These are the top 5 easy methods to connect your iPhone to a Windows 11 PC. If you simply want to transfer media files from your iPhone to a Windows computer, then a basic data cable connection is the fastest way to go about it. You can import all your images and videos to your PC with just one simple click. For extensive data syncing, use iTunes.
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