As Skype gradually fades into the background, Microsoft has turned its spotlight on Teams. But just as users are being shepherded toward this platform, Teams is preparing to part ways with one of its features.
Come April 2025, a mere few weeks away, Microsoft Teams will no longer support the sending and receiving of SMS text messages. Currently, users can connect an Android device to Microsoft Teams, allowing text messages to appear in the Chats section under Recent. However, this capability is nearing its expiration date.
A Microsoft document has made this shift clear, stating: “Important: Starting April 2025, sending and receiving SMS messages from your Android device will no longer be supported in Teams. To continue using this feature on Windows, please use Phone Link. Learn more here.”
While Microsoft hasn’t delved into specifics about why this decision was made, it’s likely due to users opting for Phone Link or other alternatives over linking SMS to Teams.
### Sending SMS Texts from Your PC
Now, even though Teams is dropping SMS support, Windows users won’t be left in the lurch. The Phone Link app, which marries your phone to your Windows PC, remains a steadfast alternative.
For those unfamiliar, Phone Link—formerly Your Phone—enables seamless synchronization of text messages, photos, and various other content between devices. The range of features available varies slightly depending on your phone model. To get the most comprehensive experience, Samsung Galaxy phones are your best bet, though certain OnePlus models are also well-integrated.
If you own a different Android phone, don’t worry; there’s still plenty of functionality at your disposal. iPhone users, while somewhat more limited in features, can still make calls, receive calls, and reply to texts through Phone Link.
Our Managing Editor, Jez Corden, went so far as to call Phone Link the best Windows feature in the past ten years back in 2022. It is especially beneficial for those who rely heavily on SMS and phone calls. However, if you find yourself immersed in other platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram, Phone Link’s appeal might not be as strong.
