With Skype slowly being phased out, Microsoft is steering its users towards Teams. However, by the time Skype’s support ceases in May, Teams will have already shed a significant feature.
Come April 2025, just around the corner, Microsoft Teams will discontinue its support for sending and receiving SMS text messages. Currently, this feature allows users to connect an Android device to Teams, displaying SMS texts in the Chats section under “Recent”.
A document from Microsoft has indicated this change, 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.” The company hasn’t explicitly explained why they’re dropping the feature, but it seems likely that users have gravitated toward Phone Link or alternative methods rather than using Teams for SMS.
You’ll still be able to send and receive SMS messages on a Windows PC, but you’ll need to use Phone Link instead. This transition might not bother too many users, given the versatility and capabilities of Phone Link.
For those unfamiliar, Phone Link, previously known as Your Phone, has been integrated into Windows for quite some time. It allows synchronization of text messages, photos, and various content between your phone and your PC. Different phones offer varying levels of integration, with Samsung Galaxy phones providing the most seamless experience. Some OnePlus models also work well with Phone Link.
If you have an Android device, you can still enjoy various sync options between your phone and PC. iPhone users, however, will face a more restricted set of features, although the basic functionalities of making calls and replying to texts remain intact.
Reflecting on 2022, our Managing Editor, Jez Corden, remarked that Phone Link was the standout Windows feature of the past decade. For anyone who frequently relies on SMS and phone calls, Phone Link is a fantastic tool. However, for those who prefer platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram, its usefulness might not be as evident.
