Microsoft Teams is Dropping SMS Support — Here’s What It Means for You
Microsoft has announced that Skype will officially shut down on May 5, with Microsoft Teams taking its place as the go-to collaboration tool. While this change could mean exciting updates for Teams, it’s actually losing a feature—but don’t worry, there’s a solution.
Say Goodbye to SMS Support on Microsoft Teams
The “Link your phone” feature in Microsoft Teams has been a handy tool, letting Android users sync their devices to send and receive SMS directly from their PCs. This feature allows you to read and reply to messages without picking up your phone, making it great for multitasking.
It’s available on Windows 11 PCs and Android devices running version 7.0 or higher (with the Link to Windows app installed). However, starting April 2025, this feature will no longer be supported. As noted in a Microsoft support article, users trying to access SMS via Teams will see an alert about the change.
Where to Go Next? Phone Link is the Answer
While Teams is dropping SMS support, Microsoft isn’t leaving you without options. Enter the Phone Link app, a native Windows app preinstalled on all Windows 11 PCs.
With Phone Link, you can do everything the Teams SMS feature offered—and more. You’ll be able to:
- View and respond to text messages.
- Start new conversations.
- Make calls from your smartphone via your PC.
The only difference? Your SMS messages will now appear in the Phone Link app instead of Teams. If you’ve been relying on Teams for SMS, all you need to do is switch to Phone Link.
This change signals Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to streamline its tools and push users toward dedicated apps like Phone Link for seamless device interactions.
