In a significant shift for users of Microsoft Teams, the platform is set to transition from Skype, with an automatic migration process commencing soon. However, alongside this change, Microsoft has announced the removal of a lesser-known feature that allowed users to send and receive SMS messages through a linked Android device. This functionality will be phased out by April 2025, prompting users to turn to the Phone Link app for similar capabilities.
For those unfamiliar, the integration of SMS within Microsoft Teams enabled users to synchronize their Android text messages directly into the Chats section. This meant that receiving a text from a friend could be managed seamlessly within Teams, allowing for quick replies without the need to reach for the Android device.
This feature, known as “Link your phone,” operated independently of the Phone Link app. Recently, Windows Latest observed that Microsoft has begun notifying users with alerts when they attempt to access their synced SMS or respond to messages through Teams. These alerts indicate that SMS integration will be discontinued in April 2025.
In a statement to Windows Latest, Microsoft officials clarified, “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.”
How you can send or receive Android SMS in Microsoft Teams
For those who have enjoyed the SMS feature in Teams, it’s worth noting how it functioned. To utilize this capability, users needed a PC running Windows 11 and an Android phone with version 7.0 or newer. The first step was to download the “Link to Windows” app from the Play Store.
Once the setup was complete, launching Microsoft Teams on the desktop was the next step. Users would click on the three dots next to their profile picture to access the settings menu. Within the “Mobile device” section, the option to “Link your phone” could be found.
Selecting “Link your phone” would generate a QR code, which needed to be scanned using the Link to Windows app on the Android device. If the phone was already paired, scanning the QR code was unnecessary.
Upon successful linking, SMS text messages alongside the most recent Teams chats would appear in the Chats section under Recent. This integration offered a unique blend of traditional SMS management with the modern Teams experience, but as mentioned, this feature will be retired in April 2025. Users can still access their Android SMS on Windows 11 through the Phone Link app, ensuring a continued connection to their messages.
