5 ways to send a text from your PC

June 29, 2021

By Kim Komando

Like it or not, texting is the go-to form of communication for getting a message across quickly and efficiently. There is also a lower margin of error when things are spelled out plainly and clearly, rather than spoken over the phone or a staticky voice message.

Did you know that you can easily convert your voice files to text? You may have used or seen sophisticated transcription software in action, but now there are readily available apps that can do the job easily for anyone. Tap or click here for five ways to turn your vocal utterances into text on your screen.

Sometimes you want to send a message while you’re busy on your computer, but you don’t want to stop, dig out your phone and go through that process. Or perhaps your phone is across the room. Well, you’re in luck. Read on to find out how to send text messages right from your PC.

1. Your Phone app

Microsoft’s Your Phone app links your Android phone to your PC. This app lets you make and receive texts and calls, get notifications, access your photo albums and open apps. If you have the right Samsung model, you can instantly share files from your phone to your PC using copy, edit and drag functions. You need a Windows 10 PC with Bluetooth capability and a compatible phone running Android 7 or later.

• Click here to download and install the app to your PC.
• Get the Your Phone Companion app on your Android phone or the pre-installed Link to Windows on your Samsung. Both are in the Google Play Store.
• Open the Your Phone app and select Android from the list.
• Sign in to your Microsoft account.
• When prompted, open a browser on your Android and go to aka.ms/yourpc.
• Sign in to your Microsoft account on your phone to get a QR code.
• Select the checkbox for I have the Your Phone Companion app installed on my phone on your PC, then click Pair with QR code. You’ll get a QR code.
• Your phone should now have a camera screen open within the companion app. Scan the QR code on your PC screen.
• Accept the device permissions.

RELATED: Busted phone? Don’t worry, you can still access your messages. Tap or click here to learn how.

2. Android Messages

Messages is an app that lets you send and receive text messages, photos, voice messages and video. You can also text anyone from your smart device or computer, including ones running on iOS. The app also integrates Google services and features such as Assistant and Dark Mode into your chats.

• Make sure you have the latest version of Messages installed on your Android phone.
• Go to messages.android.com on your PC and you’ll get a QR code.
• Open Messages on your phone and tap the three dots in the top-right corner then Messages for web.
• Tap QR code scanner and point your phone at your computer screen.
• You should now see your conversations on the left side of your computer screen.

3. Via email

For people who type on a keyboard faster than they can on their phone’s touchscreen, email is a great way to send texts. This also works if you want to message your own phone. Why? Perhaps you misplaced it somewhere in your home. To text someone by email, you’ll need their phone number and carrier. Let’s use T-Mobile as an example here.

• Open your email program and type out your message.
• Type the contact’s 10-digit phone number in the recipient box.
• Follow the number with the @ symbol and the proper SMS gateway for the carrier. T-Mobile would be @tmomail.net. For the sake of this example, the address you send your message to would be 1234567890@tmomail.net.
• Next, send the message as you normally do.

4. Google Voice

Google Voice lets you send text messages for free to U.S. or Canadian numbers. The messages use Wi-Fi or your mobile data if you’re not connected to Wi-Fi.

• Open your computer and go to voice.google.com.
• If you don’t have a Voice account, click For personal use > Web > continue and sign up. Choose a new number and then follow the instructions to verify.
• Once you’re signed in, go back to voice.google.com and click the Messages icon.
• Click Send a message and enter a contact’s name or phone number. You can message up to seven people at once.
• Enter your message and click Send. You can attach GIFs and images using the provided icons.

5. Site-specific options

Some sites exist specifically to send texts, but you must use caution. Many will riddle you with spam, and you may have to create an account and give over personal information, which opens you up to all kinds of trouble. Remember that nothing is truly free. You may not pay money for a service, but sketchy sites will collect in the form of data and other invasions of privacy.