If you're using Teams for SMS, get ready to switch to Phone Link

Microsoft announced it will discontinue the Android SMS integration feature in Microsoft Teams for Windows 11 as of April 2025. The integration, known as “Link your phone,” allowed users to sync SMS messages from Android phones in the Teams app, enabling them to receive text messages and reply without switching to their mobile phones.

The feature isn’t entirely removed, just relocated

Users attempting to view synchronized SMS messages in Teams are being warned that the feature will soon be removed. Microsoft is notifying users to switch to the Phone Link app to maintain SMS message management for Windows PCs. The Phone Link application offers similar features, including the ability to connect Android phones to Windows 11 and display SMS messages and notifications, among others.

Don’t worry, setting up Phone Link is pretty simple

To set up the Phone Link app, users will require a PC with Windows 11 installed and an Android device with Android OS version 7.0 or higher. The “Link to Windows” application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store for Android phones. After the application is downloaded, users can link their phones using the in-app guide, giving them easy access to SMS messages and other phone features through their computer with Windows 11.

This transition is one way Microsoft is streamlining its offerings and encouraging the use of specialized apps, such as Phone Link, for specific features, creating a more unified user experience across its platforms.