Microsoft Teams Set to Retire This Messaging Feature

With the gradual phasing out of Skype, Microsoft is nudging users towards embracing Teams as their go-to communication tool. However, even before Skype’s support officially wraps up in May, there’s a notable change coming to Teams.

Come April 2025, just a short time from now, you’ll find that Microsoft Teams will no longer enable SMS text messaging. Currently, this feature allows seamless integration with an Android device, letting SMS texts pop up right in the Chats section under Recent on your Teams app.

According to a Microsoft document, this functionality will soon be off the table for Android users who are connected through Teams. "Important: Beginning April 2025, sending and receiving SMS messages via your Android device won’t be supported in Teams. If you want to keep using this on your Windows machine, switch to Phone Link. Learn more here," the document explains.

While Microsoft hasn’t fully disclosed why they’re dropping this feature, my hunch is that users are gravitating towards Phone Link and other methods rather than routing SMS through Teams.

How can I send SMS text messages from a PC?

Now, although Teams is stepping back from Android SMS support, you can still send and receive texts on your Windows PC. The catch? You’ll have to switch to Microsoft’s Phone Link.

Microsoft’s Phone Link app enables text messaging and more on a Windows PC. (Image credit: Windows Central)*

For longtime Windows users, Phone Link might sound familiar. It used to go by the name "Your Phone" and offers an array of features like syncing texts, photos, and more between your smartphone and computer.

The extent of its functionality often hinges on your type of smartphone. Samsung Galaxy phone owners tend to enjoy a more enriched experience, but some OnePlus models also offer robust integration with Phone Link.

Even if you have another Android device, there are still plenty of ways to sync content with your PC. iPhone users, on the other hand, face more limitations, yet they can still handle calls and messages through Phone Link.

Back in 2022, Jez Corden, our Managing Editor, even dubbed Phone Link as the standout Windows feature of the past ten years.

If SMS texting and making calls are your bread and butter, Phone Link is your tool of choice. However, if you’re deeply embedded in other platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram, you might not find it as compelling.