Text messages are fast giving way to internet-based messaging apps. This said SMS is still enormously useful for receiving updates from your bank and utility companies as well as keeping in touch with the non-smartphone generation.
The drawback to this useful feature is that it’s traditionally only been available on devices with a SIM chip. such as smartphones. Fortunately, there are ways to access and send SMS messages from your desktop machine too.
In this guide, you’ll discover how to do this using the app ‘Pushbullet’, which can be installed both on your Android device and computer to view notifications and read and reply to text messages.
You’ll also learn how to use Google’s new Android ‘Messages for web’ service which allows you to read and reply to SMS via a dedicated website.
How to Use Android Web Messages
Sending and receiving Messages on a PC using your Android web browser is a simple process that you can set up in just a couple of minutes. Follow these steps to get started:
1. Open the Messages app on your phone.
2. Tap the hamburger button (three vertical dots).
3.Tap Messages for the web.
4. Tap QR code scanner.
5. On your computer, open a web browser and go to link Scan the QR Code with your phone.
6. Your browser will prompt you to allow notifications. This will allow you to receive new incoming text messages as they arrive. Click Allow.
7. Click OK to remember the computer, so you don't have to repeat this process every time you want to get messages in your browser.
That's it! As long as you have the browser tab open, you'll receive text messages and you'll be able to reply without picking up your phone. If you close the browser tab, as long as you chose Remember as described above, all you need to do is head back to the link and you'll be right back in there.
Features Available in Android Web Messages
Messages for the web are also convenient because you can do almost everything in your browser as you can on your phone. Some popular messaging apps give things like emoji, stickers, and attachments that are accessible in the tools on the right of the text box.
An added benefit is you can include attachments that are on your computer. The downside is you cannot include things that are on your phone, such as location data, photos were taken, etc. You also do not have access to features like Google Assistant information like restaurants, movies, or weather information. One other notable missing feature is the ability to send a voice clip.
In all, it's not a perfect substitute for picking up your phone, but some of the missing features are fairly niche—your milage will vary in this case.
How to Log Out of Android Messages For Web
If you ever want to stop using a computer for texting, you can. In the Android App, tap the hamburger button and choose Messages for the web. At the bottom of the page, you can sign out of a single computer by clicking X on the right, or all computers by clicking Sign out of all computers.
On the web, click the hamburger button and then select Sign out.
Comments
Post a Comment