Microsoft Teams Set to Discontinue This Messaging Feature

With the gradual phase-out of Skype, Microsoft has been steering users toward its Teams platform. However, there’s a bit of a catch—by the time Skype officially bows out in May, Microsoft Teams will have already trimmed down its capabilities.

Come April 2025, which is just around the corner, Microsoft will discontinue the SMS feature in Teams. Right now, this feature allows Android users to tether their devices to Teams, showcasing SMS messages under the “Recent” chats section. A document from Microsoft confirms that the option to connect an Android device for this purpose will no longer be available.

The document reads, “Important: 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. Learn more here.” Although Microsoft hasn’t clarified why this move is being made, it’s plausible that users have leaned towards Phone Link or other solutions rather than using Teams for handling SMS messages.

Now, you might wonder how to send SMS from a PC. You’re in luck, as the transition doesn’t mean losing all connectivity. Windows users can still send and receive text messages using Microsoft’s Phone Link app, which seamlessly integrates with your PC.

Phone Link, which has been around for some time under the former label “Your Phone,” offers a robust way to sync texts, photos, and other content across your phone and PC. The kind of features you get from Phone Link varies with the type of phone you have. While Samsung Galaxy users enjoy the best experience, several OnePlus models also offer deep integration.

For other Android devices, there’s still plenty you can do to sync data between your phone and PC. However, if you have an iPhone, the functionality is somewhat limited, though Phone Link still supports making and receiving calls and responding to text messages.

Reflecting on the significance of Phone Link, our Managing Editor Jez Corden once remarked in 2022 that it’s arguably the best new feature Windows has seen in the past decade. If SMS messaging and calls are critical to your daily routine, Phone Link stands out as a great tool. Those who have embraced messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram might find the utility of Phone Link a bit more restricted. Still, it’s a solid choice in the Microsoft ecosystem.