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How does one go about viewing their iPhone text messages on a PC?

TGB77

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How does one go about viewing their iPhone text messages on a PC?

For example, let's say you lose or misplace your iPhone. How could you view your text messages if given access to a PC?
 

scruffypig

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If you are using a Mac PC, you can set it up for Wi-Fi Calling on other devices. I regularly answer phone calls and text messages/SMS’s this way. At least it works for me and Wi-Fi Calling with my phone company.
 

TGB77

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If you are using a Mac PC, you can set it up for Wi-Fi Calling on other devices. I regularly answer phone calls and text messages/SMS’s this way. At least it works for me and Wi-Fi Calling with my phone company.

Nope; using a Windows PC; One would think Apple would make this easy to do - largely out of respect to those who either lose or misplace their phone.
 

Lee_Bo

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.......-largely out of respect to those who either lose or misplace their phone.



Oh, sorry. You were being serious. Honestly I can’t remember the last time I heard someone say they lost or misplaced their phone.

At any rate, I cannot confirm this right now, but can you log into iCloud.com and use messages there? Only thing is, if 2FA is enabled, you’re going to get asked for a code. And if you don’t have your phone then you’re going to be SOL.
 

EdwinG

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At any rate, I cannot confirm this right now, but can you log into iCloud.com and use messages there? Only thing is, if 2FA is enabled, you’re going to get asked for a code. And if you don’t have your phone then you’re going to be SOL.
There is no web-based version of Messages right now, sadly.
 

Just_Me_D

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Oh, sorry. You were being serious. Honestly I can’t remember the last time I heard someone say they lost or misplaced their phone.

At any rate, I cannot confirm this right now, but can you log into iCloud.com and use messages there? Only thing is, if 2FA is enabled, you’re going to get asked for a code. And if you don’t have your phone then you’re going to be SOL.

iMessages are not part of the iCloud website, at least that I recall.
 

Lee_Bo

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Yep, confirmed. No iMessage access from the web:

Screen Shot 2019-10-08 at 8.36.03 PM.png

However, you can use FIND IPHONE to locate lost device.
 

Lee_Bo

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How does one go about viewing their iPhone text messages on a PC?

For example, let's say you lose or misplace your iPhone. How could you view your text messages if given access to a PC?

Curious.

Are you thinking you may lose your device in the future or have you already lost your device?

Personally, I'd be more worried about trying to either find my lost device or just moving forward with getting a replacement device then I would be trying to access my text messages, right?

Or is that something I'd be the only one trying to do?

Hmmmmmmmm.
 

Just_Me_D

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How does one go about viewing their iPhone text messages on a PC?

For example, let's say you lose or misplace your iPhone. How could you view your text messages if given access to a PC?

If you’re referring to iMessages then the answer is you cannot. As for SMS messages, if the wireless carrier provides a way for you to view the actual text messages, I’m not aware of a way to view them on a PC or Mac.
 

Lee_Bo

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Nope; using a Windows PC; One would think Apple would make this easy to do - largely out of respect to those who either lose or misplace their phone.

Apple does make it easy if you are using their hardware. In other words, if I lose or misplace my iPhone, I can still access iMessage via my Apple Watch, iMac, MacBook Pro and iPad.

It's also part of Apple's security to block unauthorized access to an iCloud account.
 

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