Microsoft to Retire Android SMS Integration in Teams by April 2025: What You Need to Know

Microsoft has announced a significant change that will affect millions of users: the retirement of Android SMS integration within Microsoft Teams effective April 2025. This marks a pivotal shift in how Microsoft is streamlining its communication ecosystem, particularly in Windows 11 and the broader Windows platform.

Background: SMS Integration in Microsoft Teams

Over recent years, Microsoft Teams has expanded beyond being a mere enterprise collaboration tool into a more versatile communication platform. One notable feature was the integration of Android SMS messages directly into Teams on Windows 11 devices. Enabled through the “Link your phone” feature and the Android app "Link to Windows," this allowed users to sync, send, and receive SMS messages from their Android devices within the Teams interface.

This seamless integration aimed to bridge personal and professional communications, enhancing productivity especially in remote or hybrid work environments by reducing the context switching between devices and applications.

Why is Microsoft Removing This Feature?

Microsoft's decision aligns with a broader strategy to specialize its apps rather than maintaining overlapping functionalities. Instead of housing SMS capabilities in Teams, Microsoft is channeling these features into the dedicated Phone Link app (formerly Your Phone), which already offers a comprehensive Android-to-Windows connectivity experience, including calls, notifications, photo access, and now SMS management.

Centralizing SMS and phone syncing in Phone Link simplifies development, increases security by reducing app attack surfaces, and enhances user experience by focusing each app on its strengths.

What Will Change for Users?

  • End of SMS Messaging Support in Teams: Starting April 2025, Teams will no longer support viewing, sending, or receiving SMS messages from Android devices.
  • Transition to Phone Link: Users must transition SMS message handling to the Phone Link app, which will become the primary tool for managing Android phone communications on Windows.
  • Impact on User Workflow: For users who valued having SMS and Teams chats in one interface, this means reintroducing a separate app for personal text messages, potentially fragmenting their communication workflow.

While Phone Link is robust and continues to receive improvements, it currently does not offer the tight integration within the Teams collaboration interface, which may be a minor inconvenience for power users.

Technical Details

  • Supported Devices: The integration required Windows 11 and Android devices running 7.0 or newer.
  • Linking Method: Devices were connected through the "Link to Windows" app on Android, paired via QR code or automatic detection.
  • Security Considerations: Phone Link utilizes Microsoft account sign-in and two-factor authentication by default, providing improved security compared to multi-app SMS sync approaches.
  • Phone Link Features: Beyond SMS, Phone Link supports phone calls, notifications, photo sharing, and selective screen mirroring of Android apps.

Broader Implications

  • Enhanced Focus: Microsoft is refocusing Teams as a professional collaboration tool, reinforcing its core chat, video, and meeting capabilities.
  • Security and Support Efficiency: Consolidating SMS integration to Phone Link reduces duplicated bugs, security risks, and support overhead.
  • Platform Competition: Microsoft consolidates its approach in competition with Apple (with Continuity and iMessage) and Google's Android ecosystem, aiming for deeper device integration with clarity in app purposes.
  • User Adaptation: Enterprises and individual users will need to adapt workflows and educate users about the transition to ensure minimal disruption.

Recommendations for Users and Admins

  • Begin Transition Early: Users should start using the Phone Link app for SMS management to familiarize themselves ahead of the shutdown.
  • Educate and Communicate: IT admins should prepare communications, walkthroughs, and FAQs to assist users.
  • Explore Phone Link Features: Customize notification settings, contact pinning, and other Phone Link features to optimize the new workflow.

Looking Forward

This change closes a chapter in Microsoft's effort to unify device communication experiences but opens the door for more focused and secure development of each app. Teams will sharpen its enterprise collaboration edge, while Phone Link will continue evolving as the definitive bridge between Windows and Android phones.

Microsoft’s ecosystem is moving towards modularity and specialization, presaging new innovations in how Windows users connect devices and communicate across personal and professional boundaries.