Why do I care?
Courted surfaces agent phone numbers from the MLS and uses ComposeAI to generate draft text messages. Clicking a text link in Courted uses an : link to open your messaging app with the draft pre-loaded.
On a PC, this is done through Phone Link — a free Windows app that mirrors your phone's Messages app on your desktop. Here's how to set it up for both iPhone and Android.
Before you start — check that your setup is compatible:
Phone Link requires:
A PC running Windows 10 (May 2019 Update or later) or Windows 11
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support on your PC
For iPhone: an iOS device running iOS 15 or later
For Android: an Android device running Android 8.0 or later (Android 10+ recommended)
Also important: Some company-managed PCs have IT policies that block Phone Link or prevent pairing personal phones to work computers. If you can't find or install Phone Link, or if pairing fails with a permissions error, your organization's IT policy may be the cause — this isn't something that can be worked around without IT involvement.
Phone Link does not work with Google Voice or RingCentral numbers — it mirrors your standard mobile carrier number only.
Linking with an iPhone
1. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on both on your PC and your iPhone.
2. Search for "Phone Link" in the Windows Start menu. It should be pre-installed on Windows 10 and 11. If it's not there, download it from the Microsoft Store. If you cannot find the Phone Link app, try downloading it directly from the Microsoft Store.
Phone Link requires:
A PC running Windows 10 (with the May 2019 Update or later) or Windows 1
A PC with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support
An iOS device running iOS 15 or later
3. Open Phone Link and follow the on-screen pairing instructions. When prompted, scan the QR code on your PC screen using your iPhone's camera.
4. On your iPhone, when prompted, pair the device using the same code you see on the PC, then grant permissions to sync messages, notifications, and contacts to your PC.
5. You're set! Open Phone Link and try sending a test text. You should also be able to click text links in Courted and have them open in Phone Link automatically.
Note: If your messages still aren't sending via PhoneLink, on your iPhone, go to Settings → Messages → Text Message Forwarding and make sure your Mac is toggled on. You want to allow your phone to forward texts to your computer so that you can send and receive messages there.
Linking with an Android
1. Search for "Phone Link" in the Windows Start menu. Install it from the Microsoft Store if it's not already there.
If you cannot find the Phone Link app, try downloading it directly from the Microsoft Store.
Phone link requires:
A PC running Windows 10 (with the May 2019 Update or later) or Windows 11.
An Android device running Android 8.0 or later. For the best compatibility and performance, we highly recommend using Android 10 or newer.
Your phone and your PC both need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Your phone and PC must both have bluetooth turned on.
2. Open Phone Link. You may need to sign in with your Microsoft account (the same one you use for Windows).
3. On your Android device, either scan the QR code that appears, or open a browser and go to the URL shown on your PC screen: www.aka.ms/yourpc. This will prompt you to install or open the Link to Windows mobile app.
Note: typically from here, after scanning the QR code, you will be prompted to pair both devices after being granted a pairing code. Follow the step-by-step instructions on your phone and PC screen – this should prompt you to allow file sharing between devices and grant permission to your computer to send/receive texts from your cell phone.
The following steps are optional, and may be required for some devices, but not all of them. Most of the time, scanning the QR code and allowing permissions is all you will need to do!
4. In the Link to Windows app on your phone, sign in with the same Microsoft account.
5. Once you've signed in, go back to your PC, select the I have the Link to Windows app ready check box, and then select Pair with QR code.
6. A popup window with a QR code will appear on your PC screen.
7. In the mobile app on your Android device, select Link your phone and PC. When asked Is the QR code on your PC ready? select Continue.
8. You'll be asked permission for the app to access your camera. After accepting, an in-app camera will open. Use this camera to scan the QR code displayed on your PC.
9. After scanning the QR code, you may be asked for additional Android permissions. These permissions allow you to access content from your phone on your PC.
10. Follow the prompts on your Android device and then select Done.
11. You are ready to go!
If it's still not working:
There's a second place Windows tracks default apps. Open Default Apps in your Windows Settings (search "Default Apps" in the Start menu), search for "smsto," and make sure you have PhoneLink set as the default handler for smsto links.