Windows Setup

Text Your List uses Microsoft Phone Link to send texts through your phone. Phone Link is free and built into Windows 11.

Mac Windows Phone Link
First time on Windows?

Text Your List sends through Microsoft Phone Link, a free app that wirelessly bridges your PC to your phone. If you haven't set up Phone Link yet, start there first.

Set up Phone Link first →

Setup steps

1

Download and install Text Your List

Go to textyourlist.com/download, download the Windows installer (.exe), and run it. Takes under a minute.

Windows may show a SmartScreen warning. Click More info → Run anyway. The app is safe but not yet signed with a Windows certificate.
2

Make sure Phone Link is open and showing your conversations

Open Phone Link from the Start menu. You should see your recent text conversations, which confirms it's connected to your phone.

If Phone Link isn't set up or your conversations aren't showing, see the Phone Link setup guide first.

iPhone users: Phone Link connects via Bluetooth. Keep your iPhone within about 30 feet of your PC with Bluetooth on (Settings > Bluetooth).
3

Log in to Text Your List and send a test

Open the Text Your List app, log in with your account, and try a test message to yourself. Phone Link must be open and visible on your screen (not minimized) when you click Send.

Text Your List types your message directly into Phone Link. When the test text arrives, you're all set.

Do not click elsewhere on your screen while messages are sending. The app types into Phone Link automatically, and clicking away interrupts it. You can use your computer normally between sends, just not during an active send.

Troubleshooting

Click any item to expand.

The app says "Phone Link is not running"

Phone Link must be open and visible on your screen before you click Send in Text Your List. It can't be minimized to the taskbar. It needs to be a visible window.

  1. Open Phone Link from the Start menu.
  2. Wait for it to load and show your conversations.
  3. Go back to Text Your List and try sending again.
Texts show as sent but recipients didn't get them
  1. Check Phone Link's own conversation history. If the message shows there, it was sent. Any delay is on your carrier's side.
  2. For iPhone users: your iPhone may have gone out of Bluetooth range. Keep it within 30 feet during a send.
  3. Send a test text to yourself directly from Phone Link (outside of Text Your List) to confirm the connection works independently.
Send was interrupted: I accidentally clicked another window

Text Your List types directly into Phone Link using keyboard automation. If you click another window during a send, the typing goes to the wrong place and the send fails.

  • Do not click anywhere while Text Your List is actively sending.
  • For bulk sends, start the job and step away from your keyboard until it finishes.
  • If a send was interrupted, check your dashboard. Interrupted messages will show as failed and can be retried.
Phone Link connection issues (can't connect, disconnecting, blank screen)

Phone Link issues are separate from Text Your List. See the full Phone Link troubleshooting guide for step-by-step help with:

  • Phone Link not opening or installing
  • iPhone disconnecting (Bluetooth range)
  • Android connection dropping
  • Blank screen or won't sign in
  • Multiple phones: which one sends

Still stuck?

Email us and we'll help you get set up: [email protected]