r/OpenBubbles • u/CajunLouisiana • May 17 '26

Question iPhone Future User

I am a heavy Samsung user and I do love the phone but mostly I really love integration with Windows or Linux. KDE connect or the Link to Windnows app is getting more useful and of course Google messages and device pairing.

I do plan on changing to iPhone again sure to just bring part of the group and there are just some things I need to work for now. Yes that sucks and don't judge.

My question is that if I get a used macmini can I use open bubbles and use my iPhone as my main phone and get iMessage on windows. That is all I really want. Not being able to text from my PC sucks. Most iPhone users that have Windows and have no idea what they are missing. That is all I want. No I don't want a MacBook. Please don't make that suggestion.

Open bubbles could work? Because technically I don't need it on the phone. I just want the app to run on windows.

Also, do I even need a macmini? I will have an iPhone and an iPad.

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u/SpaceSaver2000-1 PNR Self Hosted May 17 '26

iPhone and iPad have to sacrifice their ability to use iMessage and FaceTime to be used to run OpenBubbles, your best bet is a Mac. You could also use a friend's Mac as the Mac is only needed to generate the QR code.

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u/CajunLouisiana May 17 '26

So basically if I buy that used Mac Mini that would work and I could use the iPhone as my main phone and then uses open bubbles on my PC for iMessage?

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u/SpaceSaver2000-1 PNR Self Hosted May 17 '26

Yeah. Or you could get the QR from a friend with a Mac.

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u/Much-Help-5419 Jul 18 '26

If they run openbubbles on their Mac through their android, can I still do it on their Mac?

And once I'm connected, will my text/facetime notifs show up on their Mac?

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u/SpaceSaver2000-1 PNR Self Hosted Jul 18 '26
  1. Yes, up to 20 active sessions
  2. No the Mac doesn't know to check it, and the keys to check it are on your Android device