AirMessage allows Android, Windows, Linux, or Chrome OS users to use iMessage, just like on an iPhone or Mac.

AirMessage leverages the power of your Mac computer in order to route messages to and from Apple’s iMessage servers.

The server is to be installed on a computer at home, and will pass messages to and from your AirMessage device to allow the usage of iMessage and other installed services.

AirMessage can handle text messages, media files, uploading image, video and audio messages, group chats, and the display of read receipts, tapback messages, stickers, and certain send effects.

AirMessage cannot handle chat modification, location sharing, or iMessage apps.

In order to run AirMessage, you will need a Mac computer running OS X 10.10 Yosemite or above.

Many people will use old Mac Mini or MacBook devices as a server. If you don’t have one, you may be able to pick up a Mac Mini for around $50 to $75. Any Mac Mini device from early 2009 or later will work.

We’ve worked hard to make sure that your messages stay private. All of your messages are encrypted with global standard technologies, so nobody can snoop in on your activity.

AirMessage will always be free to install and run on your devices. Furthermore, we will never put any ads in AirMessage products.

You can use multiple devices with AirMessage. A single installation of AirMessage server is able to handle many devices.

Please note that if you are using your Google account to access AirMessage, you will only be able to connect 3 devices at a time.

AirMessage does not alter your iMessage setup in any way. However iMessage is configured to work for you now, it will continue to work the same after setting up AirMessage.

Since all of your messages are first routed through your Mac computer, it may simply be best to think of AirMessage as of extension of this computer. Using AirMessage will have the same effect of using iMessage on the computer.

In order to run AirMessage, all that is needed is a smartphone running Android 6.0 Marshmallow or above. Other factors, such as running a custom ROM or rooting the device should not affect AirMessage. Please note that you will not be able to use AirMessage’s location picker if your phone does not have Google Play Services.

AirMessage supports sending SMS and MMS messages, and will display them alongside your iMessage conversations. To enable this feature, open AirMessage’s settings, scroll down, and select “Enable text message integration”.

Unfortunately, RCS is currently not supported.

If you have message history on your Mac computer and would like those messages to show up on AirMessage as well, you can copy those messages to your phone.

To do this, open AirMessage, open the three-dot menu in the top corner of the screen, navigate to Settings, then scroll down and select “Sync messages”.

By default, only your recent messages and files will be downloaded. If you would like to fine-tune which messages are selected, select “Advanced” in the prompt dialog.

This notification can be safely hidden without affecting functionality. To remove it, long-press the notification select “Turn off notifications”, and turn off “Background status”.

When entering your server information, simply append : to the end of your server address.

If a port number is not provided, then AirMessage will attempt to connect to the default port, 1359.

AirMessage for web supports recent versions of all major browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge). Please ensure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled.

Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge allow installing compatible websites as apps, giving them their own window and adding a shortcut to the taskbar or app launcher.

To install AirMessage, visit AirMessage for web in your browser. To the right end of the URL bar, a plus (+) icon should appear. Select it, and follow the prompts to install AirMessage.

In order to run AirMessage Server, you will need a Mac computer running OS X 10.10 Yosemite or above.

OS X Yosemite will run on these computer models or newer (from Wikipedia):

• iMac (Mid 2007 or later)
• MacBook (Aluminum Late 2008 and Early 2009 or later)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009 or later; 15-inch, Mid/Late 2007 or later; 17-inch, Late 2007 or later)
• MacBook Air (Late 2008 or later)
• Mac Mini (Early 2009 or later)
• Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later)
• Xserve (Early 2009)

If you choose to run AirMessage on a Hackintosh device or a virtual machine, there will be no guarantees of its functionality. However, it should work as long as iMessage is working.

Open AirMessage’s preferences window on your Mac computer, and change the server port parameter.

Server updates will be released periodically to improve the functionality, performance and stability of AirMessage. When an update is available, you will be notified by a popup window on your computer.

You can choose whether or not you want the server to check for updates in the app’s preferences window.