How to Make a Phone Call From a Computer: Best 3 Working Methods
It might sound magical to your ears. Yes! You can make a phone call from a computer. All you need to do is follow this ultimate guide. It shows you the genuine methods that work.
It’s important to know these methods. In case you misplace or lose your device, and need to call a friend or a family member, these steps will come in handy.
Requirements for Making Calls From a Computer
If you have access to a Windows or macOS laptop, it’s sufficient to make a call from a PC. However, if you’re using a desktop, you’ll need the following:
- Headphones and a microphone of some kind, either built-in to the headphones or a standalone mic.
- Bluetooth capabilities. Get a Bluetooth card if you need to.
- An Ethernet (wired) or Wi-Fi connection. You can turn your PC wireless with a Wi-Fi adapter.
Use Google Voice to Make a Phone Call From a Computer
Google Voice is, as you’d guess, Google’s internet-based phone-calling service. Learn how to get a Google phone number if you’ve never done this. Your phone does not need to be nearby to make internet calls with Voice, and you can even use a completely separate number than the one assigned to your phone. Follow these steps to make a call:
- Visit the Google Voice website, and log in to your account.
- Select the Calls tab from the left side to open the dialer.
- In the space provided, or by using the keypad, enter a phone number, then press the call button to start the call.
- Alternatively, search for and select a contact stored in your Google account to start calling them immediately.
Note: You can’t call emergency services using Google Voice. If you’re using the service from the US, most of the calls to any American and Canadian numbers are free. For some US and Canadian numbers, you may need to pay. All other international calls are chargeable.
Use Microsoft Phone Link to Windows App to Make a PC Phone Call
Phone Link is the name for Microsoft’s companion app for Android and iOS. Once you’re all set up, you’ll be able to start and complete calls from your computer through your paired phone (it must remain near your computer for this to work). Here’s how to set it up and start making Wi-Fi calls:
Note: We’re using the Android app for these directions, but they should work equally well on select Samsung, HONOR, and OPPO devices, as well as iPhone.
- Download Link to Windows on your Android or iPhone. This app is necessary for connecting to your PC’s Phone Link app later.
- Open the app and sign in to your Microsoft account.
- Tap Continue on the prompt to turn on nearby sharing and notification, and then tap through the permission requests.
- Tap Continue > Allow once more to let the app run in the background.
- Select Done on the last screen.
- Now, on your Windows 11/10 computer, open Phone Link by searching for it from the Start menu.
- Open the Calls tab at the top.
- Search through your contacts or type a number manually, then press the call button.
Note: You can call emergency services from your computer using this app, but it still relies on a steady connection to your phone, and for your phone to have a strong connection to a cell tower.
Use WhatsApp to Make a Phone Call From a Computer
WhatsApp is wildly popular all over the world. Since it uses a data connection to make and receive calls, it works great for wired or Wi-Fi phone calls from a computer. This method only works with other WhatsApp users (i.e., you can’t call a phone number). You need to have the mobile app installed and your phone nearby. Then, making a call is a cinch:
- Get the WhatsApp Android app, or download the iOS app if you have an iPhone.
- On your computer, download and install the WhatsApp desktop app. There’s also a web version of WhatsApp, but it doesn’t support calls.
- Open the app, tap the three-dot menu, then choose Linked devices > Link a device.
- Using your phone, which should have the camera showing, scan the QR code you see on your computer.
- From the Chats tab, open a conversation with the person you want to call, then click the phone button.
- Or, open the Calls tab, press the new call button, select one or more contacts to call, then press the phone button.
Note: This service doesn’t support emergency calling features because it can’t dial phone numbers. You still need to rely on a traditional phone for emergencies.
Other Ways to Make Calls From Your Computer
Most chat apps for Android support calls, and the same is true for iPhone/iPad messaging apps. In fact, there’s a really good chance you already have one of these apps on your device.
For example, if you have an Apple device, then you already have FaceTime. It works out of the box on Mac computers, and you can set up calls that are routed through your Windows PC. This process lets you make video and voice calls on your computer.
Other apps are even easier to use for free phone calls from a computer. Here are some examples:
- Google Meet: In addition to Voice, Google has this messaging platform that supports video and voice calls. It works only with other Meet users.
- Snapchat: The web version of this app connects directly to your Snapchat account and lets you call your Snapchat friends from your browser.
- Facebook Messenger: This is another great pick for free calls from a computer because so many people already use it. Much like most of these services, this one can’t dial normal phone numbers, but it does support video and audio calls through a web browser.
Conclusion
Provided that you meet all the requirements to make a call from a computer, you can use any of the above methods. Depending on various scenarios, you may find using WhatsApp and the Phone Link app more convenient than Google Voice. If you’re not much of a caller, check out the best anonymous chat apps to keep in touch without giving up your number.
