With the additional features of being able to access all your text and media right in your browser, these apps have put cherry on cake. However, there are still a few things that you cannot do without traditional texting. The first and foremost being receiving one time passwords (OTPs). Now, imagine you are hungry and decide to place an order on Amazon. You have chosen your order and are about to pay when you realize you need your phone to read OTP. Only if there was a way to do that from your browser. Good news is that there is a way! In this guide, we will talk about two ways in which you can read SMS right out of your browser.
1.Using AirDroid
Using MightyText to read sms works very well. Then why do we need an alternate method? Using MightyText requires you to connect using your gmail id. Also, the function is limited to reading and sending texts and checking phone calls. If you don’t mind sharing gmail address and accessing sms is all you need, feel free to stop here and install MightyText. However, if you’d like additional features such as file sharing and full control of your phone from your browser, that too without sharing your email address, keep on reading. Using Airdroid is very simple and all the steps are listed below for your convenience:
Delight Your Multi-Screen Life
AirDroid allows you to access and manage your Android phone or tablet from Windows, Mac or the Web, wirelessly, for free.
Better focused
Calls, SMS, and the app notifications you allowed, mirrored to the large computer screen you are focused on.
Better equipped
Type with full physical keyboard and control with a mouse. Transfer things faster without looking for a cable. Better equipments, better life.
Better connected
Control your Android from computer and use any apps on computer, like WhatsApp, WeChat, and Line. (root NOT required.)
Other major features:
1. Notification Mirror
Mirror phone notifications from any allowed apps to your computer. Reply to mobile messages (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram and Kik) from desktop clients.（Desktop client only)
2. Backup & Sync
Backup photos and videos from phone to computer.（Desktop client only)
Share clipboard between phone and computer.
3. SMS & Contacts management
Send and receive SMS, and manage phone contacts from the desktop.
4. AirIME
Use your desktop keyboard to type on your phone.（Desktop client only)
5. Record screenshot
Record phone screenshot with one click, no root required. (Android 5.0+)
6. Speed boost
Clean memory and boost phone speed.
7. Other phone management features (Web client only)
Find phone: locate your phone when it’s lost.
Remote camera: See through the lens of both front and back cameras.
Apps & Media: manage photos, ringtones and videos, upload, install and export apks.
AirDroid allows you to access and manage your Android phone or tablet from Windows, Mac or the Web, wirelessly, for free.
Better focused
Calls, SMS, and the app notifications you allowed, mirrored to the large computer screen you are focused on.
Better equipped
Type with full physical keyboard and control with a mouse. Transfer things faster without looking for a cable. Better equipments, better life.
Better connected
Control your Android from computer and use any apps on computer, like WhatsApp, WeChat, and Line. (root NOT required.)
Other major features:
1. Notification Mirror
Mirror phone notifications from any allowed apps to your computer. Reply to mobile messages (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram and Kik) from desktop clients.（Desktop client only)
2. Backup & Sync
Backup photos and videos from phone to computer.（Desktop client only)
Share clipboard between phone and computer.
3. SMS & Contacts management
Send and receive SMS, and manage phone contacts from the desktop.
4. AirIME
Use your desktop keyboard to type on your phone.（Desktop client only)
5. Record screenshot
Record phone screenshot with one click, no root required. (Android 5.0+)
6. Speed boost
Clean memory and boost phone speed.
7. Other phone management features (Web client only)
Find phone: locate your phone when it’s lost.
Remote camera: See through the lens of both front and back cameras.
Apps & Media: manage photos, ringtones and videos, upload, install and export apks.
- Once you click on Install, the app will list all the permissions that is needed for the app to function. These permissions are a lot more in number than MightyText but these are required as you will get a full access of your phone through the browser of your PC. Grant permissions and let the Play Store do the installation for you.
- After installation, tap on ‘Open‘ to launch the app. Next, the app will ask you to Sign in or Sign Up. Note that this is optional. You can bypass this by tapping on ‘Sign In later’ at the bottom of the screen and still use the full functionality of the app.
- Once the app is set up, you should a screen that resembles the screenshot given below. Tap on option that says – ‘AirDroid Web’. The next page will contain instructions on how to connect to your phone from your browser. There are three ways to do.
- Sign up in the app using your email address. Go to http://www.airdroid.com and sign in on the website using the same email address.
- Tap on Sign in Later in the previous step. Go to http://www.airdroid.com. You will find a QR code on this website. (See the snapshot below) Scan the QR code using the app.
- Tap on ‘Sign in Later’ in the second step. Use the IP address in the instruction page to access your phone from the browser. Type the IP address in the url box of your browser. For example, in this case, type http://192.168.0.102:8888 in the url box of your browser.
- Confirm Sign In from the App – After setting up the website in the browser, you will be asked to confirm login to AirDroid Web on the app side. See the attached snapshot. Tap on ‘Sign In’ and you are done.
User interface on AirDroid Web
Once you completed all the steps as mentioned above, your browser screen will look like the attached snapshot. From here on, you can click on ‘Messages’ to send and receive messages. You can also transfer files between your phone and PC using this interface.
2: Using MightyText
MightyText is a wonderful app that lets you sync all your messages using your gmail account and lets you access on the browser. It’s a free app which also lets you check who is calling you without having to walk to your phone. It is also helpful if you left your phone hidden somewhere in the cover of your quilt or just can’t find it. Now, you don’t need to ask someone else to call you to be able to find your phone, you can do it directly using this app. Here are the steps for using the app:
Download the app
- Once the installation is complete, the page on Play Store will change. You can launch your app right from this page by tapping on Open.
- Since you are looking for access to your sms and call records, this app requires permission to access them on your device to function. Allow the device to access your sms and call records.
In the next step, your app will ask you to link your gmail account with your app. Pick the account you want to use and hit ‘Complete Setup‘
Now, you will be redirected to a screen displaying all the sms on your phone.
- Once you have the app installed and ready on your phone, you will get a message to login in your browser. You should see something similar to the screenshot given below. Follow the instruction and type the following address in your browser mightytext.net/app
- Next, the browser application will ask you to verify your gmail address. Use the same email address that you have used in the application and continue. Once you have verified the email successfully, a screen will pop out asking you for confirmation. Click on ‘Yes, let’s go’.
Now, you will be redirected to a screen displaying all the sms on your phone.