How to Make a Phone Call From Your Computer (4 Methods, Step by Step)

How to Make a Phone Call From Your Computer (Step by Step)

You can make real phone calls from a computer in four main ways. Which one to use depends on two things: whether the person you're calling should see your own number, and what operating system you're on.

Quick decision guide:

• Your own number, any OS (Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Windows): ComputerCaller
• Your own number, Windows only: Microsoft Phone Link
• A free second number (US): Google Voice
• Calling another app user, not a phone number: WhatsApp Desktop

Here's exactly how to set up each one.

Method 1: ComputerCaller (your number, any browser)

ComputerCaller connects a small Android companion app to a web dashboard. Your phone stays in your pocket; calls and texts go through your own SIM, and you control everything from the browser. It's $5/mo with a 7-day free trial.

What you need

• An Android phone with an active SIM
• Any computer with a modern browser

Setup (about 2 minutes)

1. Create an account at computercaller.com and start the free trial.
2. Install the companion app on your Android phone (link shown after signup).
3. Scan the QR code displayed in your browser with the app. That's the whole pairing process — no Bluetooth, no cables.
4. Grant call and SMS permissions on the phone when the app asks. These are required so the app can place and relay calls for you.

Making a call

1. Open the ComputerCaller dashboard in any browser tab.
2. Type a number or pick a contact and click Call.
3. Your phone places the call through your SIM. Talk through the headset connected to your phone — it can stay in your pocket the whole time.

Incoming calls pop up in the browser too, so you can see who's calling and answer without touching the phone. Texts work the same way, with reusable templates if you send the same messages often.

Method 2: Microsoft Phone Link (your number, Windows only)

Phone Link is free and preinstalled on Windows 10/11. It links your Android phone to the PC over Bluetooth.

Setup

1. Open Phone Link on your PC (search the Start menu).
2. On your Android phone, install Link to Windows from the Play Store (preinstalled on Samsung).
3. Sign in with the same Microsoft account on both, or scan the QR code Phone Link shows.
4. Approve the permission prompts on the phone (messages, contacts, calls).
5. For calling specifically, allow the Bluetooth pairing request — calls won't work without it.

Making a call

1. In Phone Link, open the Calls tab.
2. Dial with the on-screen keypad or search your contacts.
3. Click the call button. Audio routes through your PC's speakers and mic via Bluetooth.

Heads up: the Bluetooth link is the fragile part. If calls ring but won't connect, audio is choppy, or your phone won't pair, that's normal Phone Link behavior — see our troubleshooting guide before giving up.

Method 3: Google Voice (free second number, US)

Google Voice gives you a new US phone number you can use entirely from the browser — no phone involved.

Setup

1. Go to voice.google.com and sign in with a Google account.
2. Choose a phone number (search by city or area code).
3. Verify with your existing mobile number.

Making a call

1. Open voice.google.com in any browser.
2. Click Calls, enter a number, click Call.
3. The call happens in the browser tab using your computer's mic and speakers.

The trade-off: everyone you call sees the Google Voice number, not your real one. For personal use that may be fine; for client work, an unrecognized number often means unanswered calls. Personal Google Voice is also US-only.

Method 4: WhatsApp Desktop (app-to-app, worldwide)

If the person you want to reach uses WhatsApp, you can call them from the desktop app — free, including internationally.

Setup

1. Install WhatsApp Desktop (Windows/Mac). Note: voice calling doesn't work in the browser version, only the desktop app.
2. Link it to your phone by scanning the QR code from WhatsApp on your phone.

Making a call

1. Open a chat with the person.
2. Click the phone icon in the top bar.

The limitation: this only calls other WhatsApp users. You can't dial a regular phone number, a landline, or a business that isn't on WhatsApp.

Which method should you use?

A note on expectations: with both ComputerCaller and Phone Link, your Android phone needs to be with you and switched on — it's the bridge that carries the actual call over your own number. The difference is that ComputerCaller connects over the internet from any browser, while Phone Link needs a working Bluetooth pairing and a Windows PC.

Ready to try the two-minute setup?

If calling from your computer is something you'll do more than a few times a month, start a free 7-day trial of ComputerCaller — scan one QR code and your browser becomes your phone's keyboard-and-screen.

Related guides:

• 6 best ways to call from your computer, compared
• How to text from your computer with your own number