Apple iMessage suggestions and tips

Messages is Apple’s messaging app out there for iPhone, iPad, iPod Contact and Mac, but it surely is not only for SMS messages and iMessages, there are a large number of options inside the app, and extra coming when iOS 17 launches later this yr.

Messages can be utilized throughout a number of gadgets, syncing between all of them when signed into the identical Apple ID. Listed here are our greatest suggestions and tips that will help you get probably the most out of iMessages and its platform.

Our prime seven greatest iMessage tips

reply to a specific message

Open the Messages app > Open the message thread of the particular person with the message you need to particularly reply to > Press and maintain on the message you need to particularly reply to > Faucet on Reply > Enter your message > Press ship.

Your message will seem with the unique message above it.

flip off learn receipts for a specific contact on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the particular person you need to flip learn receipts off for > Faucet on the contact title on the prime of the message thread > Scroll down and toggle off ‘Ship Learn Receipts’.

leap to the primary message on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the particular person you need to see the primary iMessage despatched from > Faucet on the time stamp on the prime of your show and you will be taken to the primary message.

This trick additionally works to get you again to your most up-to-date message threads if in case you have scrolled down.

Pin your hottest messages to the highest

Open the Messages app > Press and maintain on the message thread of the particular person you need to pin > Faucet pin. Your message thread with this particular person will seem in a circle on the prime. You’ll be able to pin as much as six message threads.

To unpin a thread, maintain down on the circle of the particular person you need to unpin and choose unpin.

ship a GIF in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the thread of the particular person you need to ship a GIF to or begin a brand new message > Faucet on the enter discipline > Faucet on the App Retailer icon > Faucet on the pink icon with the magnifying glass within the bar above the keyboard > Kind within the search field the type of GIF you need or scroll down the choices > Choose your GIF > Press the arrow in the suitable nook of the message field to ship.

cease notifications from a specific message thread iMessage

Open the Messages app > Swipe proper to left on the message thread you need mute notifications from > Faucet the bell image > A Do Not Disturb image (half moon) will seem on the left of the message threads you have got stopped notifications from.

To get alerts again, swipe proper to left on the message thread once more and press faucet the bell image once more.

ship your present location with a contact on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the particular person you need to share your location with > Faucet on the contact title on the prime of the message thread > Ship my Present Location.

Normal iMessage suggestions and tips

edit your title and photograph in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the circle with three dots within the prime proper nook > Choose Edit Identify and Picture > Faucet on ‘Edit’ underneath picture to vary your photograph > Change your title by tapping on first title and surname.

handwrite a message in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the particular person you need to ship a handwritten message to > Flip your iPhone horizontal > Press on the squiggly line within the backside proper nook of the keyboard if the white house does not seem immediately > Begin drawing or choose one of many pre-written messages > Press ‘Executed’ within the prime proper nook > Faucet on the arrow to ship.

delete a single message thread in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Swipe proper to left on the message thread you need to delete > Faucet the pink bin icon > Verify delete.

delete a number of message threads in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the circle with the three dots within the prime proper nook > Faucet on Choose Messages > Choose the message threads you need to delete > Faucet ‘Delete’ within the backside proper nook.

delete a person message in a message thread on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Open the message thread you need to delete a person message from > Press and maintain the person message you need to delete > Faucet ‘Extra’ on the backside of the pop up menu > Choose some other messages you need to choose to delete, if any > Faucet on the bin icon within the backside left nook of the app.

ship a brand new message in Apple Messages

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the sq. with the pencil within the prime proper nook > Begin typing the contact’s title > Faucet on the contact from the listing > Begin typing your message within the message field above the keypad > Press the arrow to the suitable inside the message field to ship.

ship a bunch message on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the sq. with the pencil within the prime proper nook > Begin typing the contact’s title > Faucet on the contact from the listing > Kind one other title and choose the contact > Repeat till you have got added all of the contact names you need to be within the iMessage group.

The utmost quantity, or iMessage group chat restrict, is 32.

make a FaceTime name from iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the particular person you need to FaceTime > Faucet on the video image within the prime proper nook. The image will solely seem if the particular person you are attempting to name has an Apple gadget linked to Messages.

make an audio name from iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the particular person you need to name > Faucet on the contact title on the prime of the message thread > Faucet on ‘Name’.

share your location with a contact on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the particular person you need to share your present location with > Faucet on the contact title on the prime of the message thread > Share my Location > Choose between ‘Share for One Hour’, ‘Share Till Finish of Day’ and ‘Share Indefinitely’.

If you happen to select ‘Share Indefinitely’, you will seem in that contact’s Find My app, and they’re going to additionally see your location on the prime of their show after they faucet on the knowledge image underneath your contact title in your message thread of their Messages app.

see pictures and attachments inside a message thread on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the particular person you need to see the pictures and attachments despatched from and to you > Faucet on the contact title on the prime of the message thread > Scroll down and you may see Images, hyperlinks and attachments seem on the backside.

What is the distinction between inexperienced and blue messages in Apple Messages?

A message will seem in blue for an iMessage and inexperienced for an SMS textual content message. Sometimes any message despatched between iOS gadgets might be blue (if the recipient has iMessage turned on) however as iMessages additionally require an web connection, sometimes you will see them seem in inexperienced when you or the recipient does not have an energetic web connection.

Messages despatched between an iOS device and Android or Home windows gadget will at all times seem in inexperienced.

ship a brand new audio message in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the sq. with the pencil within the prime proper nook > Begin typing the contact’s title > Faucet on the contact from the listing > Press and maintain the audio icon in the suitable of the message field above the keyboard > Communicate your message.

You may then have the choice to playback your recorded audio message by hitting the play button inside the gray bar on the suitable of the message field, ship it by urgent the arrow on the prime of the gray bar on the suitable, or cancel by urgent the ‘x’ inside the circle on the left of the message field.

ship an image in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the particular person you need to ship an image to or begin a brand new message > Faucet on the digital camera icon to the left of the message field above the keyboard > Take a photograph and faucet the arrow within the backside proper when you’re completely satisfied or faucet on the gallery icon within the prime left of your display screen and choose the image you need to ship > Add any feedback > Press the arrow on the suitable of the message field to ship.

Alternatively, if it is a image you have got already taken you need to ship, you need to use the iMessages Apps. As soon as within the message thread of the particular person you need to ship the photograph to > Faucet on the Apple Photos icon above the keyboard and under the message field > Search via your pictures by scrolling up and down or swipe up on the gray bar to entry a full display screen view of the Images app and all of your albums > Choose the photograph > Press the arrow on the suitable of the message field to ship.

dictate a message in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the particular person you need to ship a message to or begin a brand new message > Faucet on the microphone icon within the backside proper nook of the app underneath the keyboard > Begin speaking and what you say will begin to seem within the message field above the keyboard.

You’ll be able to say issues like “Full Cease” and “Comma” for punctuation or you’ll be able to add it earlier than you hit the arrow to ship the message.

mark a number of message threads as learn in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the circle with the three dots within the prime proper nook > Faucet on Choose Messages > Choose the message threads you need to mark as learn > Faucet ‘Learn’ within the backside left nook.

search in Apple Messages

Open the Messages app > Swipe down from the highest to see the search bar > Kind what you are in search of within the search bar on the prime of the message threads > Any messages referring to what you search will seem under the bar.

ahead a person message in a message thread iMessage

Open the Messages app > Open the message thread you need to ahead a person message from > Press and maintain the person message you need to ahead > Faucet ‘Extra’ on the backside of your display screen > Choose some other messages you need to ahead, if any > Choose the curved arrow within the backside proper of the display screen.

The contents of the forwarded message, or messages, will then seem in a brand new message the place you’ll be able to add a recipient’s title on the prime and hit the arrow on the suitable of the message field to ship.

ship an Animoji on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the particular person you need to ship an Animoji to, or create a brand new message > Choose the Animoji icon within the bar above the keyboard (Memoji with yellow body) > Scroll horizontally to pick the Animoji you need to ship > Deliver your face into view > Press and maintain the pink button within the backside proper nook of the Animoji to report a message as much as 30-seconds lengthy > Press the arrow to ship while you’re completely satisfied.

ship an Memoji on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the particular person you need to ship an Memoji to, or create a brand new message > Choose the Animoji/Memoji icon above the keyboard > Choose your Memoji or press the three dots within the circle to create a brand new Memoji > Press the arrow to ship.

react to a person message in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Faucet on the message thread of the person who despatched you the person message you need to ‘react’ to > Press and maintain the person message you need to react to > Choose between a coronary heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, Haha, double exclamation mark or query mark.

ship a message as SMS if iMessage is not out there

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle on ‘Ship as SMS’.

hear audio messages shortly on iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll right down to the Audio Messages part > Toggle on ‘Elevate to Pay attention’. When on, audio messages might be performed as quickly as you increase your iPhone to your ear.

activate or off MMS messaging on Apple Messages

Whereas sending an image as an iMessage is free, it is not when you ship one as a textual content message – you are higher to make use of a service like WhatsApp between iOS and Android gadgets if you wish to ship an image.

Nonetheless, if you wish to be sure to at all times obtain image messages after they aren’t despatched via iMessage:

Open Settings > Scroll right down to Messages > Scroll right down to SMS/MMS part > Toggle ‘MMS Messaging’ on, or off relying in your desire.

iMessage notifications suggestions and tips

flip previews on or off for iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll right down to the Lock Display screen Look part > Faucet on ‘Present Previews’ > Select between ‘At all times’, When ‘Unlocked’ or ‘By no means’.

group Message notifications for iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll right down to the Lock Display screen Look part > Faucet on ‘Notification Grouping’ > Choose between ‘Automated’, ‘By App’ or ‘Off’.

When on, a number of message notifications will seem as a layered group of notifications to permit for different notifications from totally different apps in your locked display screen.

activate or off notifications for iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle ‘Permit Notifications’ on or off.

cease iMessage notifications showing in your notification centre

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Untick the ‘Notification Centre’ field underneath the Alerts part.

cease iMessage notifications showing in your lock display screen

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Untick the ‘Lock Display screen’ field underneath the Alerts part.

cease banner alerts for iMessage notifications when your cellphone is unlocked

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Untick the ‘Banners’ field underneath the Alerts part.

repeat alerts for iMessage notifications

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Notifications’ > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll right down to the Customise Notifications > Faucet on ‘Repeat Alerts’ > Select between ‘By no means’, ‘As soon as’, ‘Twice’, ‘3 Occasions’, ‘5 Occasions’ or ’10 Occasions’.

iMessage privateness suggestions and tips

flip Learn Receipts on or off on iMessages

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle on or off ‘Ship Learn Receipts’.

When Learn Receipts is on, folks will see ‘Learn’ in gray under the message they’ve despatched you while you open it.

flip iMessage off

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle ‘iMessage’ off.

iMessages could be despatched between iPhone, iPod, iPad and Mac gadgets.

flip iMessage again on

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle ‘iMessage’ on.

flip contact pictures on or off on iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle ‘Present Contact Images’ on or off.

edit which accounts you ship and obtain iMessages from

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Faucet on ‘Ship & Obtain’ > Choose which accounts you need to obtain iMessages to and reply from > Choose which accounts you need to begin new conversations from.

block a contact on iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll right down to ‘Blocked Contacts’ > Add the contact or quantity you need to block.

Notice: If you happen to block somebody, you will not obtain telephones calls, messages or FaceTime calls from the folks on the block listing.

change how lengthy messages are stored for on iMessage

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll right down to the Message Historical past part > Faucet on ‘Hold Messages’ > Choose between ’30 days’, ‘1 yr’ and ‘Endlessly’.

flip off notifications for iMessages from folks not in your contact listing

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll right down to the Message Filtering part > Faucet on Unknown & Spam > Toggle on ‘Filter Unknown Senders’.

Messages from folks not in your contact listing will then be sorted right into a separate listing.

change how lengthy audio messages are stored for on Apple Messages

Open Settings > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Scroll right down to the Audio Messages part > Faucet on ‘Expire’ > Choose between ‘After 2 Minutes’ or ‘By no means’.

iMessage Apps suggestions and tips

obtain iMessages apps in Apple Messages

Apple built-in the App Retailer into Apple Messages in iOS 10, permitting customers to obtain apps like Citymapper, Google Photos and Dropbox, in addition to video games, to be used inside iMessage. You’ll be able to read more iMessage apps and the best ones to download in our separate characteristic.

To obtain an iMessage app: Open the Messages app > Faucet on a message thread > Faucet on the App Retailer icon to the left of the message field > Faucet on the App Retailer icon within the bar on the prime of the keyboard > Seek for the app you need or scroll via the really useful choices > Obtain.

delete an iMessage app on Apple Messages

Open the Messages app > Faucet on any message thread > Scroll via the app bar above the keyboard till you get to the ‘Extra’ icon with the three gray dots in a white oval > Press ‘Edit’ within the prime proper nook > Swipe proper to left on the app you need to delete or toggle it off if you wish to briefly take away it from the app bar.

rearrange iMessage apps on Apple Message

Open the Messages app > Faucet on any message thread > Scroll via the app bar above the keyboard till you get to the ‘Extra’ icon with the three gray dots in a white oval > Press ‘Edit’ within the prime left nook. You’ll be able to reorder the highest six apps by transferring them up and down in response to your desire.

To alter which apps seem within the prime six, you will must press the pink circle to the left of the app inside the prime eight to take away it and the inexperienced circle to the left of the app within the listing under you need to add.

play video games on iMessage

Open the Messages app > Open any message thread > Faucet on the App Retailer icon above the keyboard > Faucet on the search icon to the suitable of the App Retailer textual content > Kind within the sport you need to play > Obtain.

Open up the message thread of the particular person you need to play a sport with > Faucet on the icon of the sport within the app bar above the keyboard > Play the sport.

play Phrases with Mates in iMessage

Open the Messages app > Open any message thread > Faucet on the App Retailer icon above the keyboard > Faucet on the search icon to the suitable of the App Retailer textual content > Phrases with Mates > Obtain Phrases for iMessage Recreation.

Open up the message thread of the particular person you need to play Phrases with Mates with > Faucet on the Phrases app within the bar above the keyboard > Play away.

iMessages suggestions and tips for Mac

present your SMS textual content messages in your Mac or iPad

iMessages are mechanically synced to a Mac or iPad signed in on the identical Apple ID and with iMessage toggled on, however textual content messages should not. To see textual content messages despatched to the quantity related along with your iMessage account:

Open Settings (on iPhone) > Scroll right down to Messages > Faucet on Textual content Message Forwarding > Toggle the gadgets within the listing you need to permit to ship and obtain textual content messages out of your iPhone.

How flip off iMessage notifications on Mac

Faucet on the Apple within the prime left of your show > Open System Settings > Faucet on ‘Notifications’ > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Toggle off ‘Permit Notifications from Messages’.

flip off iMessage previews on Mac

Faucet on the Apple within the prime left of your show > Open System Settings > Faucet on ‘Notifications’ > Scroll right down to ‘Messages’ > Select your desire by turning the toggles alongside the choices on or off.

flip learn receipts on or off for iMessages on Mac

Open the Messages app in your Mac > Open the Messages menu within the prime left of your show > Open Settings > Choose the iMessages tab > Tick or untick the learn receipts field on the backside of the preferences field.

If you happen to favored this, you’ll be able to read our Apple Photos tips and tricks to grasp the Images app too.