You need iMessage to send message effects. Learn the difference between iMessage and SMS/MMS texts. Depending on your carrier, messaging rates might apply when you send SMS/MMS. If you use iMessage and Wi-Fi is unavailable, cellular data rates might apply.

• Imessage Text App
• Imessage Text Box

How to Send More Than Just Text in an iMessage. In the Messages app, tap the heart with two fingers to draw a message to a friend. Tap the button with an A on it to send animated GIFs, music, or other stickers you have purchased through the App Store. IMessage: An iMessage is a type of text message that can only be sent from an Apple device to another Apple device, like an iPhone or an iPad. An iMessage can include standard text like an SMS message, but also photos, videos, and other add-ons like GIFs. IMessages require an internet connection (either through Wi-Fi or a data plan) and are. Deselect the checkbox next to Enable Messages in iCloud. If you turn off Messages in iCloud on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch your message history will be included in a separate iCloud backup. IMessage is Apple’s instantaneous messaging service that utilizes your information to send messages over the Internet. They only work if you have a stable and good internet connection. To send messages using this application, you need a data plan or you can send.

Send a message with effects

With message effects, you can use bubble effects to change the way your message bubbles look, or use full-screen effects to animate the screen. You can even add a Memoji sticker with bubble effects or full-screen effects.

Add a bubble effect

1. Open Messages and tap the Compose button to start a new message. Or go to an existing conversation.
2. Enter your message or insert a photo, then touch and hold the Send button .
3. Tap the gray dot to preview bubble effects.
4. Tap the Send button .

To replay a message effect that you receive, tap the Replay button under the message. If you can't receive bubble effects, check your Reduce Motion settings.

Add a full-screen effect

1. Open Messages and tap the Compose button to start a new message. Or go to an existing conversation.
2. Enter your message.
3. Touch and hold the Send button , then tap Screen.
4. Swipe to the left to see full-screen effects.
5. Tap the Send button .

To replay a message effect that you receive, tap the Replay button under the message. If you can't receive full-screen effects, check your Reduce Motion settings.

Send a message with Camera Effects

With Camera Effects in iOS 12 and later, and iPadOS, you can liven up your conversations even more. Quickly create and share a photo or video with Memoji, filters, text, fun stickers, and more. Follow these steps:

1. Open Messages and tap the Compose button to create a new message. Or go to an existing conversation.
2. Tap the Camera button .
3. Tap the Effects button , then select one of the effects, like Memoji* or an iMessage app. You can add more than one effect to a photo or video.
4. After you select the effect that you want to use, tap Done.
5. Tap the Send button or tap Done to add a personal message. If you don't want to send the photo, tap the icon in the upper-right corner of the photo.

You need a compatible iPhone or iPad to use Memoji.

Respond to a message with expressions

With Tapback, you can quickly reply to messages with expressions, like a thumbs up or a heart. Here's how:

1. Open a conversation in Messages.
2. Double-tap the message bubble or photo that you want to respond to.
3. Select the Tapback that you want to send.

You can also use Tapback in group messages. To see who replied with a Tapback, tap it.

Send a handwritten message

You can personalize your messages by adding a note in your own handwriting. Your friends and family will see the message animate, as if it were being written in front of them. To send a handwritten note, follow these steps:

1. Open Messages and tap the Compose button to start a new message. Or go to an existing conversation.
2. If you have an iPhone, turn it sideways and tap on the keyboard. On an iPad, there's no need to turn it sideways, just tap on the keyboard.
3. Write your message or select one of the options at the bottom of the screen.
4. If you need to start over, tap Undo or Clear. When you're finished, tap Done. Then tap the Send button .

Do more with Messages

• Learn how to use Memoji to mirror your expressions through messages.
• Use Digital Touch to send sketches, taps, and even a heartbeat.
• Use iMessage apps to create and share content, share a song, add stickers to photos, and more.
• If you have Reduce Motion on, you can't receive message effects.

When someone sends you an SMS or MMS message on your iPhone, it appears as a green bubble. iMessages appear as blue bubbles. When you set up Text Message Forwarding, you can send and receive the SMS and MMS messages from your iPhone on any Mac, iPad, or iPod touch that meets the Continuity system requirements.

Set up text message forwarding

1. On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. On your Mac, open Messages, choose Messages > Preferences, then click iMessage. Make sure that you're signed in to iMessage with the same Apple ID on all your devices.
2. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding.*
   
3. Choose which devices can send and receive text messages from your iPhone. If you're not using two-factor authentication for your Apple ID, a verification code appears on each of your other devices: enter that code on your iPhone.
   

As long as your iPhone is turned on and connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network, new SMS/MMS texts can be sent and received on the devices that you added.

iCloud now keeps your entire messages history updated and available on all your devices — even when you set up a new device. Learn how to keep all your messages in iCloud.

Imessage Text App

* Don't see the Text Message Forwarding setting on your iPhone? Go to Settings > Messages, turn off iMessage, turn it back on, tap Send & Receive, tap Use Your Apple ID for iMessage, then sign in with the same Apple ID used on your other devices.

Forward older text messages

1. Touch and hold the message bubble that you want to forward, then tap More.
2. Select any other text messages that you want to forward.
3. Tap Forward and enter a recipient.
4. Tap Send .

Learn more

Imessage Text Box

• Learn more about Messages.
• To forward an SMS/MMS from your iPhone, you need a text-messaging plan. Contact your wireless carrier for more information.
• Learn more about the Continuity features for your Apple devices.